EDWARD S. HARDING, Paterson, New Jersey.
On May 31, 1853, Edward S. Harding was born in Westboro, Sullivan County, New York, and is the son of John Harding, a miner, who still resides in that place. Mr. Harding attended school until he was 15 years of age, and, having secured a good common school education, he devoted his energies for the next five years to farming in the country near his birthplace. On July 1, 1870, he left the farm to accept a position as brakeman on the Erie, and for the succeeding six years faithfully performed the duties of that position, running on the New York Division. In 1876 he was advanced to fireman and for the next ten years fired freight between Port Jervis and Jersey City, being promoted to engineer on February 3, 1886. For a short time he ran freight over the same division, being transferred to a switch engine in the Paterson yards some years since, at which place he still remains.

On June 28, 1875, Mr. Harding was married to Miss Ellen Dunn of Port Jervis, who died on May 15, 1896. Two children were born to them, Isabella and Lewis. Lewis belongs to Troop F, 6th U. S. Cavalry, having been in the service one year. On February 22, 1897, Mr. Harding was married to Miss Maria Nixon, at Port Jervis, she being the daughter of Francis Nixon, an Englishman who was farming in Ireland, and who returned to England shortly after her birth. Mr. Harding is a member of Port Jervis Lodge No. 328, F. & A. M., and Lodge No. 3, B. of L. F., of Jersey City. He was a charter member of Deer Park Lodge No. 1, B. of L. F., and was Vice Master of this lodge for five years prior to transferring his membership to Lodge No. 3. He is a highly competent engineer, and enjoys the respect of a wide circle of acquaintances.


Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.