ISAAC NEWTON DARR, Huntington, Indiana.
Isaac Newton Darr's father was Reuben Darr, a prominent farmer of Rochester, Indiana, and the subject of this sketch was born October 12, 1867, in Greenville, Darke County, Ohio. He attended school and worked on his father's farm until he was 16 years of age, when, having no desire to follow farm life, started out for himself. He secured a place with a construction crew and surveying outfit on the Erie road, with whom he remained one year, returning home to help on the farm. He stayed on the farm two years and then went back to the employ of the Erie, working with a fencing crew for about four months, when Master Mechanic Joehan advanced him to fireman. For three years he ran on freight, and was then given a passenger run, on which he remained for seven years, receiving his promotion to engineer in the fall of 1896. As fireman Mr. Darr was reckoned as one of the best, and as an engineer he is demonstrating that his promotion was fully merited. He is now running freight between Galion and Chicago, and is well thought of by his superiors and fellow engineers.

He was married June 15, 1890, to Miss Susie Denis, daughter of Jacob Denis, a prominent farmer of Allen County, Indiana. Three children have been born to them. Neoma, who died February 26, 1896, aged 5 years and 6 months, and who had suffered for years; Bernice, the pride and happiness of her parents' hearts, aged 5, and Vernon, who died at the age of 4 months. Mr. Darr is a member of William Hugo Lodge, No. 166, B. of L. F., and both he and his estimable wife are held in high esteem by their many friends in Huntington.

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

From the Thursday, August 24, 1926 issue of the Rochester News-Sentinel:
Dale Ault, eleven year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ault, 429 West Second street, died Monday night at Woodlawn hospital following an accident at the Erie Railroad in which the youngster had both of his legs cut off by a moving freight train. The tragedy happened shortly after five o'clock in the afternoon west of the Rochester Canning Co., plant. Although every medical aid was given the suffering lad by physicians the shock and loss of blood was too much for him and he passed away shortly after ten o'clock.

The accident as described by eye witnesses occurred as follows: Dale in the company of six boys, had been gathering onions in the Francis Spohn field just north and west of the Odd Fellows cemetery. They were under the supervision of F.P. McFadden. At five they all stopped work and decided to look at some watermelons which were located in a patch north of the Erie railroad tracks.

The above group walked onto the Erie right of way and found a freight train, headed east and standing on the saw mill siding, blocking their path. The train which contained 46 cars was uncoupled farther to the east. The caboose was about where the boys came onto the track. Several of the young fellows went around the caboose and walked along the track on the north side. Dale and his brother Dean remained on the south side. After walking a short distance thus the two Ault boys decided to crawl under the train, Dale going first. He said afterwards he thought there was no engine near the cars. Just as he was about through and with his body almost clear of the last rail the crew started to couple up the two sections and the moment the engine hit the other one the car wheels caught the boy and completely severed his two legs, his right one just below the hip and his left one slightly lower.

Dean Ault, who was just about to follow his brother witnessed the tragedy and immediately ran down the track signalling the train crew and called for help. Members of the crew rushed to the scene and gave what first aid they could to the stricken lad while an ambulance was called and took him to the hospital. There physicians immediately started working to save his life but their efforts were in vain.

Newt Darr of Rochester was engineer of the train, James Hines was conductor, H.E. Hubley, flagman and P.J. Kacey trainman.

C.B. HIATT, county coroner, held an inquest at ten o'clock Tuesday morning. He interviewed the boys, members of the Ault family and the members of the train crew. His report will be given out later.

From the Wednesday, September 9, 1931 issue of the Rochester News-Sentinel:
A baby was killed and four other persons were injured when a light sedan driven by Paul Woodcox crashed into an Erie railroad combination freight and passenger train at the Ginn crossing five miles east of this city at 5:45 o�clock Tuesday afternoon.

The engineer of the train, Newton Darr, of Huntington, who is also the owner of a large farm east of this city, stated that he saw the machine bearing the Woodcox family speeding toward the crossing and sounded the whistle on his locomotive long and loud. When he saw that the driver of the car did not heed his warning Mr. Darr said he applied the brakes on his engine but too late to avoid the crash. The light touring car which was demolished was thrown 20 feet after the impact.

Engineer Darr and other members of the train crew whose homes are in Huntington rendered all the aid they could to the members of the Woodcox famiy. They freed them from the wreckage of their machine. Ora Moore, who lives near the crossing brought the injured members of the party to Woodlawn Hospital in his machine. Details of the accident could not be learned untl the older members of the party had regained consciousness this morning.

Mr. Woodcox in speaking of the accident today stated that he was driving his car south on the road heading to the Ginn crossing and that he did not notice the train until he was near the crossing. Woodcox said that when he attempted to apply the brakes on his machine they refused to hold and that his car continued to roll forward and onto the crosssing in the path of the oncoming train.

The crossing is clear and good view of the track is available in either direction The Ginn crossing is the first crossing west of Athens. Paul Woodcox is a farmer residing on the Estil Ginn farm a short distance north of the crossing where the fatal accident occurred. The Woodcox family was on their way to Athens to purchase supplies when the crash occurred. Mr. Woodcox is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Woodcox who live on a farm northwest of this city.

From the November, 1932 issue of the Erie Railroad Magazine:
I.N. Darr, formerly of Rochester and now of Huntington, won first place at the August 27, 1932 Division Picnic as the oldest employee in years of service present, having worked 50 years.

From the March, 1942 issue of the Erie Railroad Magazine:
Veteran I.N. Darr and Mrs. Darr visited with Huntington friends Jan. 29, paid his 1942 (Erie Veterans Association) dues and received the fifty-year veterans' button. For over fifty years he served as fireman and engineer. He is now in retirement on his farm two miles northeast of Rochester, IN, where he will be glad to see any of his friends.

From the Monday, October 15, 1951 issue of the Rochester News-Sentinel:
Funeral services for Isaac Newton Darr, 84, who passed away Saturday morning at his farm home Route 2, will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at the residence. Rev. Frank Briggs, of Delphi, will officiate and burial will be in the Rochester I.O.O.F. cemetery. Mr. Darr had a legion of friends throughout Fulton county and along the Erie R.R. route throughout the central West.

He was born Oct. 12, 1867 in Darke County, Ohio. Mr. Darr had been a resident of this community for over 50 years and also maintained a home in Huntington, Ind.

In 1890, in a ceremony pronounced in Allen County, Ohio, he was married to Susian (Dennis) Darr. He was a retired Erie R.R. engineer. He started service with the Erie when a lad of 13 years of age, serving as a water boy when the tracks were being layed between Huntington and Hammond. Mr. Darr retired in 1937 after 50 years and 10 months of engine service on the Erie line. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and the Rochester Methodist church.

Surviving are his wife, at home; a brother, John Darr, of Jackson, Mich.; a sister, Mrs. Margaret Miltenberger, of South Bend; two granddaughters, Mrs. [Mildred M.] Robbins, of Huntington; Mrs. Frances Van Deren, of Indianapolis and two great-grandchildren. The following children preceded Mr. Darr in death: Neoma Darr, Vaughn Darr and Mrs. Bernice [Darr] Barkman Brubaker.

The body rests at the Darr home northeast of this city where friends may call.

From the Monday, February 13, 1956 issue of the Rochester News-Sentinel:
Funeral services for Mrs. Susan (Dennis) Darr, R.R. 2, Rochester who died at 7:45 a.m. Sunday at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Mildred Robbins of Plymouth, will be held at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday at the Robbins funeral home, Bourbon. The Rev. J.A. Hornick of the Plymouth Methodist church will officiate and burial will be in the Rochester I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Mrs. Darr, who had been residing with her granddaughter for the past three months, had been seriously ill for three weeks. For over 60 years she resided on the Darr farm two and a half miles northeast of this city.

She was born in Allen county, Feb. 28, 1868, and in 1890 was married to Isaac Newton Darr. Mr. Darr, who was a retired Erie Railroad engineer, died in 1951. Mrs. Darr was a member of the Rochester Methodist church.

Survivors are two grandchildren, Mrs. Maurice (Mildred) Robbins, Plymouth; and Mrs. William (Frances) Van Deren, Indianapolis, and two great-grandchildren. Three children, Bernice Brubaker, Naomi and Vernon Darr, preceded her in death. Friends may call at the Robbins funeral home, Bourbon.

[Transcriptions from the Rochester News-Sentinel found in FULTON COUNTY INDIANA OBITUARIES, by Jean C. and Wendell C. Tombaugh, available online through the Fulton County Library, Rochester, IN]