Erie Railroad Biography - Walter T. McElwee


WALTER T. McELWEE. Hornellsville, New York.
Walter T. McElwee was born in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, on January 31, 1850, being the son of James McElwee, a farmer of that county. After receiving a good common school education he engaged in farming for a year, beginning his railroad career in the spring of 1867 as a brakeman on the Susquehanna Division. He served in this capacity for thirteen years, abandoning that branch of the service in 1880 to accept a position as fireman, and for the ensuing years ran between Hornellsville and Susquehanna. In 1887 he was promoted to engineer and has been running in the freight service on the Susquehanna Division ever since. He is rated as a competent runner and exercises the best of judgment in the handling of trains given into his care.

In March, 1875, Mr. McElwee was married to Miss Ella Sperring. daughter of T.J. Sperring, a wagon-maker of Oxford, New York. They have one child, Ernest, aged 12, who attends public school. Mrs. McElwee's parents, aged respectively 79 and 78, make their home with Mr. McElwee. They are a vivacious and pleasant couple, whose presence brings happiness to this model home. Mr. McElwee is a member of Lodge No. 169, B. of L. E.; Lodge No. 47, B. of L. E., and the I. 0. 0. F. of Hornellsville. He owns a fine home at 14 East avenue and enjoys the fullest respect of his fellow citizens.

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




From the September 16, 1887 issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune:
Along the Susquehanna:
More fireman are being promoted to engineers this season than was ever known to be before during the summer months. Promotion usually comes in the winter, but this year has been an exception in his respect as promotions have occurred in nearly every month. Three more firemen were promoted to engineers this time, Sam Mercereau, W. McElwee and James Richardson.




From Erie Railroad Magazines, various 1910 and 1911 issues
Susquehanna Division engineer W.T. McElwee, running engine 532, frequently appeared in 1910 and 1911 on the listing of the Order of the Red Spot, awarded to engineers with particularly well-maintained engines.




From Erie Railroad Magazine, August, 1928 edition
Walter McElwee, of Pomona, CA, formerly an engineer on the Susquehanna Division of the Erie Railroad, died recently at the age of 71. Besides his widow he is survived by one son, Ernest, and three grandchildren, of Hornell. He formerly resided in Hornell, where burial was made.





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