Erie Railroad Biography - Hugh Larkin


Hugh Larkin

HUGH LARKIN, Cleveland, Ohio.
Hugh Larkin is one of those whose life history is incorporated in the growth of the Erie from a trail of surveyors' stakes through the woods of Ohio to one of the busiest railroads in existence. He was born in Glengary, Canada, September 7, 1835, and at the age of 13 left school to go to work in a woolen mill, where he remained three years, going then to a sawmill where he worked two years. When he was 18 years of age he left Canada and came to the United States. He located at Akron, Ohio, and went to work as a section hand on the Akron & Marietta Railroad; in two weeks' time he was made section foreman, a position he held but a short time having been advanced to brakeman. In September, 1854, he went to Cleveland where he entered the employ of Mr. Kingsbury, a contractor who was furnishing ties for the Mahoning Valley Railroad, now the Erie, which was then being constructed. Mr. Larkin worked cutting ties for nearly a year, and when the contract was finished he secured employment with the construction crew, and assisted in laying the track, working as a spiker until the road was completed. He was then given a position as brakeman, but in March, 1856, he was promoted to fireman, which position he filled eleven months, being then promoted to engineer, April, 1857. He ran an engine in the Cleveland yard for a year and was then transferred to Girard, Ohio and given the run then known as the "roustabout," hauling freight and doing the switching between Girard, Niles and Mineral Ridge. He had this run about a year and was then given a regular engine called the "Warren," and run a night coal train between Cleveland and Youngstown. After three or four years he was given a passenger run between Cleveland and Youngstown, and it was the first regular passenger train leaving Cleveland in the morning for Youngstown. Mr. Larkin has held this run ever since and it is now the important trains 7 and 24, the New York Vestibule and Pittsburg Limited, respectively, and instead of the primitive engine he ran on his first trip he now has one of the fine new compounds.

In April, 1861, Mr. Larkin enlisted on the first call for troops for three months. He was Orderly Sergeant in Captain Johnson's company, the "Cleveland Rifles." Before they were called to the front the captain died and the company disbanded. Mr. Larkin then enlisted for three months in the "Tod Guards" of Youngstown, which went to the front as Company B, 10th 0.V.I. He was in the battle of Rich Mountain and saw considerable hard service.

On January 8, 1868, he was married to Miss Ella E. Burrows, daughter of Orlando Burrows, a pioneer of Cleveland. They have three daughters, two of whom are married and the youngest attending college in Cleveland. Mr. Larkin has a pleasant home at 230 Jennings Avenue, and is fond of his grandchild, Lloyd, with whom he has many playful romps.

Speaking of Mr. Larkin, a Pittsburg paper once said, among many other things: "The familiar face and form of the veteran passenger engineer, Hugh Larkin, is known to everyone residing along the Mahoning Division between Youngstown and Cleveland. In sunshine and storm, amid the raging of the elements, the kindly face of Engineer Larkin has been seen every day for over forty years. Since his first connection with the road he has retained his position through all the changes in officials, his sterling qualities being recognized by all, who esteemed it a pleasure as well as a duty to retain the services of such a valued employe. No veteran of the throttle possesses a higher record than Mr. Larkin's; always attentive to duty, exercising careful judgment and obeying orders to the letter he has attained a reputation more enduring than any medal of honor." Mr. Larkin is popular with the traveling public as well as with the officials and his fellow workmen, and the person who rides on the Mahoning Valley Division frequently feels safe when he knows Hugh Larkin is on the engine. He is a highly respected citizen of Cleveland and a man whose kindness of heart is felt by many an unfortunate person. Generous, charitable, good and honest, his career has been one of continued success, and is worthy of emulation. He has seen the population of Cleveland rise from 30,000 to 350,000, and during his career on an engine he has traveled nearly 50,000 miles a year, and during his entire career nearly 2,000,000 miles.


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


From the March, 1908 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine (Mahoning Division News):
Engineer Hugh Larkin, who for a full half century had been in the employ of the Erie, died at his home in Cleveland, OH on February 23 (1908), after having been confined to his home for some time. Mr. Larkin began work with the old A&GW company and continued with the Erie after the two were merged until about five years ago. At that time he was injured by being struck on the head by a mail sack, while leaning out of his cab window, receiving injuries that compelled his retirement. The funeral services were conducted by Grand Treasurer Matthew Shay of the B of LE, of which Mr. Larkin was a member.


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