FRANKLIN LAMAN, Cleveland, Ohio.
For thirty-three years Franklin Laman has been an employe of the Erie as engineer and fireman and he has doubtless established a record by serving the entire time in the Cleveland yards. He was born in Willoughby, Ohio, November 7, 1841, where he attended school until he was 15 years of age. He then went to work for his father, Samuel Laman, a carpenter and contractor, and remained in his employ until 1862, when he secured a position as fireman on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago. After two years of firing he left to accept a position as stationary engineer at Oil City, Pennsylvania, with an oil company. He held this place four months, leaving to accept a similar position at Marietta, Ohio, where he remained five months. In November, 1866, he secured a position as fireman on the Erie, and after firing two and one-half years was promoted to engineer, February 10, 1869. Since that time he has been in the night yard at Cleveland, and by his efficient work and constant attention to business has won a place of high esteem with the officials of the Mahoning Division.

On September 29, 1866, Mr. Laman was married to Miss Zeila Carter, of Cleveland, and they have one daughter, who is married to David White, a boilermaker in the employ of the Erie at Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. White have four children, and they are all favorites with their grandparents. Mr. Laman is a member of B. of L. E., Division 167, and is a property owner of Cleveland, being a highly respected citizen of the city and popular among his many acquaintances, both among railroad men and otherwise.

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

From the November, 1910 issue of Erie Magazine:
With nearly 44 years of service to his credit and a splendid record to back it, Frank Laman, a faithful engineer of the Mahoning Division, is presented to our readers as a man whose method of always serving the Erie Railroad by giving it the best that was in him, is well worthy of emulation.

Frank is easily on the roster of ancient and honorables, and a rare type of the efficient railroad man. Forty-four years, less eight months, of continuous service, is his record and he lost that eight months only through serious illness. He began his railroad career in March, 1866, as fireman, under superintendent J. Hovey, acting Master Mechanic, and at the end of 2 years was promoted to engineer, in which capacity he made an enviable reputation and won renown.

It fell to the lot of Frank Laman to work nights and the boys knew him as a "night owl." A few years previous to his becoming an employe of the A. & G. W. R. R., he had the misfortune to lose the sight of his right eye and yet, during the many years, he handled engines on the most important tracks in and about the "H.D." yards, he never had a derailment, or wreck, or caused any damage or loss to the company's property, and he was never called to the office to receive a reprimand for carelessness.

There are very many good fellows among the employes of the Mahoning Division, but Frank Laman has rare qualities of heart that commend him to a wide circle of friends, and he is a general favorite with the boys, his Christian and benevolent qualities being proverbial. Frank's life has not been one sweet bed of roses; on the contrary he has had family bereavements and responsibilities aplenty that have made inroads into his earnings, but he saw sunshine through the rift in the clouds and has always carried a cheerful heart. It was in 1902 that Frank failed to pass a rigid examination for color blindness, so he bade adieu to his engine. On account of his excellent record, he was taken care of by Master Mechanic H.B. Brown, of the Cleveland shops, who gave him the position of supply man and tool checker, which he now holds, working nights. Aside from defective eyesight, Frank is the same active fellow as of old and can do a day's (or night's) work, with the huskiest youngster within the Brown reservation.

From the September, 1913 issue of Erie Magazine:
Frank Laman was among a group of senior employees on the Mahoning Division whose photo was published in the magazine. He was described as: "Frank Laman, Toolroom Attendant, Age 71, 46 years of service."