EDWARD D. BLACK, Waldwick, New Jersey
Edward D. Black was born at Franklin Furnace in 1841, but was brought up, from the age of 3 years, in Paterson, New Jersey, where, after leaving school and up to the age of 18 he worked in a cotton mill. At the latter age he began his railroad career as fireman, and a little later was made bridge-tender of the Hackensack bridge, remaining in that position for fifteen months, when he returned to his work as a fireman for Fred Heisman, firing a wood-burner for two years. Then, after firing for Carlough for two years, he was given charge of the "Old York," and switched on the Jersey City docks for three years, when he was given extra freight on the road, afterward having the "pick-up" run, Jersey City to Suffern, with engine 355. Following this he was in charge first of a gravel train and then of the milk train, and was then put on the Newark branch passenger, where he ran the last broad gauge and the first narrow gauge train between Paterson and Jersey City, his broad gauge engine being the 147 and his narrow gauge engine the 179. After having, successively, the run between Jersey City and Suffern and the run between Jersey City and Waldwick, Mr. Black now has a double run, between Jersey City and Suffern, and the former place and Waldwick every day, his engine being No. 471, class M, a Soule engine.

It is not to be supposed that all these years of constant service have been passed by Mr. Black without some exciting experiences. One time his engine jumped the track, near Morris and Essex Junction, the fireman jumping. Mr. Black remained on his engine, was covered with coal and water, but escaped unhurt, though he rolled into the ditch with his engine, and the ground being fortunately soft mud the engine even was not injured. At another time he ran into a soldier train at Paterson, every one jumping but himself, but as before he escaped without injury.

In 1865, at Paterson, Mr. Black married Miss Leah Van Houten, a happy marriage, blessed with three children: Frederick Ernest, now at Hornellsville; Eva, taken away by death at 17, and Nora. On April 17, 1880, while driving with his wife, his horse became frightened by a moving train and ran away, throwing them both out, and injuring Mrs. Black so severely that she died from the results, though not till the 7th of December following. He was himself so severely injured as to be for many hours unconscious, and was for a long time unable to resume his place in the cab. On June 27, 1883, Mr. Black was married to Miss Mary E. Welsher of Edgewater, and they have two children, Florence and Ruth, both of whom are yet residing with them in their own home at Waldwick.

Mr. Black has been a member of the Brotherhood since 1868, at that time joining Division 54, at Port Jervis, and subsequently transferring to Division 135, at Jersey City. He has never had his run come in such shape so that he could be able to hold office in his Division. He has never taken interest in politics, having been, as he says, "in the railroad business straight," and from his vigorous frame one may well believe that he will so continue for many useful years.

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

From the March, 1913 issue of Erie Magazine:
Edward Black, one of the oldest engineers on the New York Division of the Erie Railroad, who retired from active service about a year ago, died at his home in Waldwick, the result of a paralytic stroke, on February l8th (1913).

Mr. Black was a resident of Paterson for a number of years, and previous to his retirement, celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of service with the Erie Railroad. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Harriet Van Houten, of this city, and three children, Frederick, Ruth and Florence.

Engineer Black was one of the picturesque engineers of the east end of the line and for years ran on the Newark Branch. He used to run a little "stem winder" in the eighties on passenger trains conducted by the late "Mart" Luckey and William Carter. "Eddie," as he was affectionately called, was one of the best boys that handled Erie engines.