JOHN F. BRUNER, Meadville, Pennsylvania.
If the War of the Rebellion was still in progress and Uncle Sam in need of soldiers, it is safe to assert that John F. Bruner would be one of the number, provided a rebel bullet had not already put him out of the service. During the four years the war lasted he volunteered three times, re-enlisting each time he was mustered out. At the first call for troops he enlisted April 25, 1861, under Captain C. S. Cotter, in Company A, 1st Ohio Artillery. In September, 1861, his regiment was mustered out by order of the War Department, and the following May he enlisted in Company D, 84th 0. V. I., under Captain John N. Frazee. This regiment was mustered out after five months of service, and Mr. Bruner again enlisted on May 2, 1864, in Company A, 150th 0. V. I., under Captain T. S. Paddock. He served four months with this regiment and was mustered out in August, 1864, at Cleveland.
Mr. Bruner was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 31, 1843, and his father was Jacob Bruner, an employe of the Cleveland & Pittsburg in that city. The young man attended school in Cleveland until he was 15 years of age, when he went to work in the car shops of C. & P., remaining there three years. He was firing on the Cleveland & Erie, now the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, at the time of his first enlistment, and when he was mustered out at the close of the war he returned to that road. November 1, 1864, he was promoted to engineer, and the following year he severed his connection with this road and went to Meadville, where he was given an engine on the Atlantic & Great Western. In May, 1873, he went to the C. & P., and ran an engine for two years, returning to Meadville and re-entering the employ of the Erie. He is one of the best engineers in the service, has never had an accident and there has never been the scratch of a pen against his record in all his railroad experience. For some years he has had a run on Nos. 13 and 16, the Wells-Fargo and Buffalo Express, respectively, and this alone shows the high standing he has in the estimation of the officials.
Mr. Bruner was married July 2, 1865, to Miss Katherine Winter, daughter of Peter Winter, a miner of Riener, Germany. They have a family of four grown up children, who are a credit to their parents. Frederick J., aged 33, a fireman on the Erie, is married to Miss Ellen Mullen and lives in Meadville; George E., aged 31, is employed in the Erie shops at Meadville and married to Miss Elizabeth Burchman; Charles, aged 29, a molder by trade, is married to Miss Sarah Whitehead and lives in Cleveland; Eva M., aged 23, was educated in Meadville and resides with her parents.
Mr. Bruner is a member of Stella Council, No. 230, Legion of Honor, and B. of L. E., Division No. 43. He is one of the foremost members of the B. of L. E. in this section, and takes a deep interest in the welfare and workings of the order. He was a delegate to the conventions at Atlanta, Georgia; St. Paul, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; and is now a member of the General Board of Adjustment, and since 1890 Chairman of the Grievance Committee. Mr. Bruner is one of Meadville's influential citizens, owning fine residence property and enjoying the friendship of a host of acquaintances.
Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.
From the December, 1910 issue of Erie Magazine:
In stating that the Erie has on its roster a great many men of the versatile kind, no exaggeration is attempted, because here's one that fully defines that term, and he's an engineer too--one of the many that have placed their shoulders to the wheel, in helping to make Erie history. The eyes of the officials on the lines West, have very often gazed with admiration on the features of John F. Bruner, one of the real "candy kids" of the Meadville Division, because he is one of those dear old boys that compel admiration by reason of the manner in which they do things, and "Jack" has a record that fairly glows with his varied accomplishments.
One of the things Jack does, is to always be boss of his own engine, by which is meant, that the man who sits on the left side is aware that the man on the right is running the machine and no argument is required. But, Jack never has any trouble on this score, because all the boys who expect some day to be engineers, know his little weakness in that respect and invariably try to be good when they run with him as a side partner.
The Meadville Division recognizes Jack as its most noted character, and this comes from one who has known him for many years and has often ridden behind his engine when he was commander-in-chief. While very jolly when the spirit moves him, still Jack is a man that knows where his rights begin and leave off and he isn't afraid to speak out loudly, even if the crowd hears what he says.
This is his first-class record--war and railroad--and it's all to the good. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Jack was firing on the Cleveland & Erie, now the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. When the first call for troops was made he enlisted. This was on April 21, 1861, and the command was Company A, First Ohio Artillery, Captain C. S. Cotter. In September, 1861, he was mustered out, by order of the War Department. During the following May he reenlisted in Co. D, 84th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain John N. Frazee, and faced the fire for five months, when he was again mustered out. Not being content to lead the simple life. Jack again craved for the lust of war and re-enlisted a third time. This was on May 2, 1864, when he became a member of Co. A, 150th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain T. S. Paddock. With nearly five months' service more to his credit, he was mustered out in August of the same year and returned to his old love-the Cleveland & Erie.
On November 1, 1864, he was promoted to engineer and on May 17, 1865, came to the Atlantic & Great Western and has been running there ever since. The passenger service claims him as one of its best runners, and when recently seen at Meadville going west, he talked with one of the superintendents of the Lines East and he was so emphatic in his notion of an engineer's position, as to impel one to believe the statement heretofore made, that he is not only the big boss of his own engine, but, really, the most original character on the Meadville Division, with at least 45 years of loyal service to his credit; not only that, but he put in 23 years on freight trains, without being off the payroll for a day. There is more stimulation in a high resolution than in a glass of spirit.
From the January, 1911 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Engines 976 and 977, drawing passenger trains on the Franklin branch. have been christened and the names of "Jack" Bruner and "Jack" Quick emblazoned on the sides of the cab, and the number transferred to the sand dome, all owing, no doubt, to the picture and accompanying sketch in the December magazine, of the veteran engineer. It calls to mind the days of the A. & G.W., when the names Sir Morton Peto, L.L. Hommedieu, James McHenry, O.S. Lyford and W.G. Sargent, graced the sides of passenger engine cabs, in nickel plated letters.
From the September, 1919 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine (Meadville News):
JOHN F. BRUNER.�An account of the death of John F. Bruner appeared in the Meadville Tribune, and stated that heart disease and dropsy were the cause. In 1865, after the Civil War was concluded, and in which he participated, he came to Meadville, and his previous experience with another road enabled him to procure a position as engineer on the A. & G. W. railroad, now the Erie, and with the exception of two years he ran trains until his retirement about eight years ago. For fully a half century he maintained a remarkable record, never having figured in a mishap for which he was in any way responsible, nor was he ever reprimanded for any breach of the rules. He was 75 years old, and held membership in Division No. 43, B. of L. E., and for many years was a member of the Adjustment committee. His surviving relatives are his widow, three sons, two of whom are Erie employes, a daughter and a brother.
