WILLARD E. McCONKEY, Huntington, Indiana.
On March 25, 1858, Willard E. McConkey was born in Cambridge City, Indiana, and is the son of Thomas McConkey, a farmer of Wayne County, that state. After leaving school Mr. McConkey worked on his father's stock farm for a while, and then for two years was engineer in the grist mill at Newcastle, Indiana. He then secured a position as pumper in a pumphouse for the Cincinnati, Fort Wayne & Louisville Railroad, which he held until 1882, when he was advanced to fireman. In this capacity he served one year, running between Fort Wayne, Connorsville, and other terminals, and then returned to his former position as pumper. In 1888 he resigned and worked for a while as cashier in a restaurant at Muncie, Indiana. Later in the same year he secured a position as fireman on the Chicago & Erie, under Master Mechanic Jochan, and after four years of capable and efficient work was promoted to engineer, since which time he has been running in the freight service between Huntington and Chicago.

On October 10, 1884, Mr. McConkey was married to Miss Kate Maddy, daughter of George Maddy, a farmer of Henry County, Indiana. Three of their children, Mary Ethel, Edith Evaline and Edina Joseph, are attending school. Thomas Edward is the youngest since the death of Dorothy Daryl, who died recently at the age of 9 months. Mr. McConkey is a member of William Hugo Lodge No. 166, B. of L. F., of Huntington, and Mrs. McConkey is a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary of that order. Mr. McConkey owns a nice residence on Wilkerson street, in which he resides with his family, surrounded by an admiring circle of friends and acquaintances.

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

From the July 16, 1910 issue of the Marion Daily Star:
The Erie suffered a wreck at North Judson Friday (July 15, 1910). Engineer McConkey and his fireman leaped from the engine and escaped injury as the engine went off the track, and was about to overturn. Several hours were required by the wrecking crew to clear the tracks.

From the December, 1912 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine (Chicago & Erie News):
Engineer W.E. McConkey suffered considerable temporary facial disfiguremant in a recent accident. We are glad to note that no lasting ill effect will result from the injury. We never heard "Mac" to lay claim to any particular beauty, but it is most certainly the case with him that his mishap helped him none in this respect. No offense meant by this, "Mac," old boy.