Arthur N. Molesworth – Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago RR

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Arthur Nassau Molesworth

Researched and Chronicled by Scott Jessee

Originally appeared in the Carolina Clinchfield’s NHRS publication the ‘Jitterbug’

Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad and its immediate successor Ohio River & Charleston  developed an ambitious plan for a coal hauling and mid-west to southeastern connector railroad during the 1880s. Extensive construction and some operation of the railroad was achieved. However, financial issues coupled with the May 1901 flood derailed those plans.   

Despite its failure, both railroads employed competent and dedicated personnel.  June 2018 Jitterbug detailed 3 C trainmaster and superintendent Mel Weiler.  This article will look at the career of A. N. Molesworth who at one time served as both division engineer and superintendent.

Mr. Molesworth will be introduced with his bio and we will then read chronological newspaper/ magazine recaps of his railroad career.   

Biography

East Tennessee Historical and Biographical from 1893 by Brookhaven Press: “Mr. A. N. Molesworth ——- No man is better known in Johnson City, Tennessee, than the subject of this brief sketch, Mr. A. N. Molesworth, civil engineer.  He was born in Toronto, Canada, August 14, 1851.  His father and mother are both from Ireland, and the family consisted of two brothers and four sisters besides himself.  His father, Mr. Thomas N. Molesworth, died in 1879 and his mother in 1885.  Young Molesworth was educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto, but before he attained his majority he entered the office of his father, who was Chief Engineer of the Ontario Provincial Government.  Here he gained much practical knowledge of canal and railroad building, and was soon afterwards made resident engineer of the Great Western Railway, now a part of the Grand Trunk system.  This position he held two years and then went to Fort William, Lake Superior, as engineer in charge of dredging, but before this he had been with the construction corps of the Canada Pacific, and remained with them ten years, being promoted to the position of chief of division.  During the Winnipeg land boom, he made $50,000 in nine months, on sixty acres of swamp land, one and one-half miles from the city, but lost much of this subsequently in unfortunate investments.  In 1886 Mr. Molesworth engaged with the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway, and remained with them two years, being most of the time in the Itaska Lake region of Minnesota.  In 1885 he associated himself with the Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railway, and was made chief engineer with entire care of the line through the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky, and two hundred and thirty miles of the road were built.  Mr. Molesworth is a Royal Arch Mason, and takes a justifiable pride and interest in this order of ancient brotherhood.  He was married January 17, 1878, to Miss Sofia Sefton, a daughter of Hon. J. W. Sifton, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Manitoba, of which province the brother of his wife is Attorney General.  He has one little girl, Kate, born August 14, 1887, and had two boys, but both are dead, and the mother died in April of this year (1892) in Johnson City.   It is pleasant to write of such men as Mr. Molesworth, experienced, cultured and in every sense of the word a gentleman.  A city cannot help but prosper with such residents, and feel rich in its people.”

Author’s note:  How did Canadian A. N. Molesworth end up in Johnson City?  I did an exhaustive search and was unable to find a common bond with any of the Three C’s top executives.  Mr. Molesworth’s dad was an exceptional civil engineer and his father in law was not only a Canadian politician, but also owned a railway construction company.  Most likely his  father in law had previous business dealings with someone on the Three C’s and Molesworth’s engineering works in remote areas of Canada made him a logical choice to build a railroad through the Breaks of the Big Sandy and across the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Mr. Molesworth had another accomplished Canadian civil engineer follow him to the Three C’s; Balfour Nepean Molesworth, his brother.

OR&C Listing in Railroad Guide

Mr. Molesworth’s dual responsibilities are indicated in the 1895 Official Railroad Guide.

Ohio River & Charleston Railway

Chronological Press Reports

March 28, 1889, Newberry Herald and News(Newberry SC):  Mr. A. N. Molesworth, of Johnson City, TN and chief engineer of the Three C’s railroad, was in Newberry last Saturday, having come over the proposed route from Blacksburg.  General Manager R. A. Johnson is expected here this week.  It is said work will soon be commenced on our Augusta division.

April 3, 1889, Yorkville Enquire(York SC):  Chief Engineer A. N. Molesworth of the Three C’s Railroad reached Newberry having ridden on horseback from Blacksburg over the line surveyed.  Mr. Molesworth was sent out to see if he could not get a better route between Blacksburg and Union.  He will recommend that the line be changed in the upper part of Union County, so as to follow the direction of Broad River some distance.   

April 5, 1889, New Era(Shelby, NC):  Colonel T. E. Matson has resigned the position of chief engineer on the C.C. & C. Railroad and is succeeded by Mr. A. N. Molesworth, recently connected with the Canada and Pacific Railroad.

June 10, 1891, The Comet(Johnson City, TN):  Colonel A. N. Molesworth and party will leave this morning for Allentown where they will begin the survey of the proposed railroad from Johnson City to Greensboro.  The company which proposes to build this road was recently organized at Cranberry with F. A. Stratton, of this city, president, and Henry E. Cofton, of North Carolina, chief engineer.

June 13, 1891, The Comet:  F. A. Stratton has just returned from a trip over the route of the proposed railroad from this place to Greensboro, NC  He was accompanied by A. N. Molesworth, who is thoroughly versed in civil engineering.   

July 18, 1891, The Comet:  Samuel Hunt who represents the recent organization of the bond holders of the Three C’s railroad, made a trip over the entire line between here and the Ohio River during the last few days.  He was accompanied by A. N. Molesworth, chief engineer of the Three C’s, and F. A. Stratton.  Mr. Molesworth said their object was simple to go over the road and to make estimates as the probable cost of completing the line from here to Minneapolis.  They investigated the coal fields and said there was not a finer quality of coal and were also gratified with the timber resources.  Speaking of the capital required to complete the road, Mr. Molesworth estimates that $500,000 will cover the entire work of completing the line, ready for trains, from this place to Minneapolis.   

September 8, 1891, The Comet:  A. N. Molesworth has returned from New York, and his opinion is that the 3 C’s muddle will be amicably adjusted.  Mr. Hunt has made favorable reports to the company, and the leading bondholders are anxious to have a quick settlement so that the road may be completed to the coal fields.

April 14, 1892, Herald and Tribune (Jonesborough, TN):  Mrs. A. N. Molesworth, a popular lady of this city and an earnest worker in the cause of Christianity died at her home on Myrtle Avenue, Monday morning at 6 o’clock.  The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Thomas B. Russell at the residence Tuesday afternoon.

The Railway Review 1893:  Mr. A. N. Molesworth, formerly chief engineer of the Charleston, Cincinnati, & Chicago has been appointed to succeed Mr. H. J. Englesing as superintendent of that road, with headquarters at Johnson City, Tenn.

Author’s note:  Mr. Englesing was associated with Knoxville, TN’s McDonald, Shea & Co. who had various contracts to build the Three C’s.  Later in 1897 Mr. Englesing was based in Athens, TN as the Nashville, Tellico, and Charleston Railway’s superintendent.  President of that road was his long time associate, Jas. P. McDonald.

April 2, 1893, The Journal and Tribune(Knoxville, TN):  A distinguished party of Minnesotans came to the city last night on the vestibule and were taken to Hotel Carnegie by Mr. A. N. Molesworth, who accompanied them from Cincinnati.  They are Hon. Moses Clapp of St. Paul, attorney general of the state and Messrs. Donald and D. W. Grant, also of St. Paul who are among the most prominent contractors in North America.  They are acquainted with Mr. Molesworth having met him on the Canadian Pacific, a large part of which they constructed.  They do not say that they are looking over the line with the view of putting in a bid for the construction but it is not supposed that they are here for their health alone.

October 31, 1894, The Watchman and Southron(Sumter SC):  A. N. Molesworth of Johnson City, Tenn., and J. J. Whisnant of Blacksburg, SC, spent Monday night in this city.  They belong to the engineering corps of the 3 C’s and they came on horseback from Camden in as direct line as possible, steering their way by compass.   

December 20, 1894, The Comet:  Miss Edith Whiteside and A. N. Molesworth, superintendent of the O. R. & C. Railway were united in marriage at the residence of the bride’s parents.  A number of friends accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Molesworth to the Southern passenger depot, where they took the westbound vestibule for Canada, via Cincinnati and New York.  Mr. Molesworth is a Canadian and they will spend the holidays at his old home in Toronto.

July – December 1894 Engineering News & American Railway Journal:  Charleston, Cincinnati, & Chicago —— A correspondent writes us that this road is graded from Johnson City, Tennessee to St. Paul, Va.  The officials are considering a new route which would leave Clinch River at the mouth of Guest River and extend up the latter to Coeburn, Va, then up Big Tom Creek to Fullers Gap and crossing Sandy Ridge to the Big Sandy River, which empties into the Ohio River at Catlettsburg, Ky.  A. N. Molesworth Johnson City, Tenn., is chief engineer.

January 23, 1896, The Gaffney Ledger(Gaffney SC):  The OR&C is contemplating building a branch road from Blacksburg via Cherokee Mills, Gaffney, Cowpens, Clifton, and Pacolet Mills to Spartanburg.  Col. A. N. Molesworth, chief engineer of the company was in Gaffney last Tuesday looking after the enterprise.

April 22, 1897, The Comet:  A. N. Molesworth who is superintending the construction of ten miles of road for the  O. R. & C. Ry in South Carolina, came home Sunday and spent until Tuesday with Mrs. Molesworth, then he returned to Blacksburg, his headquarters.

May 16, 1897, The Wilmington Messenger(Wilmington NC):  Colonel A. N. Molesworth and wife of Johnson City, Tn were at the Buford (Hotel in Charlotte NC) yesterday.  They went on their way to Cincinnati.  Colonel Molesworth has made an estimate on the cost of completing the road from Marion to Johnson City.  He goes to Cincinnati to make his report.  The railroad officials are to send an expert over the road with him to see if his estimate is correct.

May 25, 1897, Chattanooga Daily Times(Chattanooga TN):  A. N. Molesworth superintendent of the Ohio River and Charleston railway arrived Bristol, Tenn accompanied by W. A. Paine, leading banker of Boston; C. E. Hellier and W. V. Killen, Boston capitalists.  These gentlemen, in company with Samuel Hunt, president of the road and Samuel Felton, agent of the Drexel-Morgan syndicate, have just completed an inspection tour of the route from the Ohio River through the Kentucky and Virginia coal fields to Clinchport, Va.  Mr. Hellier said it would require $7,000,000 to $8,000,000 to complete the road and put it in operation.

April 13, 1899 The Comet:  Superintendent A. N. Molesworth informed us today that a force of hands are at work on the O. R. & C. railroad, near Unaka Springs, clearing the way for a larger force of workmen.  It is the determination of the company to complete the road to Marion, NC but considerable work will be required.  The line of the road, as originally surveyed, is obstructed by a huge, unyielding bluff.

September 28, 1899 East Tennessee News (Greenville, TN):  By authority of the president of the OR&C, Samuel Hunt and Chief Engineer and Superintendent A. N. Molesworth, has closed a contract with J. C. Lipscomb of Gaffney, SC, for the construction of fifteen miles extension from Unaka Springs, Tenn., to the mouth of Cane River, NC  $250,000 is now in the bank with $50,000 to be used to repair and put in good shape the railroad from Johnson City to Unaka Springs and the balance to the construction of the fifteen mile extension and the erection of a first class bridge across the Nolachuckey River at Unaka Springs.  This new extension will necessitate better rolling stock and the regular running of two or more trains daily to handle the immense lumber and ore traffic.  Timber and magnetic ores in that area are controlled by Dr. W. J.  Sproles and Attorney S. C. Williams of Johnson City.   

October 1, 1899, The Journal and Tribune:  About 150 men were put to grading on the proposed extension of the O. R. & C from the Nola Chucky River in Unicoi County toward Marion, NC  The work is under the management of contractor Lipscomb.  In a short time six car loads of tools are expected to arrive Johnson City from Richmond, Va.  Chief Engineer A. N. Molesworth is arranging for the speedy erection of the bridge across the Nola Chucky River at Unaka Springs.   

March 10, 1900, Knoxville Sentinel:  A. N. Molesworth, chief engineer of the O. R. & C. railway is in the city and reports the Chuckey River as higher than it has been for some time.

May 5, 1900, The Journal and Tribune:  A. N. Molesworth, chief engineer of the Ohio River and Charleston railway was in Bristol today.  He states that the new iron bridge over the river at Unaka Springs is nearly complete.  The 15-mile extension into the mountains of North Carolina will be completed by the 15 of June, Mr. Molesworth thinks.

August 26, 1900, Richmond Dispatch(Richmond, VA):  A. N. Molesworth, superintendent of the Ohio River and Charleston railway states the extension of the Tennessee division into the mountains of western North Carolina has just been completed and that the establishment of important lumbers plants will follow.   

August 30, 1900, The Comet:  Tuesday evening the cosy home of Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Molesworth on Myrtle Avenue presented a pleasing appearance.  Japanese lanterns were hung around the porches in gay festoons and the interior was decorated with rare potted plants.  The occasion was a dance given in honor of Misses Mae and Lettie Jones, two exceedingly popular young ladies from Roanoke who are guests in Johnson City.

March 7, 1901, The Tennessean (Nashville, TN):  A. N. Molesworth, superintendent of the OR&C says his company is planning to build nine miles of railroad to connect with the Virginia & Southwestern at Bluff City.  This will give Johnson City an outlet east independent of the Southern Railway.

March 7, 1901, The Comet:  A. N. Molesworth, superintendent and chief engineer of the O. R. & C. Railway is in Knoxville.  He came to consult Superintendent Ewing, of the Southern, in regard to cars for his road, which uses Southern cars for freight shipments altogether.  Mr. Molesworth was only partially successful.  Mr. Ewing told him that the Southern was hard up for cars itself and could use 200 more a day on this division and branches if it had them.  However, he promised to furnish the O. R. & C. all the cars possible.  These cars are needed to haul lumber out of Mitchell County, NC, and lumber and minerals from Unicoi County, Tenn.  Mr. Molesworth says his road has now been extended fifteen miles further into Mitchell County, NC, where a number of mills are cutting lumber.  He also said a  new bridge of the Howe truss variety has been put across the Nolachucky River at Unaka Springs and Mr. A. V. Deaderick is now constructing a large new hotel at those famous springs.   

May 24, 1901 Richmond Dispatch:  Additional details of flooding include the massive new iron bridge on the Ohio River and Charleston railway at Unaka, TN is a complete loss.  The new railway town of Huntdale at one of the termini of the Ohio River and Charleston railway was completely wrecked by the tide in the Chucky River.  

Author’s note:  More details of this devastating flood can be read in the March 2018 Jitterbug.

May 27, 1901, Knoxville Sentinel:  Col. A. N. Molesworth, general manager of the OR&C Railway has returned from a trip out on that line, and says it will cost his company from fifty to one hundred thousand dollars to replace the parts of that road destroyed by the Chucky River. Authors note:  $50,000-$100000 dollars in 1901 would equal 1.6 to 3.2 million dollars in 2021

July 26, 1901, The Journal and Tribune:  A. N. Molesworth was at the Imperial hotel yesterday and says that as a result of the flood ten miles of the roadbed and two bridges were destroyed.  At a recent meeting of the board of directors it was decided to repair this damage.  The engineers have been over the line and made a rough estimate placing the damages between $100.000 and $125,000.  The two bridges were a total loss, even the stone piers being washed away.  Regular traffic between Johnson City and Chestoa has not been interfered with.  The damaged section was a new extension of fifteen miles from Chestoa to Huntdale where there are large lumber and mineral interests and the directors are anxious to repair the damage so that traffic can be resumed.

Author’s note:  The work of repairing the fifteen miles of track/bridges between Unaka and Huntdale was completed circa October 30, 1901.

July 29, 1902, The Farmer and Mechanic(Raleigh, NC):  It has been reported that the Ohio River and Charleston Railroad was recently sold by Samuel Hunt and Company to the South and Western of which George L. Carter of Bristol, Tenn. is president.

November 6, 1902, The Comet:  Superintendent A. N. Molesworth, of the South and Western Railway, passed through Bristol yesterday returning from a business trip east.  Speaking of the progress on the extension of the road through the North Carolina mountains, Mr. Molesworth said the road had now been constructed to a point opposite and within two miles of Bakersville, N. C.   

October 1, 1903, The Comet:  D. H. Jones has purchased the A. N. Molesworth residence on Myrtle and Oak streets and will occupy it as soon as Mr. and Mrs. Molesworth departed for Canada.

February 4, 1904, The Comet:  The V.&S.W. railroad company will make a preliminary survey of the route from Elkanah to Johnson City.  A. N. Molesworth, of this city, will make the survey at once.

Author’s note:  This survey would had been similar to the one planned to Bluff City mentioned in the March 7, 1901, article.  This connection would had been a means to eliminate the Southern Railway handling VS&W traffic south from Bristol.   

February 25, 1904, The Comet:  A. N. Molesworth and his corps of engineers are about a mile east of here today and is working west towards the furnace.

June 2, 1904, The Comet:  Col. A. N. Molesworth left Sunday for Ottawa, Canada.  Mrs. Molesworth will follow later.  Col. Molesworth goes to accept service as civil engineer on a trans-continental railroad being built by the British Government.  His brother is Minister of the Interior and is stationed at Ottawa.  Col. Molesworth came to Johnson City away back in the 80’s to survey the old Three C’s road and has been a resident of this city since.  He is a competent engineer, a clever gentleman, and having married one of the Johnson City’s fairest daughters it is with reluctance that we give them up even while recognizing that it may be for their good.  They will carry with the best wishes of a host of friends for the future happiness and prosperity.

Final Days at the OR&C Railroad

As with any new ownership or change in command, the new person in charge usually brings in their own people and/or shakes up the status quo.  This appears to be true with George L. Carter taking over the reins of the O.R.&C.  Mr. Molesworth retained his superintendent’s role as indicated in the November 6, 1902, article, but with the October 1903 sale of his home, his days with Mr. Carter were apparently numbered.  Molesworth’s February 1904 survey for the V&S.W. appeared to be done as an independent surveyor and a few months afterward he returned to Canada.

Mr. Molesworth became a district engineer for the Canada Transcontinental Railroad.  His district from Clear Lake to the Quebec/Ontario boundary was approximately 276 miles.  My research indicated Mr. Molesworth worked on this endeavor from 1904 to at least 1908 as I was unable find any information beyond 1908.

Mr. Molesworth passed away on April 23, 1925, at the age of 73.  The cause of death was carcinoma of the liver.

Even though the Three C’s endeavor was basically a failure, the idea and hard work of many people, including Mr. Molesworth, laid the foundation for our Clinchfield railroad.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org