Erie Railroad Obituaries - 1911


Obituaries from Erie Railroad Magazine:

February, 1911 issue:
Robert Vandewalker died in Huntington, IN January 12 (1911) from tuberculosis. Mr. Vandewalker was thirty-eight years of age, and had been employed by the Erie as an engineer for about ten years. For the past two or three years Mr. Vandewalker worked but little, absenting himself to benefit his health. A widow and six children survive deceased.



March, 1911 issue:
Charles Cleveland, an old employe of the Erie R.R. Co., and who was baggageman on trains 123 and 23, and 126 and 26, running between Avon and Buffalo, for about twenty years, died at his home in Avon, NY after a lingering illness of about two years, on February 14th (1911). He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Strang, of Everett, Pa.



June, 1911 issue:
W.H. Magaw, one of the first locomotive engineers of the early days of the A.& G.W.R. who had charge of some important work in connection with the building and management of the road, died at his home near this city (Meadville, PA) on the 9th of May (1911). A widow and son survive him.



September, 1911 issue:

OBITUARY NOTES.
Thomas P. Eagan, conductor, Delaware Division, died at his home, Port Jervis, N.Y., of apoplexy. Mr. Eagan was an alderman and largely interested in the public affairs of his home city.

Charles Lyon Corbin of the law firm of Collins & Corbin, Jersey City, died at his home in Metuchen, N.J. He directed the railroad and tax revision work of 14 years ago and was well known as a railroad counsel.

John H. Zabriskie, an old-time foreman carpenter on the New York Division, was killed at Paterson, N.J. He was well known as an expert in his line of work.

Michael Heffernan, for 40 years an employe of the Erie Railroad, died at his home in Paterson, N. J.. in his sixty-fifth year.



December, 1911 issue:


OBITUARY. WILLIAM H. TAYLOR.
On Thursday, November 9th (1911), William H. Taylor, Master Mechanic of the New York, Susquehanna & Western and Wilkesbarre & Eastern divisions, at Stroudsburg, Pa., died suddenly on a Lackawanna train, as it was about to depart the Hoboken station. Heart disease is supposed to have been the cause.

The sudden death of Mr. Taylor cast gloom over the shops, where he presided so many years with marked ability, and both the Erie's officials and the entire Mechanical Department received the sad news with a feeling of deep regret. Not only was W.H. Taylor very actively concerned in the welfare of the Stroudsburg Shops, but the Borough itself claimed a portion of his leisure time, and he was active in the affairs of the Methodist Church, of which he was a member.

Mr. Taylor was a native of Belfast, Ireland, and was brought to this country by his parents when but two years of age, and they located at Paterson. He was what can be truly termed a self-made man. He attended public school for a time, but he cared more for mechanics than for the school and he was first employed as a water boy in the construction of a big machine plant at Paterson.

The exact facts concerning the career of the man are not known definitely, as he was not a man to talk about himself. But it is known he learned his trade at the Cook plant, and engine works, at Paterson, N.J., and worked at several others, becoming an expert.

For a period of 10 years and a few months, he was an engine dispatcher and roundhouse foreman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, located at Ashley. For 27 years he was connected with the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad Company. He was for a number of years employed as engine dispatcher and was in charge of repairs at West End, Jersey City, and when the shops were built and opened at Stroudsburg, in 1894, he was placed in charge and held the position continuously until death removed him.

In the death of Mr. Taylor Stroudsburg loses a man who was vitally interested in its welfare. He went about his daily toil in a quiet and unostentatious manner and no one had any idea that he was planning all the time for the betterment and growth of the town of his adoption. His whole soul and all his energy was wrapped up in the local Erie shops, where he was the popular master mechanic, the first and only one the place has had, he coming there shortly after the building of the road in 1892, when the repair shops were built. They were small at first, but by dint of hard labor and an ever-abiding faith in the calibre of the mechanics he had, he was able to have the capacity and the number of men employed increased from time to time, until now this plant is one of the mainstays of the borough.

Deceased was 66 years, 5 months and 8 days. He was twice wedded. His second wife and these children survive: William H. Taylor, Jr., and Charles W. of Philadelphia; Stewart R., a traveling auditor of the Erie, of New York; Miss Bessie Taylor, of Hackettstown and Miss Elsie, who resides at home.

The funeral services were among the most impressive that ever took place in Stroudsburg. They were held at his late home on Thomas Street, Monday afternoon, Nov. 13, followed by services in the First Methodist Church.

The following out-of-town railroad officials were in attendance: W. Schlafge, Mechanical Superintendent, Jersey City, N.J.; H.H. Harrington, Master Mechanic, Susquehanna, Pa.; E. S. Fitzsimmons, Master Mechanic, Hornell, N. Y.; F.G. DeSassure, Master Mechanic, Avon, N. Y.; Charles James, Master Mechanic, Jersey City, N.J.: F.H. Murray, Master Mechanic, Port Jervis, N. Y.; J.T. Monroe, General Foreman Car Repairs, North Paterson, N.J.; M.E. Johns, Superintendent, N.Y.,S&W and W.B. & E. R.R.: J.W. Foote, Division Engineer, N.Y.S. & W. and W.B. & E.: C.H. Corcoran, Supervisor, Greenwood Lake Division; D.E. Corcoran, Supervisor, N.Y.S. & W.: A.B. Shafer, Train Master, W. B. & E.; Clarence K. Reaser, General Store Inspector, Erie system: J.R. Kincaid. former Train Master, W.B. & E.: W.L. Boyle, former engine dispatcher, N.Y.,S.& W., Jersey City, N.J.: C.A. Diefenderfer, Roundhouse Foreman, Moosic, Pa.; C.J. Smith, General Foreman, West End (Jersey City), N.J.: Frank Perry, Roundhouse Foreman, North Paterson, N.J.

Besides the above named, about 150 local employes, who were under the supervision of Mr. Tavlor at the time of his death -- some during the past 15 years and longer -- were in attendance in a body; the men forming in a body at the Court House square, marched to the church two abreast, and after the services marched to Stroudsburg Cemetery, where they parted, as the remains of their beloved Master Mechanic passed through, thus paying to him their last tribute of respect.

The floral tributes were magnificent: among which was an alter piece inscribed "The Gates Ajar," given by the foremen of the local shops: another, "The Broken Wheel," given by the shop employes: another representing a ladder, given by the engineers of the N.Y.S. & W. and W. B. & E. Beautiful casket pieces were given as follows: One by Mr. T. Rumney, General Mechanical Superintendent; one by Frank Perry, Roundhouse Foreman at North Paterson, N.J., and another by the clerks at the local shops.

The services were conducted by the Rev. A.M. Vivien, pastor of the First Methodist Church, assisted by the Rev. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.


OBITUARY NOTES (December, 1911 issue).
John Wrigley, who had been foreman of the Susquehanna Division's signal corps and was in charge of the plumbing up to 7 years ago, died at Elmira at the age of 75. Mr. Wrigley learned the trade of machinist at the Cooke Locomotive Works, Paterson, N.J., and was a skilled mechanic. During his service with the Erie, which covered nearly half a century, he invented several useful labor-saving devices, which are in general use.

Andrew McMaster, a Buffalo Division freight conductor, received fatal injuries through being run over by his train, under which he fell near the Ohio street crossing, Buffalo.

George S. Ilger, for over 40 years agent at Wadsworth, OH, and for a few months recently agent at Ashland, OH., died during the latter part of last month at his home in Wadsworth. He was the oldest station agent between Kent and Dayton.

Charles Adams Watson, engineer of the company's double-deck ferryboat "Jamestown," passed away at 4.30 P.M. November 23d (1911). Mr. Watson entered the Erie's ferry service on December 7, 1871, and was within a few days of being 40 years, continuously, with the company. He was born January 25, 1849. at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. He leaves a widow and one son, James Watson, who is an oiler on one of the ferryboats.

Meadville News:
Brakeman Frank Hatch was fatally injured in the Meadville yards, while putting away a train, which he had helped to bring from Salamanca.

Charles Stafford, formerly in the train service of the Erie, but later on the Bessemer, was killed while switching on the local freight. He leaves a wife and eight children, whose ages range from 14 years to one month. The family is destitute. Subscriptions are now being taken up for their relief.

Alderman James Kepler, who for many years was freight agent at this point, died very suddenly. Mr. Kepler was an old and trusted employe of the Erie. He retired from the service and was succeeded by O.B. Coleman, the present agent. Upon his retirement he was elected Alderman in one of the wards of the city. He was a good man and loyal citizen.

Chicago & Erie:
W. R. Coghlan, foreman 51st Street Yards, who has been connected with this company since 1882, met with a fatal accident Tuesday, Nov. 7 (1911), while in the performance of his duties. Mr. Coghlan was a popular man, and his loss is deeply felt by his employes.


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