JOHN L. VAN ORDEN, Nyack, New York.
John L. Van Orden corner of his railroad instincts as a birthright, for his father was an engineer on the Erie as far back as 1859, and was, at the time of Mr. Van Orden's birth, November 22, 1864, residing at Piermont, New York, for many years the eastern terminus of the Erie. While John was still a small boy, however, he removed to Port Jervis, and it was there and at Matamoras that the boy received his schooling. Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he worked on a farm for a year and then became a "printer's devil" in the office of the Port Jervis "Gazette," where he remained for a year, the connection being then -- so he says -- "dissolved by mutual consent." Following this he was a driver of a delivery wagon for a grocer for about six months, and then his railroad predilections asserted themselves and he secured, at 17 years of age, a position as fireman on the pusher at Port Jervis, January 6, 1882, and passed in succession to Greycourt, where he fired on the pusher for John D. Clifford; to an extra freight run and the Newburgh coal run; to extra fireman at Jersey City for a month; to regular passenger service on the Suffern train, with Charles W. Blizard; to the Piermont Branch on freight, and then to a passenger train on the Northern, after which he fired for a short time in the Jersey City passenger yards, and then returned to passenger service on the Northern. This completed his service as a fireman, and during its continuance he became acquainted intimately with every grade on the New York Division and its branches. Promoted to engineer on October 11, 1890, he was at once given charge of an engine on a construction train on the double-track work between Creskill and Sparkill, which he retained during that season; then, after putting in the winter as an extra engineer, he was again, when the season opened, given charge of the construction train engine, where he remained until that work was completed. He was given his present run in May, 1892, the numbers of his trains being 212 and 235, 240 and 243, daily, and 213 and 228, every other day, between Jersey City and Nyack and Jersey City and Creskill. His entire railroad service has been with the Erie. While firing Mr. Van Orden was a member of Deer Park Lodge No. 1, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, and ever since he became eligible, in the early part of 1891, he has been a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, belonging to Hudson Division No. 135, of Jersey City.

April 1, 1888, was the date, and Piermont, New York, the place of Mr. Van Orden's marriage with Miss Clara Essex of that town, and during the years of their marriage they have made their home at Nyack, where they still reside, being surrounded by a family of seven little ones, four girls and three boys, of whom three are at present attending school.

Mr. Van Orden has never been hurt in the discharge of his duties, though, as he says, he has had some mighty close calls. In his case, as in most, it is fairly to be supposed that the "luck" which has followed him has a large share of its foundation in good judgment and a cool head. As a politician Mr. Van Orden has no desire to exploit himself, but as a voter he is a straight-out American citizen, placing men above parties, and careful to satisfy himself before voting that he is casting his ballot and influence in the direction of good and wholesome government. In short, he carries into those matters the same care and thought which he uses in the every-day business of his life on an engine, and these are the things that bring the best results. Stalwart and upright, the picture of health and strength, Mr. Van Orden may fairly look forward to enjoy in after years the honor and respect of which he is now making himself so worthy.

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

From the January, 1910 issue of Erie Magazine (Jersey City News):
Engineer John L. Van Orden was elected Chairman for 1910-1911 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Hudson Division No. 135.

From numerous 1914 through 1915 issues of Erie Railroad Magazine:
New York Division Engineer J.L. Van Orden, running engine #548, was listed as being in the Order of the Red Spot for numerous months from 1914 through 1915. The Order was an honor bestowed on engine crews who operated efficiently with few engine failures.