to the national democratic convention of 1884, member of the committee to notify Cleveland and Hendricks of their nomination as president and vice president, delegate at large to the national democratic convention of 1892, and chairman of the committee on permanent organization. Fordyce was often asked to run for governor or senator, but declined. Fordyce's was respected by both parties for his political knowledge and several presidents sought his advice, including President Hayes, President Harrison, and President McKinley. It is clear that Fordyce had some political influence, as he wrote to Missouri Governor David Rowland Francis in 1891 recommending John C. Kelton, an employee of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company for a position in the County Surveyors Office. Personal life Fordyce married Susan E. Chadick on May 1, 1866. Susan was the daughter of Reverend William D. Chadick, of Hunstville, Alabama. Susan and Samuel had two daughters and three sons. Their son, John Rison Fordyce (1869-1939) was an engineer, inventor, amateur historian, and archaeologist, and a candidate for United States Congress. He also made an expedition to the Arctic as part of Dr. Frederick A. Cook's team in 1894. In 1917, John was commissioned Major of Engineers and oversaw the construction of Camp Pike in Arkansas. Death and legacy Fordyce died on August 3, 1919, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His remains were interred at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis. The town of Fordyce, Arkansas, was named for Samuel W. Fordyce. There was a town in south Texas called Sam Fordyce, in the 20th century. References Fordyce, Jim (1999), Samuel W. Fordyce. Retrieved August 15, 2005. Kansas City Southern Historical Society, The Kansas City Southern Lines. Retrieved August 15, 2005. St. Louis Southwestern Railway Co., Including the St. Louis Southwestern Railway Co. of Texas. Fifteenth Annual Report of the Board of Directors to the Stockholders, for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1906. Sam'l F. Myerson Printing Co., St. Louis, 1906. External links 1840 births 1919 deaths 19th-century American railroad executives Kansas City Southern Railway Burials at Bellefontaine Cemetery