Erie Railroad Biography - Commodore W. Sellers


COMMODORE W. SELLERS, Huntington, Indiana
Every man has a hobby of some sort, and it is only natural for those who possess a keen eye and a steady nerve to love a dog and gun and avail themselves of every opportunity to hunt the wild game of the forest, marsh and plain. Commodore W. Sellers is one of the famous sportsmen among the Erie engineers, and each year he takes a vacation long enough to visit the haunts of wild game, and he always returns with many trophies to evidence his skill as a marksman.

Mr. Sellers was born in Sacramento, California, February 11, 1859, and is the son of John Sellers, a pioneer farmer of California who in 1842 disposed of one of the best farms in Huntington County and emigrated to the coast. He remained there eight years, returning to his native state in 1850 where he again engaged in farming. Mr. Sellers attended school until he was 19 years of age, and then worked on his father's stock-farm for a number of years. He began his railroad career as a machinist's helper in the Huntington shops. Six months later he was advanced to fireman by Master Mechanic Ackley, a position he filled with credit until 1889, when he was promoted to engineer and assigned to the freight service. He is now running between Huntington and Chicago.

On May 18, 1887, Mr. Sellers was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie A. Sisson, daughter of Daniel Sisson, formerly an engineer on the Erie. They have four children, of whom Charles E., Clarence Burton, and Benjamin Harrison are attending school; Howard, aged 3, being the youngest of this interesting family.

Mr. Sellers is a member of William Hugo Lodge, No. 166, B. of L. F., and owns a fine farm about one mile from Huntington. He is a man of refinement and considerable education, having traveled extensively throughout the United States, and he is quite popular with his many acquaintances.

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




C.W. SELLERS
Suspended 15 days on account of not making stop for NYC&StL crossing at Pullman Jct. on Train 84 of December 25, striking Nickle Plate train.

SOURCE: P. 207, Chicago & Erie Railroad Employment Summary Book, ledger book covering @ 1880-1905. Donated to this site courtesy of Nick Pappas. Transcription by Jim Sponholz (c) 2007.




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