GEORGE H. CONKLIN, Suffern, New York. If there is anything in the doctrine of heredity or by whatever name it may be called, surely the subject of this sketch is a telling example. Born in Ramapo, New York, March 17, 1846, his father (yet living at the patriarchal age of 86) being at that time in the service of the Erie as through baggage man, a service extended over nearly forty years, thirty years on train No. 1, Jersey City to Buffalo, he came so naturally by his leanings toward railroad work that to quote his own words: "Every time I saw a railroad train I said to myself. 'That's what I'll do when I'm a man.'" So that in spite of being educated as a bookkeeper and brought up for a mercantile career, Mr. Conklin followed his natural bent, and, after working in a grocery store for a few months, went into the service of the Erie, beginning in 1861 as newsboy. In 1862 he began firing, which he continued to do until May, 1865, between which time and October, 1868, he ran as baggageman between New York and Buffalo, when he resumed firing (and those were the times when wood was the fuel), so remaining until October 21, 1869, when he was promoted to freight engineer and served in that capacity for twelve years, since which time and up to the present he has pulled passenger. And for all this time, through a service so constant and so varied, he has never had an accident, has never "scratched paint nor drawn blood on an employe." Surely a remarkable and enviable record. Mr. Conklin is an Erie product; he has never worked for another road, and if we are to judge a tree by its fruits it is small wonder that the Erie has risen from its ashes, has triumphed over those who sought its downfall, and now stands preeminent among the world's railways.

On November 24, 1868, Mr. Conklin married, at Brooklyn, N. Y., Miss Emma M. Springsteen, and their union has been blessed by the birth of seven children, five of whom are now living. Of his boys and their future, Mr. Conklin says: "I will do my best to educate them; then they can follow their own bent, being as well equipped for success as I can make them," believing, as typified in his own case, that the line they feel impelled to follow is the one that will prove most suitable.

At the present time Mr. Conklin has the run between Jersey City and Suffern, N.Y., being in charge of engine 376. He has been for so many years a Freemason in good standing that pursuant to a resolution passed by his lodge (Ramapo No. 589 of New York), in 1896, he was at that time made an honorary member, having been identified with the lodge for twenty-five years. For the last ten years he has been and at the present time is First Assistant Engineer of Hudson Division No. 135, B. of L. E., at Jersey City, which he joined in 1870, at the earliest moment of eligibility. Mr. Conklin has the record of a veteran, but he has the looks and the carriage of a young man. Many years must pass before the days of his usefulness are numbered, and he has hosts of friends to hope that they may be prosperous and happy years.

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

From the February, 1913 issue of Erie Magazine:
While in charge of engine 499, train 320, the engine developed a broken main rod strap, and Engineer G.H. Conklin, who was in charge, brought the train to Jersey City on time. Superintendent Dickson, of the New York Division, has awarded him a credit mark.

From the October, 1919 issue of Erie Magazine:

From the July, 1921 issue of Erie Magazine:
Veteran engineer G.H. Conklin, of the Suffern switch engine, who received a bad cut on his hand while removing a brake shoe on his engine, is improving and will be back on the job shortly.

George H. Conklin

From the March, 1926 issue of Erie Magazine:
Enviable Record of Erie Engineer
Among the well-liked and always reliable locomotive engineers who are now in retirement is George Horace Conklin, who was born in Ramapo, N.Y., on March 17, 1846. His father, David Conklin, was a brakeman and baggagemaster on the New York division until retired at the age of 82. Until 1852 the family lived at Ramapo in a two-family house, which is still standing, opposite the depot at that point. Young Conklin attended school there and later at Piermont and Suffern, where the family moved as the father's work made it necessary. From his earliest recollection George Conklin wanted to be a railroad man but his father had other plans and started the boy in a business course at the Sloatsburg school, which meant an eight-mile walk each way night and morning. For a year the boy attended school and then went to work in a grocery, still carrying out the idea of becoming a merchant.

The idea didn't work out, however, and he applied for a job on the Erie Railroad. He went to the general superintendent of telegraph, L.C. Tillotson, who gave him a job in the Duane street office as messenger. It called for twelve hours a day, and the salary was $12 a month. General Superintendent Charles Minot then made him trainboy, running between New York and Dunkirk. He remained on this job until October, 1862, then began firing on the Piermont branch and later was on the main line, until his promotion to locomotive engineer in October, 1869.

Engineer Conklin never had a train accident, and prevented at least one accident by alert handling of his locomotive when a train ahead plunged down a bank and the injured flagman was unable to run back the proper distance for protection. The stopping of his train in this instance emphasized the concentration of thought and devotion to duty which characterized his every moment on his engines.

Mr. Conklin is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division No. 54, Port Jervis, having joined the organization in 1870. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, Port Jervis, and when he moved to Suffern transferred his membership to that point. Also he is a member of Ramapo Lodge No. 589, F. & A.M.

To be a "Red Spot" engineer is a distinction much sought by enginemen. Mr. Conklin had that distinction almost from the time this honorary order was instituted. Erie engine 2072, named after him, is the latest "George H. Conklin" on the rails. He retired from locomotive running in October, 1925, after a continuous service of sixty-five years. He has the respect of all who know him.

"My only regret," says Mr. Conklin, "is that I was born fifty years too soon. I should like to be starting my railroad life anew. The life I have lived, however, has been very pleasant and filled with contentment. I never knew many of the officials. In fact, from the time I first came to work under General Superintendent Minot I never to my knowledge laid eyes on another general superintendent until I met Mr. Mantell, our present vice president. I was busy around my engine one day at Jersey City when a man stepped up to me and asked if there was anything I wanted done toward the betterment of my engine. I told him no, that the engine was 100 per cent and that I was perfectly satisfied with it. We discussed the locomotive for a few minutes and again he repeated his desire to do anything possible for me in the way of increasing my satisfaction with the engine assigned to me. His insistence prompted me to ask who he was and he said he was Mr. Mantell. I was rather taken aback and apologized for failing to recognize him, but I had no idea who was speaking when he addressed me."

Mr. Conklin added, laughingly, "Maybe the fact that I had never known the bosses was one reason why I worked so long, but I never had occasion to be called before any of them, and received nothing but the best treatment."

From the February, 1928 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
George H. Conklin, of Suffern, one of the oldest engineers on the Erie railroad, has been placed on the retired list after 66 years of service. He entered the service of the Erie as messenger boy for Supt. Tilston at the Duane Street office, New York, in December, 1859. He was born in Ramapo, NY in November, 1846 and came to Suffern in 1860. During all his railroad career he has never experienced any serious accidents and has a first class record. He started as engineer, working with such old timers as Daniel D. Cooper, Hanky Carlough, Steven Ronk, who has passed away.

From the November, 1929 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
George H. Conklin, retired Erie Railroad engineer, died at his home in Suffern, NY on September 28, 1929. He had spent 68 years in Erie service, having entered its employ as a messenger at Duane St. Station, New York, in 1859. Ten years later he became an engineer. His name appears on the cab of an Erie locomotive.