HENRY HECKLING, Cleveland, Ohio.
One day the sewer at the Davis street bridge in Cleveland bursted and washed the bank out onto the Erie track just as Henry Heckling was coming along with a through freight. The landslide piled up on the track just ahead of the engine and so suddenly that the train could not be stopped, and the result was that the engine toppled over into the ditch. The fireman jumped, while Mr. Heckling was thrown through the cab window, but fortunately neither was hurt. This is the only wreck that Mr. Heckling has ever had, and considering that he has run an engine on the Erie for the past twenty-one years speaks volumes as to his ability and judgment as an engineer.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, October 3, 1852, and his father was Anton Heckling, who for fourteen years was engineer on the old lake boat, the "Telegraph," which ran between Cleveland and Port Stanley. On leaving school at the age of 15, he was bound out by his father to learn the trade of a molder. After learning the trade, which required three years, he worked two years more at it as a journeyman, then becoming dissatisfied, he took a position as a fireman on an old woodburner on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. After two years and a half he left this and took a similar position on the Erie, where he remained two years longer, quitting then to embark in the commission business for himself in Cleveland. Four months of this line convinced him that he was more contented in the railroading business, and he consequently returned to the Erie, where he fired for a year and a half, being then promoted to engineer in April, 1878. For about two years he ran a yard engine at Cleveland and then he was given one of the new compound engines and placed on through freight. He held this for seven years and then was transferred to the helper between Cleveland and Randall, which he has run for the past twelve years. Mr. Heckling ranks among the oldest freight engineers of the division, and is one of the most efficient, having on many occasions been commended for his good work.

June 24, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Moxon of Cleveland, and three children have been born to them. Alice, the only daughter, is married, while Ralph, aged 18, and Claude, aged 16, are both attending school. Mr. Heckling is a member of the B. of L. E., Division 167, and is a respected resident of Cleveland, who engages the respect of his acquaintances generally, as well as the friendship of his fellow employes.


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