SAMUEL JONES, Galion, Ohio.
The subject of this sketch seems to bear a charmed life since he has been in several accidents, from each of which his escape was simply miraculous. Mr. Jones is the son of Samuel Jones, Sr., who with his parents came to Ohio from Maryland and settled in Wayne County, clearing their farm from the woods. Mr. Jones was born in Ashland County, Ohio, in November, 1848, and after attending school until he was 17 years old, followed the uneventful life of a farmer for the next ten years in the fertile County of Morrow. In the fall of 1877 he quit farming and secured a position as switchman on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, and after eighteen months' work in this position he went to work as a helper in the boiler shops of the Atlantic & Great Western. After about a year he was given a position as fireman, which he held for five years, receiving his promotion to engineer in November, 1885. He has hauled freight for the past fourteen years and at present has the fast freight run known locally as the "Chain Gang."
While a fireman, in November, 1882, he was in a tail-end collision at Mansfield. Ohio, caused by the train getting away from the brakeman on a down grade. In March, 1883, on Division No. 4. he was in a head-end collision between Martel and Caledonia, and again in 1884 he was in the head-end collision between engines 23 and 138, near Akron, caused by a mistake in orders. Both engines were demolished. The last time he was called upon to face death was in 1888, when he was coming west with train No. 83, hauled by engine No. 641. Train No. 37 was two hours and thirty minutes late, and was on the main track at Wadsworth, Ohio, around the curve. His engine plowed into the other train, piling the cars up higher than the depot. The rear coach contained seven passengers, and while one end of the coach was piled up on his engine a lady with a little baby walked out unhurt, as did everybody aboard both trains. It is remarkable how he escaped injury in all these accidents, but it bears out the assertion that he is surely possessed of a charmed life. No blame attached to him for any of these unavoidable disasters, and he stands high in the esteem of the company.
In May, 1875, he was married to Miss Ellen Moore, daughter of John W. Moore, who was one of Ohio's early settlers, hewing out a home in Richland County from among the trees. They have one child, Myrtle M., who is married to Philip Rettig, a livery man of Galion. Mr. Jones is a member of Galion Lodge No. 215, I. 0. 0. F.; Sir Knights of Maccabees, Galion Tent No. 407, and B. of L. E., Division No. 16. He owns a beautiful residence in Galion and is a highly respected citizen.
Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.
From the June, 1905 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Mr. Samuel Jones, Engineer on the Third Division, was painfully injured at Ashland, 0H. He was leaning out of the cab window of his engine while passing the coal docks and was badly crushed about the head and chest. He is now out again.
From the November, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Sam Jones was one of 42 engineers invited to a chicken dinner given at Galion, OH by Cincinnati Division engineer John Cronenwett for those Division engineers who did not move from Galion, OH to Marion, OH when the Division headquarters were moved there beginning in 1912. Unfortunately, Engineer Jones had to work and could not attend.
From the January, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Cincinnati Division engineer S. Jones was commended for running his engine in passenger service for 30,040 miles between November 1, 1913 and September 1, 1914 without any engine failures.
From the August, 1928 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Badges for 40 years' membership in Division 16, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, were given these Erie engineers the other day at Marion where the veterans and their friends exchanged greetings at a dinner in their honor. The engineers are F.E. Smythe, who continues in active service between Marion and Dayton; Sam Jones, retired and now serving as a crossing watchman; and Harry Mackey, living in retirement. Friends gathered for the festive occasion from Marion, Galion, Cleveland, Dayton, Huntington, Kent, Youngstown and Akron. Felicitations came from C.H. Collins of Hornell, general chairman of the BLE for the Erie system, and J. Frank Walker, ex-Erie engineer, now at Brotherhood headquarters in Cleveland. The ladies of the Brotherhood Auxiliary did themselves proud in their culinary arrangements and a good time was had by all.
From the June, 1932 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Samuel Jones, 83, veteran Erie engineer, died last April at his home in Galion. He was one of the pioneer shop men on the old Atlantic & Great Western and saw 50 years of railroad service.
From the April 28, 1932 issue of the Marion Star Newspaper:
Galion, April 28 -- Samuel Jones, 83, veteran engineer of the Erie Railroad, died Wednesday afternoon (April 27) at his home here (628 S. Union) from a stroke of apoplexy. Mr. Jones was born Nov. 23, 1848 in Ashland County to Samuel Jones and Catherine Wirick. One daughter, Mrs. Myrtle Rettig of this city survives.
In 1877 Mr. Jones quit farming and became a switchman on the Big Four Railroad. He became a boilermaker in the shops of the old Atlantic and Great Western railroad. After a year he became a fireman on the railroad, and five years later he was promoted to engineer. Mr. Jones retired in 1927 after spending nearly 50 years in railroad work. Funeral services will be conducted by the Masonic Lodge Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the home. Rev. (?) will officiate and interment will be made in Fairview Cemetery, Galion. (The death certificate is available online at FamilySearch.org).