JOHN J. FOLEY, Huntington, Indiana.
John J. Foley is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in New Castle County on March 16, 1858. His father, Daniel Foley, was a railroad man, so that it was but natural that the young man, after acquiring a common school education, should turn his attention to the railroad business. When he was 16 years of age he secured employment on the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittsburg Railroad and worked as splice boy on a construction crew. After seven months he left to accept a position as driver for the Warren County insane asylum, a place he held for eight months, going from there to work in the planing mill. Shortly after this he accepted a position as brakeman on the D., A. V. & P. Railroad, and for six years ran between Dunkirk and Titusville. In 1882, Mr. Foley resigned and accepted a similar position on the Chicago & Atlantic, and a year later he was advanced to fireman. Three years afterward he was promoted to engineer, since which time he has been engaged in the freight service and has won a high place in the estimation of the officials by his efficient work. He is a highly respected citizen of his community and is well liked by his fellow oemployes, being a prominent member of the B. of L. E., Division 221.
In April, 1888, he was married to Miss Ellen Cramer, daughter of Patrick Cramer, a railroad man in the employ of the "Big Four," at Larue. Ohio, for the past forty years. They have a charming family of three children, Evelyn, aged 10, and Eileen, aged 9, are both attending St. Mary's school, while John Louis, the baby is the especial care of Mrs. Foley, who looks after her family with true motherly instinct.
Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.
From the June, 1907 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Engineer John J. Foley, at Hammond, is showing his friends a merit record he received on May 13 (1907). It reads as follows: "Wheel on Southern car 34676 was loose and engineer noticed that car was not running properly and stopped just as the wheel dropped off of the rail. Engineer's vigilance prevented serious derailment and damage. His action is commended." Some of you young fellows, sit up and take notice.
From the March, 1919 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
J.J. Foley, Chicago Division engineer, discovered a broken rail in the Fifty-First St. Yard, and made a prompt report of same, so that the situation was protected and a derailment prevented.
From the June, 1928 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
John J. Foley, veteran engineer, has received an honorary gold badge for 40 years of continuous membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He has been employed since May 1, 1882, and still is in active service, making a daily transfer run from Hammond to Clearing Yard.
From the February, 1930 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Marion Division Engineer J.J. Foley has been retired and placed on the special allowance payroll after 47 years of service. Having laboring long in Erie service, nearly a half century, he is deserving of the allowance that had been granted him.
From the April, 1930 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Engineer John J. Foley was retired from active service last October having rounded out almost half a century of service in the Locomotive Department of the Marion Division.
On May 1, 1882, at the age of 23, Jack made his first connection with the Erie, hiring out on that day in Huntington as a brakeman on a construction train engaged in building the Chicago & Atlantic Railway, which later became the Marion Division of the Erie. On Jan. 17, 1883 he transferred to the Locomotive Department, serving as fireman until Dec. 4, 1886, and serving as engineer from that date until his retirement.
The first main track between Marion and Chicago was not opened to traffic until June, 1883. Jack has had the rare opportunity of working on the construction trains that built this piece of railroad; has seen that original track converted from narrow to standard gauge; has seen it replaced with heavier and longer rails; has seen the second track built; has seen all of the improvements made in the roadbed since the time of its original construction; and has operated the various classes of locomotives with which the Marion Division has been equipped from the time of its inception, including the wood-burning works of art of 1882, and the more business-like, mechanically-stoked giants of today.
Regardless of his length of service and the fact that he operated over the highly congested piece of railroad around Hammond and Chicago, not one derogatory mark is to be found against his record. An outstanding characteristic and one for which he is respected by both officers and fellow employees is his genuine spirit of cooperation; next comes his perpetual good humor which is believed largely responsible for the good state of health he enjoys.
Always regarded as a "good runner" whether the rail was dry or wet, Jack is going to be missed in his well-earned retirement.
From the July, 1930 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
Friends of J.J. Foley, former engineer at Hammond, will be sorry to learn of his recent death after a few weeks' illness.
Also:
John J. Foley, 70, of Hammond, Ind., retired Erie engineer, died May 27 (1930) at a hospital in Gary, Ind., of hardening of the arteries. Three children, John J. Foley of Hammond, Mrs. James J. Carroll of Gary, and Mrs. R.E. Lager of Chicago, are living, besides five sisters, two brothers and four grandchildren.