Erie Railroad Biography - Robert McBride


Robert McBride

ROBERT McBRIDE, Dunkirk, New York.
Robert McBride, son of Abel McBride, a brass and iron molder of Le Roy, New York, was born in that town on April 14, 1835. On leaving school at the age of 14 he secured a position as teamster for a firm of contractors, who were engaged in building the grade for the Erie at Dunkirk. On the completion of this work he secured a place in the extensive stock yards at Dunkirk, working there for nearly six years. He then drove a team a while, giving it up to enter the employ of the Erie under Master Mechanic William Cooper, and for the following six months worked in the car repair yards at Dunkirk. He was then promoted to running a stationary engine in the roundhouse, and from that to running a planer in the shops. He then left this branch of the service and was employed as a switchman in the Dunkirk yard for a year, and then was advanced to firing, running with Engineer Judd on an old wood burner. He held this place a year and then resigned to go as brakeman on the Western Division. For three years he ran between Hornellsville and Dunkirk, and then went back to firing, working on a switch engine in the Salamanca yards with Engineer Pierce. After a short time he was assigned to road work, and in 1879 was promoted to engineer. After his promotion he made a few trips, but was compelled to give up the work of engineer on account of a double rupture. Since then he has held various positions, such as engine hostler and taking care of engines, and at present is firing a switch engine at Dunkirk and making emergency runs as engineer. He is a faithful and trustworthy employe and is a thorough railroad man. He stands high in the esteem of his superiors and fellow employes, all of whom regret the unfortunate disability that keeps him from advancing according to his merits.

He was the second man to enlist in 1861 from Dunkirk, but was rejected on account of his disability. Then, in May, 1864, went out with the militia, to which he belonged, and after thirty days he received an honorable discharge. His company was also returned and mustered out.

In December, 1854, Mr. McBride was married to Miss Elizabeth Fetherly of Sheridan, New York. Three children were born to them, of whom William, aged 44, is a brakeman on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern; Robert, aged 35, is yardmaster for the Southern Pacific at Oakland, California; Carrie died at the age of 22. Mrs. McBride died March 25, 1888, and was buried in Sheridan. In December, 1891, Mr. McBride was married to Mrs. Georgiana (Hill) Connor of Henniker, New Hampshire. Mrs. McBride belongs to the Mystic Circle, Women's Relief Corps, and the Auxiliary to the B. of L. E. Mr. McBride is affiliated with the A.0.U.M. and B. of L.E. of Dunkirk, having been Second Engineer of the last named lodge for six years. He owns a fine two-story residence at 120 South Beagle street, and is one of Dunkirk's most estimable citizens.

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




From the March, 1916 issue of the Locomotive Engineers' Monthly Journal, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers:
Dunkirk, NY, Jan. 27, 1916, Brother Robert McBride, age 81, member of Div. 47, died from hardening of the arteries and heart trouble and broncho pneumonia. He was admitted to the Brotherhood Nov. 13, 1875. A $3,000 Brotherhood insurance policy was paid out to Georgiana S. McBride, wife.






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