McCallum, Daniel C.

McCallum, Daniel C. (Craig) (1815–78) engineer, railroad builder; born in Johnston, Scotland. His parents emigrated to Rochester, N.Y., when he was a boy. He completed elementary school, began working, and became an architect and engineer. In 1851 he patented an inflexible arched truss bridge, and in 1855 he became general supervisor of the New York & Erie Railway. In 1858 he founded McCallum Bridge Company. During the Civil War he was appointed military director of the Union railroads; he managed a vast operation of tracks and personnel that played a crucial role in such Union campaigns as Gen. Sherman's march to Atlanta. He was promoted to major general for his work. He also wrote poetry and published The Water-Mill and Other Poems (1870).