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W. H. ODIORNE, Superintendent of the Springfield Gas Company, has been closely connected with this company since January 1872, and is well and favorably known throughout the city and county.

Mr. Odiorne was born in Boston, Mass., November 30, 1856, being the son of Alfred and Elizabeth R. (Wild) Odiorne, and when eleven years of age came with his parents to Springfield. His father was in the gas business for many years building the works here in 1854. He too was born in Boston, August 19, 1819, and there grew to manhood and engaged in mechanical pursuits, his father Thomas Odiorne being proprietor of the rolling mills and probably the manufacturer of the first rails ever made in this country.

Our subject's father work in the rolling mills at first and then turned his attention to the gas business, having charge of the Malden Gas Works and also the Medford Gas Works in the suburbs of Boston, and remained with them for a number of years. In the year 1867 he moved with his family to Springfield, taking charge of the gas works here, a position which he continued to fill up to the time of his death, which occurred November 4, 1885. His wife died January 25, 1887, leaving a family of three children, viz: William H., Mary E., wife of J. R. Booth of Springfield, and E. E. of Denver, Colo.

The subject of our sketch received a good common-school education and then commenced to work for the gas company and being a practical gas man was upon the death of his father, made superintendent of the company. He was one of the early stockholders in the Building and Loan Association of Springfield and was for two years Director, and at the last annual meeting was elected President of the Association. He was also one of the first Board of Directors of the Sangamon Fair and Springfield Exposition, and still holds that office, and has held the office of marshal of the ring. Having done much to make the exhibits a success he naturally is at the head on all matters of importance connected with the fair. While he is by no means a political aspirant, he takes great interest in politics and is a member of the Republican party. As previously stated the first gas works in Springfield were built by Alfred Odiorne of Boston, he being the superintendent and contractor, and N. H. Ridgely was president of same up to the time of his death in 1888, and William Ridgely was then elected president to fill the vacancy. The original capital stock is $75,000, the original capacity being from 20,000 to 25,000 feet per day, and about twenty miles of street mains. The works are located at both north-west and south-west corners of Washington and First Streets and give employment to about thirty-five men.

Mr. Odiorne belongs to the pre-eminently successful men whose history is indeed a part of the history of the city where they reside, since to them is due a vast amount of credit for the progress and industry that increase the population and capacities of the city with each succeeding year. The march of progress is great indeed, and the men who are guiding the main enterprises are worthy of a vast amount of praise and universally receive high respect and admiration throughout the communities where they reside.