ABRAHAM I. AURYANSEN, Jersey City, New Jersey.
Few men who handle a throttle are as old as Abraham I. Auryansen, for at the age of 77 he still continues in active service in the Erie yards. Mr. Auryansen was born in Closter, Bergen County, New Jersey, April 5, 1822, and after receiving a common school education learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked until he was 29 years of age. On Christmas Day, 1850, he entered the service of the Erie at Piermont, firing on one of the old six-foot gauge engines. In November, 1852, he was promoted to engineer and hauled the mail from Paterson to Port Jervis for a year, and then ran into Jersey City to the Pennsylvania dock. He held this run until the strike in 1857, then he went to Harlem for a year; coming back to the Erie he ran for another year and then farmed for a while. Morris Miller was Master Mechanic on the Harlem road and sent for him, so he went to Harlem again, but inside of a year returned to the Erie. He ran a train to Hackensack until March 1, 1865, when he entered the employ of the New Jersey & New York, remaining until September, 1879, when he again returned to the Erie, and taking an engine in the Jersey City yard has run it ever since.

On February 1, 1845, Mr. Auryansen was married to Miss Cornelia Haring, and four children have been born to them. The oldest boy is an engineer on the Manhattan Railroad, one daughter is married, while the other children are at home. Mr. Auryansen is a member of Hudson Lodge. No. 135, B. of L. E., and owns nice property in Hackensack, where he resides. He has encountered his share of perils while at work on the road, but has always been quick enough to escape serious injury.


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

From the May, 1912 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
ENGINEER AURYANSEN AT 90.
All the old runners on the New York Division are very well acquainted with "Abe" Auryansen, who, for 52 years, or more, was an engineer among them. Since 1904 he has been in retirement, and enjoying the reward of a well spent life.

On April 5th, he celebrated his 90th birthday, and found himself in vigorous health. He believes the excellent condition of his health is due to his abstaining from tobacco.

After learning the blacksmith trade he signed with the Erie on Christmas Day, 1850, as Fireman, and in 1852, was promoted to Engineer, and ran between Paterson, N.J., and Port Jervis, N.Y. From the day he joined, until July 1st, 1904, he remained loyal to the Erie, and then retired at the request of his children. He was known by his friends along the line as "Uncle Abe."

Mr. Auryansen ran on both the Mew York Division and the New Jersey & New York Railroad, and for 50 years was a resident of Hackensack, N.J.

From the August, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
OBITUARY. Abram I. Auryansen.
On Friday, July 23rd (1915), Abram Auryansen, one of the Erie's oldest, if not the very oldest engineer on the retired list, died at his home in Hackensack, N.J. in the 94th year of his age.

Mr. Auryansen was born in Closter, N.J., April 5, 1822, and at the age of 17 took up the trade of Blacksmith. At the age of 29, on Christmas Day, 1850, he entered the service of the Erie as fireman and fired for his Brother in Law, Garrett Iseman. In 1852 he was promoted to engineer and was in charge of engine 18, the "Allegheny," which hauled the New York express to Piermont, which was then the eastern terminus.

While so employed a disastrous strike occurred on the road and he with others quit. He worked on the Harlem road for a while and returned to New Jersey, when he went to work for the Hackensack road, now the New Jersey & New York Railroad. He ran a train between Hackensack and Hillsdale, which was conducted by Henry F. ("Hanky") Bristol, later Chief Dispatcher of the Eastern (New York) Division. He afterwards, previous to 1880, became Master Mechanic. When old age crept upon him he was transferred to Jersey City, where he ran a drill engine up to about 12 years ago, when he was retired.

He resided in one home in Hackensack 46 years and sold it last Spring. In 1845 he married Miss Cornelia Haring of Closter and four children were born to them. Familiarly known as "Uncle Abe," deceased was one of the Erie's picturesque personages and a good and faithful employe, of strictly temperate habits throughout his well spent life.

The funeral took place at Hackensack, Sunday, July 25th, and was attended by a large delegation of old and young Erie men and friends. Interment took place Monday, July 25th, in the old burying ground at Closter.