L. F. TRUMAN, Huntington, Indiana.
The qualities of a good engineer were inherent to Lafayette Truman; his father is John Truman, one of the oldest and best known passenger engineers now running on the "Pan Handle," and a man who is honored by all who have ever met him. There were three boys in the family and each one found his way to an engine as soon as he was strong enough to shovel the dusky diamonds into the firebox. One is now an engineer on the "Pan Handle," the other is Assistant Road Foreman of Engines at Logansport on the same road, while the subject of this sketch has been running on the Erie since 1882.

Mr. Truman was born at Derry, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1855, while his father was fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad, then known as the Old State Road. In 1870 he was water boy on a wood train of the "Pan Handle" and on January 1, 1852, he accepted a place as fireman for the same company. He fired on freight and passenger trains until May, 1877, when he was promoted to engineer. He ran engines on all four of the divisions out of Logansport, Indiana, until September, 1882, when he resigned to accept a similar position on the Chicago & Atlantic. He worked as engineer on a construction train, and then when the road was completed, ran engine 63 on freight until April, 1884, when he was promoted to passenger service and given engine 30. Since that time he has run continuously on trains Nos. 3 and 12 on the Eastern and Chicago Divisions, excepting about two years, when he pulled trains Nos. 5 and 8 on the Eastern Division.

Mr. Truman's experience on the footboard has been replete with incidents that stamp him as an engineer of ability, resource and heroism. In October, 1890, he was an engineer on a train that was dashing through the burning forests near Lima, Ohio. The night was black and the sky was made lurid by the fire from the burning woods along the track. Suddenly, just ahead, the watching engineer saw a shower of sparks flying upward, and he immediately divined that the bridge across the river had gone down. Instantly he "hooked her over on sand," and brought the train to a standstill just in time to save the lives of three hundred passengers. At another time, while his engine was going at about sixty miles an hour, the driving rods on each side broke, instantly killing the fireman and wrecking the cab. Truman fell unhurt to the deck of the cab, but the slashing steel rods kept him from reaching the air-brake. With great presence of mind he cut the air-hose with his pocket knife, allowing the automatic brakes to check the train ere it was ditched by the crippled engine; In 1888, when he was running train No. 8, a number of burning box cars standing on a siding west of Keriton, Ohio, brought him to a standstill. It was important to get the train through on time, so he backed up a couple of miles and then ran by the burning cars at a speed that almost put the fire out. In August, 1896, he took No. 5 from Marion to Huntington, a distance of 127 miles, in two hours and twenty-five minutes, including eight stops, and thus established a record that has never been equaled. Mr. Truman has been in several serious accidents, but all of them have been unavoidable, and he has never been called up for explanations by the officials. He stands very high in the estimation of his superiors, and on many occasions he has received the personal thanks and congratulations of various officials. He has never been suspended or discharged in all his railroad experience.

On May 22, 1878, he was married to Miss Alice E. Lee, daughter of M.I. Lee, of Logansport. Mr. Lee was an engineer for over forty years, and handled a throttle back in the days when the old flat rails were used. Four children have blessed the union of this worthy couple. Mary A., an intelligent and popular young lady of 17, will graduate from the High School with the class of 1900; she has won high honors in composition, and her acquaintances predict high honors for her on her graduation. Frederick L., aged 15; Harold, aged 10, and Ralph, aged 7, are attending public school. Mrs. Truman is a member of Purity Lodge, No. 127, Daughters of Rebecca, and the Matinee Musical Society of Huntington. She is a society lady of prominence, and aided by her daughter entertains very pleasantly. Mr. Truman is a member of the Masonic order, and has received all the degrees, including the Commandery; he has taken all the degrees in the I.0.0.F. order, and is a charter member of Division No. 221, B. of L.E. He owns one of the finest residences on High street, and is a citizen of prominence and worth.

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

From the January 14, 1893 New York Times:
Passenger Train Telescoped
Chicago, Jan. 13 -- The Crete accommodation train on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, leaving Dearborn Station at 7:20 o'clock this evening, was telescoped at Fifty-Fifth Street by a Chicago & Erie through train to New York.

The accommodation train consisted of three coaches, filled with suburban residents on their way to their homes. Fourteen persons were severely injured in the wreck, and scarcely any one of the 150 or more passengers escaped bruises or minor injuries. To add to the horror of the scene, the center coach of the accommodation train caught fire from the overturned stove, while three passengers, two women and one man, were caught in the wreckage close to the flames, and were taken away from their perilous position by the heroic efforts of their fellow passengers. The list of the injured is as follows (13 names plus:)
L.F. Truman, left leg broken and back and side injured.

From the November, 1907 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine (Huntington News):
Twenty-five and one-half years a locomotive engineer without a single flaw in the record, is the experience of engineer Lafayette F. Truman, now running trains 23 and 24 on the Chicago Division of the Erie. Mr. Truman comes from what might be described as a railroad family, his father being one of the oldest engineers, in point of service, on the Pan Handle Railroad, and his two brothers are also locomotive engineers. The subject of this sketch was born in Pennsylvania in January, 1855. His first railroad experience was as water boy on a Pan Handle wood train. At the age of 17 he was given a place as fireman, and at 22 was promoted to engineer. After five years' successful running, Mr. Truman terminated his relationship with the Pan Handle company, and took employment with the Erie -- then known as the Chicago & Atlantic -- in the capacity of engineer. The relations between Mr. Truman and the Erie have continued unbroken to this day. He has hauled the passenger trains of this company 23 years, and throughout all this time has maintained the enviable record indicated at the beginning of this sketch Although Mr. Truman's record stands today on the books of the company as flawless as when he entered service, his experience on the footboard has not been uneventful. Dangers, usual to a life on the rail, have been met by Mr. Truman, who has thus far escaped serious injury from the many thrilling incidents which mark his career.

Ability and good judgment have always been Mr. Truman's dominant qualities. He has not been a "spasmodic" or sensational runner, but a steady and speedy one. When a record run was wanted, and Mr. Truman was at the throttle, the train usually arrived at its destination inside the record time. Mr. Truman ran train No. 3 in the days when the Erie was after the speed records with its limited trains, and on many occasions he has received the personal thanks of the management for safe and efficient work in his efforts to meet their wishes. This appreciation of Mr. Truman's ability and worth without doubt sticks by him today, for he stands high in the estimation of his superiors, not alone for past actions but for efficient service rendered daily.

On May 22, 1878, Mr. Truman was united in marriage to Miss Alice E. Lee, of Logansport, IN. Mrs. Truman might well be termed a railroad woman. Her father was an engineer on the Pan Handle for over 40 years, and her whole life has been spent among people and under influences that give her a good knowledge of railroad affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Truman are parents of four children, three of them grown to manhood and womanhood and occupying honorable stations in life. Fraternally Mr. Truman holds membership and ranks high in several prominent orders. In business matters he has prospered and owns considerable property in Huntington, where he is esteemed as a citizen of prominence and worth.

From the December 14, 1910 issue of the Marion Daily Star:
L.F. Truman, an Erie engineer, has resumed his duties after being off duty a few days.

From the June, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Chicago & Erie Division, Second District Engineer L.F. Truman, running engine #2554, was listed as being in the Order of the Red Spot for June, 1914. The Order was an honor bestowed on engine crews who operated efficiently with few engine failures.

From the January, 1919 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Engineer L. Truman and wife are enjoying a trip through the West and will return by the way of Seattle.

From the May, 1919 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
L.F. Truman and wife have returned to Huntington after spending the winter at Oakland, CA.

From the February, 1927 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
L.F. Truman left Huntington Jan. 5 (1927) for a several months' visit in California. He is one of the oldest passenger engineers on the Marion Division and president of the Chicago & Atlantic Veterans' Association.

From the May, 1927 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Engineer L.F. Truman, who spent several months with relatives and friends in California, has returned to Huntington. He intended to make a longer stay, but was called home to be a witness in a law suit.

From the February, 1928 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Retired Engineer L.F. Truman is spending the winter with his sons in Los Angeles.

From the July, 1928 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
L.F. Truman, aged 73 years, who recently retired on a monthly gratuity, and Mrs. Anna Aldridge, were married a few weeks ago.

From the June, 1929 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Lafayette Frederick Truman, whose photograph is reproduced on this page with that of his old engine, is a veteran of Erie service retired at the age of 73 and placed on the special allowance payroll after 47 years work. Lafe, as he is best known, came of a family of railroad engineers, and it was therefore quite natural that he should aspire to be one.

Born at Derry, PA in 1855, Mr. Truman grew up in the railroad environment. He got his first railroad job at 15. His grandfather was a freight agent and his father and four of his uncles were locomotive engineers.

Starting as a water boy and brakeman on the old CC&LC, now part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at Logansport, IN. Lafe soon became fireman at $1.50 for a day that varied from 12 to 24 hours, and his duties included keeping the large quantities of brass shining on the locomotives of those days and cleaning the bright vermillion paint and gold leaf which decorated the driving wheels. Locomotives then had an oil cup on top of the steam chest which had to be filled by hand every fifteen miles and sometimes this task had to be performed while traveling at 60 miles an hour.

Mr. Truman became an engineer in 1877 and joined the Erie, then the Chicago & Atlantic, in that capacity in 1882. Two years later he was promoted to passenger service in which he remained until his retirement. For the past 15 years he drove trains No. 3 and 4.

One of his many thrills came in 1890. Leaning from the cab west of Lima, OH, he saw a shower of sparks ahead. He guessed rightly that the wooden bridge over Hog Creek was on fire and he brought the train to a halt in time to prevent a catastrophe. Another time while traveling at 60 mph one of the driving rods broke, killing the fireman and demolishing the cab. Lafe was hurled to the deck uninjured but due to the damage done by the slashing rod, could not get to the brake valve to stop the train. With presence of mind he cut the air hose with his pocket knife and brought the train to a halt without further loss of life.

"I'm proud of my record with the Erie," Lafe told a friend, "and I'm grateful to the new management for taking care of me so nicely. To all in the serice I say, 'Brother, stick by the good old Erie. Give it the best you can and when you cannot hit the ball any longer, the Erie will take care of you.'"

From the June, 1929 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
L.F. Truman, retired engineer, and Mrs. Truman, have returned to Huntington after spending the winter in California.

From the February, 1938 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
LaFayette F. Truman, retired engiineer, died in hospital in Modesta, CA, Dec. 9 (1937). Mr. Truman entered the service as engineer Oct. 2, 1882, and was retired Sept. 18, 1927.