JOHN WONDERLY, Huntington, Indiana.
John Wonderly, one of the best known engineers on the Erie system, was born in Norwalk, Ohio, January 25, 1853, where his father was a shoe merchant. At the age of 15, after he had received a common school education, he entered the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern shops as an apprentice. Two years later he went on the road firing extras, there being no extra firemen at that time. When his three years were up he became a regular fireman and worked till 1873, when he was promoted and became an engineer. After two and a half years of continuous service he resigned and took a position on the A. & G. W. Railroad. After having been with this road about six years he left in 1882 and went to Lima, Ohio, where he set up engine No. 21, which was one of the first passenger engines on the Chicago & Atlantic (now the Chicago & Erie), which was then being constructed. In August of the same year Mr. Wonderly took charge of Engine 55, after completion of the road, and ran through freight till 1885, when he went on local freight till 1887, and from this to the Wells-Fargo express train, which he ran for about four years. Then he went on passenger trains 3 and 12 and has been running on them since, with the exception of about one year, while he was back on the Wells-Fargo express, making in all seventeen years' service on the Erie.
On October 22, 1897, he pulled President Thomas' special train from Huntington to Chicago, making an average speed of nearly 63 miles an hour. The speed which was evenly maintained, so much pleased the President and his associates on the train that Superintendent George E. Coe wrote Mr. Wonderly a nice letter of congratulation.
In 1884 Mr. Wonderly made a trip to California, and upon his return in May he was married to Miss Kate C. Rarey, whose father was a first cousin of Professor Rarey, the famous horse trainer. Mrs. Wonderly is a great lover of horses. They have five children, three sons and two daughters. Mr. Wonderly never held any public office. In the Brotherhood he has been a delegate to the National Convention twice -- New York and St. Louis. He is now chief of Division 221 and has been off and on for 10 years. Mr. Wonderly's father died in 1887, but his mother is still living. He has seen the population of Huntington double. He owns one of the handsomest residences in the city, and is one of its most prominent and influential citizens.
Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.
From the December 31, 1894 issue of the Lima Daily News:
Engineer John Wonderly, of the C&E, has reported for duty after his visit with his mother in Cleveland. Engineer Blocker had his run on 3 and 12 during his absence and Joe Shearer had Blocker's run on the local.
The following was supplied by Becky Huff:
John Wonderly (born in Ohio) born January 25, 1853, died December 8, 1919. He married Katherine Cessa Rarey (her father was a great horse trainer in Ohio). Katherine was born January 22, 1865; they married in May 27, 1884. They had six children: Mary Georgeana (05-11-1885 to 07-04-1955); Mabel Jabal (04-10-1887 to 03-31-1958); John Cleveland (1891 to 1914); Paul C. (10-26-1892 to 07-23-1977); Joseph Sylvester (became a Catholic Priest) (08-26-1894 to 07-01-1976); and Charles Robert (05-21-1902 to 01-12-1966).
From the August, 1905 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Erie Engineer John Wonderly has resumed his regular run after an absence of a couple of weeks, during which time he made two trips to the general offices in New York City on B. of L. E. business. He is Chairman of the Board of Adjustment for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers on the Erie System.
From the October 10, 1907 issue of the Marion Daily Star:
The Erie officials and the striking machinists of that road will meet at New York City Saturday for the purpose of discussing the strike situation. This meeting is the result of a recent conference between John Wonderly, of Huntington, president of the union, and F.D. Underwood, president of the road. It is thought that an adjustment of the strike will be effected at the meeting Saturday.
From the May, 1908 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Engineer John Wonderly, of the C&E passenger service, for several years chairman of the Erie B of LE Board of Adjustment, has been succeeded in that position by a gentleman from one of the Eastern divisions, and will probably soon take his place on the roster and resume work in passenger service. Mr. Wonderly succeeded the late A.P. Penfield as fraternal representative between the engineers and the company and throughout his tenure of office has devoted himself exclusively to the interests of his order. Among Erie men Mr. Wonderly was considered an efficient and trustworthy representative and ranks high in their estimation. Mr. Wonderly will doubtless welcome his retirement, as the duties of his office were exacting and kept him from home most of the time.
From the August, 1910 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
W.T. Drake, conductor, John Wonderly, engineer, and Briant Shipley, mail clerk, have each received a letter of commendation from Superintendent E.C. Allen, of the Chicago Division, for valuable services rendered. They discovered a bridge on fire, west of Bass Lake Junction, while running train 7, and after making the fact known, turned in with the train crew carrying water and afterwards assisted the section men to carry ties and cribbing up the bridge until it was safe to run the train over. They saved the bridge and aided their train in reaching destination on time.
From the February, 1911 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
C. & E. LOCONYMICS.
Just how the action came about
Our wits could not conceive;
However, our eyes we couldn't doubt,
Name was there in bold relief.
Who put it there we couldn't guess.
Or its significance express.
Now all is clear, and all acclaim,
Due need was shown and such a name
Entitled to the honored place.
Read it now before your face,
Lined up where numbers once were shown,
Ye name looks good upon our chieftain's throne.
From the March, 1913 issue of Erie Magazine:
John Wonderley, locomotive engineer on the Chicago & Erie Division, was listed as one of 19 out of 2,000 Erie engineers to be enrolled in the Order of the Red Spot, an honor given to engineers with exceptional service records and meticulous care of engines. This included having his name affixed to the side of the cab of engine 2554, his assigned engine.
From the November 10, 1913 issue of the Indianapolis Star:
Three Killed by Fast Erie Train -- Bremen man with children, run down at North Judson on way to reunion -- Engineer unaware of crash -- finds shreds of clothing on engine at next stop -- Woman alone excapes
North Judson, Ind., Nov. 3 -- Henry Brenlein, 41 years old, of Bremen, Ind., and his two children - Otto, 10 years old, and Norman, 3 months old - are dead, and his wife, Mrs. Henry Brenlein, is in a serious condition as a result of an accident last night at a crossing on the Erie Railroad one mile east of this city. West-bound Erie passenger train No. 3, due here at 4:20, was two hours behind schedule and was running more than fifty miles an hour when it struck the buggy containing the entire Brenlein family.
John Wonderly of Huntington, one of the oldest engineers on the Erie system, was at the throttle, but he did not know his engine had struck anything until the train stpped at Crown Point, when he noticed pieces of clothing and wood hanging about the front of the engine.
It was three hours later before the bodies were discovered. Frank Irimiter and his daughter, who live a short distance from the crossing, were returning home from town when they heard the groans and cries of a woman for help. They found Mrs. Brenlein, badly injured, where she had been tossed by the engine. The bodies of the children were near by. Local physicians were summoned and removed the woman and her dead children to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Adam, about a mile distant. The husband was found a little later about 200 feet west of the crossing and was also taken to the Adam home, where he died early this morning.
It was midnight before enough of the boys' bodies were found to identify them. The horse which the Breleins were driving was dragged more than 400 feet by the engine and was ground into small bits.
From the April, 1914 issue of Erie Magazine:
Engineer John Wonderly's son died Sunday afternoon, the 22nd. We extend them our sympathy.
Also, from the Wednesday, March 25, 1914 issue of the Rochester News:
John C. Wonderly, 23, son of Erie Engineer John Wonderly, of Huntington, was buried Tuesday, having died Sunday morning in Huntington. Death was caused by tuberculosis. The fatal ailment was contracted during services in the United States Navy several years ago.
[Rochester News transcription from FULTON COUNTY INDIANA OBITUARIES, by Jean C. and Wendell C. Tombaugh, available online through the Fulton County Library, Rochester, IN]
From the November 30, 1914 issue of the Marion Daily Star:
Erie engineers gather in city - For golden jubilee of Div. No. 16, B of L.E.
Among presentations at the event:
John Wonderly, a railroad engineer of Huntington, Indiana, spoke against the drink habit. "We men are as much opposed to drunkenness as our officials," he said, and added that it was a terrific strain, with many lives in one's hands, to have some member of the train crew in an intoxicated condition. "If you do your duty, you will report them and have them taken off the road," said Mr. Wonderly.
The speaker said a movement was on foot in Ohio to introduce a bill requiring all conveyances to stop before crossing a railroad track, and requiring railroads to erect warnings signs, 150 feet back from the tracks. He maintained that this would lessen the number of casualties at crossings.
From the June, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
John Wonderly, William Walknetz, F.H. Lee, Ed. Thornton, Frank Riley, and Briney O'Connor, C&E Division engineers, are at West Baden, Indiana, drinking the wonderful waters of that resort, for relief of their various ailments.
From the January, 1919 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Engineer John Wonderly, who has been seriously ill, is on the road to recovery and will be with us again in due time.
From the March, 1919 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
John Wonderly, for 43 years an engineer on the Erie, who recently recovered from a siege of pneumonia. (Cutline on photo).
From the January, 1920 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Death of John Wonderly
It was reported from Huntington, Ind., just as the Magazine went to press last month, that John Wonderly, one of the Erie's best-known engineers, had passed away Monday, December 8 (1919). He had been in poor health for a couple of years. Mr. Wonderly had a long, loyal railroad service record, and was prominently identified with the affairs of Huntington.
From the December 9, 1919 issue of the Fort Wayne News and Sentinel:
Veteran Railroad Man is Dead at Huntington
Huntington, Dec. 9 - Special to the News - John Wonderly, for years an engineer on the Erie Railroad, and one of the widest known railroad men of the Chicago to Marion division of the Erie, died at his home in this city Monday evening (December 8, 1919) from a severe illness.
Mr. Wonderly was born in Norwalk, OH, January 25, 1853 and at the age of 15 was an apprentice in the Lake Shore & Michigan Central (sic) railroad shops. From the shops he went to the road as a fireman and in 1873 became an engineer. In 1911, Mr. Wonderly was given an engine by the company, his name being painted on the cab and nobody else permitted to drive it.
Mr. Wonderly was chief of the Huntington division of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers until 1916, and twice served as delegate to its national convention. He was chairman of the grievance committee for eight years.
Surving are three sons and two daughters. In addition to railroad organizations, Mr. Wonderly was a member of the St. Mary's church, the Elks and the Holy Name Society of his church.
All funeral arrangements were made by Mr. Wonderly before his death. He picked as pall-bearers John Cull, Briney O'Connor, Walter Fields, Richard McCreevy, Sr., Michael Kramer, Jerry Darmody, Ed Emery and Luke O'Brien. The honorary pall-bearers will be members of the B of LE. Funeral services will be held at the St. Mary's Church Thursday morning at 9 o'clock in charge of the Rev. Robert E. Kelley.
From the December 11, 1919 issue of the Fort Wayne News and Sentinel:
Erie President Extends Sympathy
E.O. Bowen, Erie Superintendent at Huntington, has received the following telegram from F.D. Underwood, president of the Erie road, which he conveyed to the family of John Wonderly:
"Will you please convey to the family of John Wonderly my sympathy. I knew John Wonderly long and well. He was a man with a conscience and in common with his friends I mourn his going."