J.K. Chapman in 1914
J. K. CHAPMAN, Hornellsville, New York.
The Erie's efficient Road Foreman of Engineers at Hornellsville is J. K. Chapman, who was born in Friendship, New York, on October 4, 1836. He left school at 17, and the fall he was 18 entered the service of the Erie as a brakeman, beginning to fire in July, 1856. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in the 9th New York Cavalry and served until the fall of 1864. He returned to firing on the Erie that winter and in February, 1865, was promoted to engineer, running in the freight service until 1882, when he was advanced to passenger. This promotion was followed in 1889 by his present position.
Mr. Chapman was married on January 5, 1859, to Miss Mary Williams of Horseheads, New York. and they have one daughter who is married. Mr. Chapman has been a member of the B. of L. E. for many years, and has represented the local lodge in conventions a number of times. He has been a Mason since 1868, having held all the chairs in the Hornellsville lodge, and is now Senior Vice Commander of Doty Post, G. A. R.
Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.
From the August, 1907 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
J.K. Chapman, the veteran engineer who was recently retired under the age limit rule, has been appointed Assistant to C.G. Grantier, Road Foreman of Engines, Hornell, NY.
From the October, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
A 60-YEAR ERIE VETERAN.
John K. Chapman, who was born in 1836, in Friendship, N.Y., completes sixty years of railroad service with the Erie October 2, 1914.
When the New York and Erie R.R. was being built through Belmont in 1850, he drove a cart during school vacation, helping in the grading of the road west of Belmont bridge. On October 2, 1854, he was given a position as brakeman by "Dan" Lockwood, under H.B. Smith, at that time Superintendent of the Western Division.
He became fireman in 1856 and worked through the engineers' strike of October 4, 1856. He was firing engine 214 at that time with Mr. Cole. He remained working on the day express with a different engineer every trip, the master mechanic often taking the engineer's place.
He had many interesting and thrilling experiences during that strike. With the exception of four months, as emergency man in 1859, he worked as fireman until the war broke out, when he enlisted in the Ninth New York Cavalry, in which regiment he faithfully served for three years and six months.
On his return from the war, Mr. Brooks, then Superintendent and Master Mechanic, gave him a position as fireman. In 1865 he became engineer of engine 83 and was sent to the Susquehanna Division, where he remained five months or until the engine was ordered back to the Western Division. Through the sixties he was on the Western Division, except when he was sent to the Buffalo Division to help for a short time.
During this period of twenty-four years as an engineer, he handled all the important trains and was the third man to qualify in the use of the new air brakes. He also used the first lubricator on the Western (Allegheny) Division. This was placed on engine 64 pulling Train Five, known as the "Limited."
He was made Road Foreman of engines, in February, 1875, on the Allegheny, Bradford and South Western Divisions. After fourteen years of service, he again became engineer, until the summer of 1907, when he was retired. The Company, however, saw how he could be of service, on account of his past experience as Road Foreman of Engines, in looking after the engines in the Hornell yard, so they gave him a position known as "Yard Foreman of Engines," which he is holding at the present time.
He says he has worked under almost every Superintendent on the Allegheny Division and is very proud to have watched the Erie R.R. grow from a very small one to one of the greatest trunk line roads out of New York City and Chicago.
Following is the list of officials Mr. Chapman has worked under:
Charles Minot, General Superintendent, Feb., 1851;
J.A. Redfield, Superintendent and Chief Engineer, Feb. 3, 1851;
W.C. Taylor; R.R. Brown, Superintendent, Aug. 1, 1851 to June 30, 1853;
T.L. Smith, Superintendent, July 1, 1853 to Dec. 31, 1853;
J.A. Hart, Superintendent, Jan. 1, 1854 to Sept. 30, 1854;
H.B. Smith, Superintendent, Oct. 1, 1854 to May 31, 1856;
S.C. Jillson, Superintendent, June 1, 1856 to Mar. 31, 1857;
J.A. Hart, Superintendent, Apr. 1, 1857 to May 31, 1858;
C.L. Robinson, Superintendent, June 1, 1858 to Oct. 31, 1862;
H.G. Brooks, Superintendent, Nov. 1, 1862 to Feb. 28, 1865;
J.S. Beggs, Superintendent, Mar. 1. 1855 to Sept. 30, 1872;
R.C. Taylor, Superintendent, Oct. 1, 1872 to June 31, 1873;
J.S. Beggs, Superintendent, July 1, 1873 to Nov. 20, 1881;
W.B. Coffin, Superintendent, Nov. 20, 1881 to Dec. 14, 1887;
E.F. Kniblos, Superintendent, Dec. 13, 1887 to June 30, 1888;
J.H. Parsons, Superintendent, July 1, 1888 to Sept. 30, 1889;
M.W. Maguire, Superintendent, Oct. 1, 1889 to Nov. 9, 1890;
C.R. Wescott, Superintendent, Nov. 9, 1890 to Nov. 15, 1890;
J.F. Maguire, Superintendent, Nov. 18, 1890 to Oct. 31, 1892;
H.E. Gilpin, Superintendent, Nov. 1, 1892 to June 15, 1899;
G.W. Dowe, Superintendent, June 15, 1899 to May 16, 1901;
C.S. Goldborough, Superintendent, May 16, 1901 to Aug. 1, 1902;
J.M. Davis, Superintendent, Aug. 1, 1902 to May 16, 1903;
W.J. Sharp. Superintendent, May 16, 1903 to Dec. 1, 1904;
J.C. Tucker, Superintendent, Dec. 1, 1904 to Jan. 15, 1907;
E.I. Bowen, Superintendent, Jan. 16, 1907 to June 30, 1908;
Theo. Mackrell, Superintendent, July 1, 1908 to May 18, 1912;
F.M. Hawley, Superintendent, May 18, 1912, to date.
From the June, 1919 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
JOHN K. CHAPMAN, yard foreman of engines at Hornell, N.Y., although 83 years of age, is still an unusually active man, and was one of two veterans who marched in a recent big parade that took place in Hornell.
Mr. Chapman is a native of Friendship, N.Y., and remembers when the Erie was being constructed in that vicinity and surveys were being made. He drove a team in connection with the work. His first train work was in 1854 as brakeman on the way freight, and in 1856 he became fireman. Later he ran as engineer for four months, when he returned to firing. In 1861 he enlisted in the 9th New York Cavalry, and fought three years and one month in the Civil war, and on receiving his discharge returned to the Erie and resumed firing. In February, 1865, he was promoted to engineer and assigned to a regular run on the Susequehanna division. After five months he was returned to the Allegheny division, and twice in 1866 was sent to the Buffalo division to help out during a rush period. While on the Allegheny division he ran the important trains until 1889, in which year he was made road foreman of engines, which position he held for fifteen years. In 1904 he went back running in passenger service, and in 1907, on account of the age limit, was taken out of road service and appointed yard foreman of engines at Hornell.
The reminiscences Mr. Chapman relates are very entertaining, and throw much light on the changes that have taken place on the Erie, including the changes from the six-foot gauge to standard gauge on the Allegheny, then Western division, which took place in 1880. His record is an enviable one, and he has been on the payroll over sixty-one years, with the exception of the period when he went to the front to fight for the North.
From the May, 1921 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Sixty-Seven years with the Erie
A dinner in honor of J.K. Chapman, one of the oldest active railroad men in Hornell, was given last month by the B of LE and GAR hall by the GIA to the B of LE. The event was held on the anniversary of Mr. Chapman's sixty-seventh year with the company.
During the course of the evening, Mr. Chapman was presented with a chair as a token of the esteem in which he is held and in honor of his long membership and service in Div. No. 47 of the B of LE. The Rev. Mr. Burnside Steen, pastor of the Park Methodist Church, Trainmaster Frank O. Plummer, and F.A. Blake made addresses. Mr. Chapman responded in a pleasant manner. There were about 150 persons present, and the dinner was served by the Ladies' Aid of the GIA.
Mr. Chapman is 84 years old and still holds the position of Foreman of Yard Engines at Hornell. He was Road Foreman of Engines for fifteen years. He has been a member of Div. No. 47 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for 53 years, and has represented the division eight years at the annual conventions, and for twelve years as secretary. He was an engineer on the Allegany Division, and in the long period he has been in the employ of the company there has never been a black mark placed against him.
From the June, 1923 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
"To the Editor:
Dear Sir: I would like to ask if we can get a gathering of the old employes of the whole Erie system some time this year at some point to be decided on later, as I believe we have more old employes on this line than any other road in the country, officers and all. We have two of the oldest in the country. They are John K. Chapman, of Hornell, a former engineer, and Charles Horne, of Meadville, an old conductor. These men worked for the Erie when it was four years old and we still have a great many men throughout the country that worked for the Erie when it was broad gauge. Now, let us hear from them and get the general officers to take the matter up and see if we can get together and have all who worked in any kind of employment join in and have a good time.
-- W.E. Nichols, Engineer, Leavittsburg, OH, May, 1923"
From the December, 1923 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
The lead story in the December, 1923 issue was about John Chapman, aged 87, with 69 years of service, who still reports for work each day as Yard Foreman of Engines. In the piece, he relates stories of his early days with the Erie. A photo was also published. The copy from which this story was indexed was too faint to scan for presentation here.
From the September, 1926 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
A Veteran of Veterans
The Erie Railroad Veterans convened in Buffalo July 21, 1926 for their firth annual picnic. Probably the event of greatest interest was the presentation of a gold medal to John K. Chapman of Hornell, NY, as the oldest Erie veteran present.
Except when he served his country as a soldier in the Civil War, Mr. Chapman has worked continuously for the Erie Railroad since 1854. (Is there another railroad in the country that can match him?)
While living in Friendship, NY, Oct. 2, 1854, John K. Chapman became a brakeman on the Erie and a little later fireman. When the Civil War broke out in 1861 he went to the front and served three years and one month -- his allotted time -- then he returned to the Erie and resumed firing an engine. Soon he was promoted to engineer and he ran variously on the Susquehanna, Allegany and Buffalo Division. From 1889 until 1904 he was road foreman of engines. Then he went back to an engine and was in the passenger service until 1907, when the age limit took him out and he became yard foreman of engines at Hornell, a job he still holds.
Eighty-nine years old, hale and hearty and but slightly stooped, John K. Chapman is a fine type of a railroader. In Buffalo he had the place of honor in the street parade; at Crystal Beach he was stepping around like a two-year-old.
Finally, Vice-President William A. Baldwin called Mr. Chapman to the front of the grandstand and made known to him that he was the oldest veteran in point of service present at the outing, and, of course, there is no older veteran in Erie service anywhere between New York and Chicago. Mr. Baldwin then handed to Mr. Chapman a solid gold medal and made a very happy little speech. After pinning the medal on Mr. Chapman's coat the vice-president called for three cheers for this veteran of veterans. The cheers were given with a will.
What was said to Mr. Chapman:
In presenting the medal to Mr. Chapman, Vice-President Baldwin said:
"With our long knowledge and affection for our wonderful Erie family it need not surprise us that, gathered here today, are some veterans with service records of more than sixty years, and many, many more with service records of more than fifty years, who, with a devotion to a cause that is an inspiration to us younger members, have travelled many miles in order that they might take part in the good time of today and assist in the new venture of the Erie Veterans' Association.
"The owners of the beautiful resort that we are now enjoying (The Crystal Beach Association) have contributed a handsome solid gold medal to be awarded to the oldest veteran present today, and I am informed by the committee that you, Mr. J.K. Chapman, with a service record of seventy-two years, have qualified for this happy distinction.
"It is my happy privilege to present to you this medal. It is beautiful as a keepsake; but we ask that in the years to come you consider it as something far more -- as a token of the affection and respect that go with it today from all of your fellow veteran employes of the Erie Railroad, and that you consider it a symbol of an appreciation for the devotion to a cause and the dependability to your fellow employes that you exemplify in being here with us today.
"It is our wish that you continue long with us in the counsels and in these good times of our association. Ladies and gentlemen, I propose three cheers for veteran J.K. Chapman."
J.K. Chapman was the happiest man at the picnic. No one looking at him would suspect he is nearly 90 years old. While Mr. Chapman always rides a white horse in each GAR parade in his home town, there was no white horse for him to ride in the parade at Buffalo. You should have seen the expression on his face when someone suggested he ride in an automobile. It was enough to make the man who asked the question wish he hadn't. As it was, Mr. Chapman and Mr. Baldwin led the parade on foot, and it ws "hot" and the pavement was rough.
The two veterans from Hornell, J.K. Chapman and Matt Dewey, seemed to enjoy every bit of the festivities.
Mr. Chapman has a hobby of collecting walking sticks, having gathered more than a hundred. The history of each stick is known to him. The prize cane in his possession is from Persia.
News article on John Chapman from the Friendship Register, August 19, 1926, transcribed by Richard Palmer.
From the October, 1926 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
WALL STREET JOURNAL CONGRATULATES ERIE MAN
The Wall Street Journal of Sept. 3 (1926) contained the following editorial about an honored Erie Railroad veteran:
A MARK FOR EMULATION
John K. Chapman is a citizen who deserves introduction to the readers of The Wall Street Journal, or any other newspaper. He has been in the service of the Erie Railroad for seventy-two years. When he was five and twenty he took four years off to help win the Civil war, but the company saw to it that their fireman, as he was then, was considered as only enjoying a four years' leave of absence. He lost no seniority, therefore, and became a locomotive engineer in 1865.
He is a locomotive yard foreman now. He is a trifle under 90 but reported well able to take care of his job, especially by locomotive engineers who come in daily contact with him but do not attempt to take advantage of his youth and inexperience. He will probably retire when he gets good and ready. In the meantime he is well worth all the Erie Railroad pays him, with a whole lot more that can never be worked out in dollars and cents.
We talk a good, deal of claptrap about our "ideals," but here is a personified ideal which amounts to something. It is the old-fashioned ideal of duty. It is something that labor unions cannot spoil, something that politicians only rarely understand. It is the simple, loyal conception of good work for good work's sake, of dependability, of character, of the week's wages honestly earned, of the honor of a humble name worthily upheld. When everybody is minding everybody else's business The Wall Street Journal's respected friend, Mr. Chapman, is to be congratulated on his ability to mind his own business, which is the business of his employers and the traveling public he has served for nearly three-quarters of a century.
This country can show the best employment at the best wages of any nation in the world. And yet its labor turnover is far greater than it should be. The old restlessness, not to be despised, for it was active in our great pioneers, makes our people change about from job to job. After every strike it is found that a fairly constant percentage of the workers have moved to other fields. There remains a saving remnant, and out of that remnant we get modest Mr. Chapman, of the Erie yards, and most of the presidents of our railroads. Long may we continue to get them in just that fashion in a democracy which, if it is worth the name, must stand for equal opportunity for all its citizens.
There is no fear of Mr. Chapman getting swell-head from this somewhat public tribute. He will probably interrupt the reading of it to instruct a fireman, in simple but direct English, that he is not paid wages to send 90 per cent of the company's fuel up the smoke stack.
Also:
Proud of These Letters
John K. Chapman, of Hornell, N.Y., eighty-nine years old and with a record of about seventy years of service with the Erie Railroad, which was fittingly recognized at the July meeting of the Erie Veterans' Association held at Crystal Beach, Lake Erie, has received two letters of which he is proud.
One letter is from P.E. Crowley, president of the New York Central lines and a former Erie Railroad employe. The other is from Chauncey M. Depew, chairman of the New York Central Board of Directors.
These letters, published in the Hornell Tribune-Times, follow:
MR. CROWLEY'S LETTER
My dear Mr. Chapman:
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 28th, inclosing a newspaper clipping with reference to your long service with the Erie Railroad.
I wish I might tell you how much I appreciate your sending this to me. It brings back clearly to my mind my younger railroad days with you on what was then the Western division. Allow me to congratulate you on your wonderful record of service with the Erie Railroad and upon your 90th birthday. I sincerely hope you will round out the century.
I will take pleasure in handing your letter to Senator Depew, who, I know, will be very glad to hear from you. He has a wonderful memory and without a doubt will recall the incident you mention at Belmont.
With kindest regards and best wishes, believe me,
Sincerely yours,
P.E. CROWLEY
MR. DEPEW'S LETTER
My dear Mr. Chapman:
President Crowley has very kindly sent me your letter which I find exceedingly interesting.
I am an old-timer like yourself and it gives me great pleasure to hear from veterans of the railway service.
I have passed my 61st year with the New York Central. Your record of 7O years with the Erie surpasses any in the railway service in the United States.
With, all good wishes, including an earnest prayer that you may round out your century, I am,
Very truly yours,
CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW
From the November, 1926 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Superintendent W.J. English of the Susquehanna Division of the Erie Railroad informs the Magazine that on oct. 2 (1926) John K. Chapman, of Hornell, NY, completed seventy-three years of service for the Erie Railroad Company.
Mr. Chapman began his railroad career as a brakeman on the way freight on the New York & Erie Railroad between Scio and Dunkirk, NY.
From the April, 1927 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
So far as known, the two oldest railroad employes in the United States are Albert Stone and John K. Chapman. Stone is with the New York Central; Chapman is with the Erie. They are not only the oldest employes in point of years but in length of service.
Albert Stone was 91 years old last October. He went to work for the New York & Harlem Railroad in 1850 and is now, and for many years has been, a clerk in the office of the auditor of passenger accounts of the New York Central. So he has been working for over seventy-six years.
John K. Chapman, the Erie Railroad's "Grand Old Man," lives at Hornell, N.Y. He is a year younger than Albert Stone. He worked with construction forces engaged in the building of the Erie, in western New York, in 1850, but after a short time returned to school and began his regular railroad service with the Erie as a brakeman in 1854. While serving as a locomotive fireman in 1861 the Civil war broke out and he enlisted as a cavalryman in the United States army. Mustered out in 1864, he returned to the Erie and became a locomotive engineman, serving in that capacity until 1889 when he was promoted to road foreman of engines. In 1903, he returned to the cab, and in 1907 was made foreman of yard engines at Hornell, where he is still in service.
Stone and Chapman have had a great dea1 of enjoyment out of life; each has earned the respect and esteem of his employer and his associates. Unlike many of the younger generation in this "jazz age" Stone and Chapman have taken life as they found it and neither has ever for a moment harbored the idea that the world owed him a living or that the world had him "licked."
From the August, 1927 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Veteran Is Honored
In official recognition of seventy-three years of service with the Erie Railroad a gold watch was presented on July 1 to John K. Chapman, of Hornell, N.Y.
The presentation was made at Hornell at a dinner for Mr. Chapman, given in the private car of General Manager R.E. Woodruff. Besides Mr. Chapman and General Manager Woodruff and Matthew Dewey, lifelong friend of Chapman, the following local officers of the Erie Railroad were at the dinner: Forrest W. Rosser, Charles James, W.J. English, F.J. Talbot, J.W. McCarthy, Hamilton Preston, A.J. Davis and Clarence H. Norton.
On the back of the open-face watch, together with the Erie monogram and ten service stars, appears an engraved locomotive, with the figures "73." Inside the case the watch bears the inscription : "Presented to John K. Chapman in recognition of 73 years of commendatory service, 1854-1927."
Mr. Chapman was very happy during the dinner and very appreciative of the gift. The presentation speech was made by General Manager Woodruff. From President Bernet and Vice-President Baldwin came letters regretting their inability to be present.
Last July, at the outing of the Erie Veterans' Association held at Crystal Beach, Mr. Chapman was presented a solid gold medal, an official decoration for seventy-two years of service.
He will be 91 years old on Oct. 4.
From the June, 1928 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Five veteran Erie employees were retired from active service with special allowances last month. They are (engineers) Ira Jones and Matthew Dewey, of Hornell, and William H. Hurd of Olean, Allegany Division; Andrew Showerman, train baggage agent on the Buffalo Division; and F.D. Acker of Bradford, PA, engineer on the Bradford Division.
Matthew Dewey has a service record of 58 years. "Mat" has been engaged for the last few years in switch engine service in the Hornell yards. He is a close friend of John K. Chapman, who had a 73 year service record when he was retired a year ago.
Ira Jones has a 56 year service record, Mr. Hurd a 50 year record, Mr. Acker 47 years and Mr. Showerman service of 41 years.
From the May, 1929 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
J.K. Chapman, 92, "Grand Old Man" of Hornell as many refer to him, is critically ill. He has been in poor health for the past six months and recently his condition has become grave. He retired from Erie service about two years ago after 73 years of continuous service. At this writing a slight improvement was reported in his condition.
From the November, 1929 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
John K. Chapman, one of the most widely known Erie Veterans, last month celebrated his 93rd birthday at his Hornell home. Mr. Chapman saw 75 years' service with the Erie. He began in 1854, interrupted his service to fight in the Civil War, and when that was over, returned to his job of firing an Erie locomotive. Among those who called to congratulate him were his brother, Harrison S. Chapman of Elmira, who is 80, and his sister Mrs. Maure Goodwin of Hornell, who is 91. Mr. Chapman makes trips almost daily about Hornell.