JOHN F. McMANAMY, Galion, Ohio.
Besides being an engineer of ability John F. McManamy has demonstrated that he is possessed of what is most essential to the successful engineer--a cool and level head when danger is imminent. He was born near Glasgow, Scotland, January 29, i866. His father was Frank McManamy, who brought his family to the United States in 1869, and settled at Atwater, Ohio. The young man left school when he was 10 years of age and for the next three years worked successively at coal mining, farming and boiler making in Portage County, Ohio. As a hardy lad of 13 he began work as a section hand on the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad at Atwater in 1879, and worked in that capacity for five years, when he secured a position as brakeman on the same road. A year later he accepted a similar position on the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio, running out of Galion, and in 1887 began firing. After eight years of service, part on freight and part on passenger, he was promoted to engineer in October, 1895, and made his first trip to Kent and return on engine 643, with through freight. He was set back to firing in 1895, and in 1896 he was re-promoted and is now running in the freight service.

In 1893, while firing for M. A. Richsecker, Mr. McManamy used but one tank of coal in running to Kent and return via Crestline, with a train of twelve cars each way. He is in possession of a personal letter from President E. B. Thomas, dated at Cleveland, September 29, 1888, thanking him for his efforts in apprising the passengers at Rittman of their danger when the fourth section of No. 5 was wrecked by the local freight. He also has a letter from Superintendent Allen dated Galion, September 16, 1896, commending his cool-headedness in averting more serious damage by applying the emergency air brake when train No. 5 and extra east No. 1200 collided at Enon. Again at Akron, when just entering the city, his train broke in two, and the head brakeman was so frightened he did not know what to do; Mr. McManamy climbed back over the tender and set the brakes on thirteen cars just in time to stop the train, which was going down grade and in imminent danger of collision.

Mr. McManamy owns fine property in Galion and is a highly respected citizen. He is a member of B. of L. F., No. 107, and Branch 7, C. K. of 0. He was married April 28, 1892, to Miss Nellie Barry, daughter of Robert Barry, a native of Ireland, and now an employe of the Erie at Pavonia. They have three bright little children; Robert J., aged 6, is now attending school; Marguerite A., aged 4, and the baby, Mary E., aged two months.


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

Engineer J.F. McManamy was commended by Cincinnati Division Superintendent C.A. Allen for making road repairs on his engine on Jan. 18, 1909, thus getting his train into the yard with minimal loss of time. Additional information can be found in the March, 1909 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine, P. 17.

From several 1914 issues of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Cincinnati Division Engineer J.F. McManamy, running engine #769, was listed as being in the Order of the Red Spot for the last half of 1914. The Order was an honor bestowed on engine crews who operated efficiently with few engine failures.

From the January, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Cincinnati Division engineer J.F. McManamy was commended for running his engine for 20,844 miles between February 1, 1914 and September 1, 1914 without any engine failures.

From the September, 1937 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Marion Division Engineer J.F. McManamy of Dayton was retired recently under the new Federal Railroad Retirement statutes at age 71 after 49 years, 11 months of service.

Retired engineer John F. McManamy of 40 Otterbain Ave., Dayton, died January 14, 1938 at age 71. According to the death certificate available online at FamilySearch.org, he was born January 29, 1866 in Edinburgh, Scotland to Frank McManamy and Mary Blainey. He was married to Ella McManamy. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery on Jan. 18, 1938.