JOHN B. LOVETTE, Galion, Ohio.
A highly efficient engineer of the Erie and one who stands well in the estimation of the officials is John B. Lovette, son of John Lovette, a farmer of near Crestline, Ohio. Mr. Lovette was born in Crestline, September 4, 1849, and attended public school until he was 17 years of age, when he went to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and for a while was clerk in the post office of that place. In 1873 he secured a position as fireman on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, and remained in the employ of that company until 1879, when he went to work on the Erie. After eighteen months' service as fireman he was promoted to engineer and has since run an engine in the freight department, with occasional extra passenger duty. Mr. Lovette has been highly successful, and being a careful and conservative runner has never had an accident of any kind. In 1887 he took an engine which was equipped with a patent steam brake, called the Root Automatic brake, from Chicago to New York, pulling a freight train over the road and demonstrating the working of the new invention.

On December 22, 1872, he was married to Miss Wilda Paramore, daughter of M. B. Paramore, a farmer of near Crestline. They have four children: Earl Ray, aged 25, a graduate of Galion High School, is a druggist of Delaware, Ohio; Myrtle C., aged 20, is also a graduate of Galion High School; Clyde, aged 18, educated in Galion, is storekeeper in Howard's carriage works at Galion; May, aged 13, is now attending school. Mr. Lovette is a member of B. of L. E. No. 16, and Galion Lodge No. 186, K. of P. He is a substantial and highly respected resident of Galion, having the good will of his fellow engineers and all who know him.

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

From the November, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Engineer John Lovett was one of 42 active and retired engineers invited to a chicken dinner given at Galion, OH by Cincinnati Division engineer John Cronenwett for those Division engineers who did not move from Galion, OH to Marion, OH when the Division headquarters were moved there beginning in 1912. Click here for more on the festivities.

From the January, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Cincinnati Division engineer J.B. Lovett was commended for running his engine in passenger service for 31,131 miles between September 1, 1913 and September 1, 1914 without any engine failures.

From the December, 1922 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
John B. Lovett -- From the Galion Inquirer the death of John B. Lovett is learned. The notice stated that he died suddenly at his home in Galion, 420 N. Columbus St., the cause assigned being heart disease, on November 23, 1922. He had been taken ill the day previous at Ashland, when he received medical attention. Mr. Lovett was the oldest engineer in point of service on the third division and was 73 years of age. He was born in Crestline, OH September 4, 1849 to John B. Lovett and Liddis Gray. Burial was at Fairview Cemetery on November 26, 1922.