Erie Railroad Biography - MOW Supervisors, 1912
From the February, 1912 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
SUPERVISORS WHO WON
LAST month's "Magazine" contained an interesting story of the Erie's supervisors and track foremen, who won the money prizes offered by the company for the best maintained track on the lines East and West, and side lines, same having been decided by running an inspection car over each section near the beginning, and again at the end of the working season.
The records of these Inspections, together with the physical conditions surrounding the work, the cost of labor and the amount of material used, formed the basis for making awards.
It is believed that all Erie men will be deeply interested while looking over this article, to scan the faces of the sun-bronzed veterans, who hold the position of supervisors, and whose pride, from day to day, is to keep the Erie's tracks in such perfect condition as to insure the absolute safety of trains, that human life, and property, may be protected to the fullest extent.
This reference to supervisors is meant to cover section foremen, as well, and an effort will be made to secure the photographs of those of the first rank foremen who won the high awards. These will appear in the March and April issues.
The Erie officials are very proud of their track department, and full of appreciation for the noble efforts put forth by the men to keep it in top-notch condition. Not in the long and eventful history of the Erie has the Maintenance of Way Department shown such a high state of efficiency, and the promise for the future, based on what the recent inspection has shown, and increased trackage on the lines West, looks as rosy as a Summer sunset.
Editorial thanks are hereby extended to the division superintendents for the promptness they displayed in getting in touch with their supervisors, so that the accompanying cuts might be shown without delay.
A. Burget
The Chicago & Erie submits the photo and sketch of Supervisor A. Burget, who won the $200 first prize for best kept subdivisions, Salamanca to Cleveland and Leavittsburg to Chicago; C.& E. subdivision No. 2, Ohio City to Rochester, Ind.
Mr. Burget began work for the Chicago & Erie in 1892, as section hand. By his own efforts, and on his merits, he was promoted to section foreman in October, 1907. Since then he has served the company as extra gang foreman and tie inspector, and since November, 1907, as supervisor.
Charles Pierson
Charles Pierson won the $200 first prize for best subdivision, Meadville Division, subdivision No. 1, Salamanca to Union City.
Mr. Pierson was born in Sweden, October 20th, 1866, and received the greater part of his education in that country. He came to America in 1884, and soon after his arrival started to work for the Erie Railroad at Niobe, N.Y., as track laborer; was appointed section foreman at Red House, N.Y., in 1888; was transferred to Section 15 at Union City in 1891; was acting supervisor on subdivision No. 2 several months during the year 1908, and was appointed supervisor on subdivision No. 1, May 16th, 1911.
Mr. Pierson has two brothers who are supervisors on the Meadville Division, and one brother who is section foreman at Saegertown. Mr. Pierson, the prize winner, was married in 1892, and is the father of ten children-five boys and five girls.
Newton Flack
Newton Flack won second prize, $100, for second best subdivision, Mahoning Division, subdivision No. 1, Cleveland to Garrettsville.
Mr. Flack started railroading in the Maintenance of Way Department in the year 1873 as laborer on section at Canfield, Ohio, Niles & Lisbon Branch, working as laborer and acting foreman until 1880, when he was appointed foreman at West Austintown, Ohio, Niles & Lisbon Branch. Remained one year at Austintown, Ohio, and was transferred to Franklin Square, Ohio. Remained at Franklin Square, Ohio, three years, and in 1884 was placed in charge of Leetonia, Ohio, section. Had charge at Leetonia, Ohio, five years, and in 1889 was transferred to New Castle, Pa. The Erie, in 1889, leased what was known as New Castle Branch, and he was in charge of New Castle section two years, when he was transferred Youngstown, Ohio, having charge of Youngstown section one year. In 1892 he was again transferred to Brier Hill, having charge of the yard at this point ten years. In 1902 he was promoted to supervisor, with headquarters at Youngstown, being located at this point two years as supervisor, when he was transferred to Cleveland, Ohio, as supervisor of subdivision No. 1.
James E. Fletcher
James E. Fletcher, supervisor, winner of the $100 second prize for second best subdivision, Ashland to Marion, 0., Cincinnati Division, subdivision No. 2, entered the service of the Erie Railroad Company in 1901 in the capacity uf freight house trucker at Galion, 0., transfer; transferred to yard clerk in Galion Yards, 1902; transferred to superintendent's office as clerk in 1903; appointed inspector, Maintenance of Way Department, 1905; promoted to assistant division engineer, November, 1906; promoted to supervisor, 1908.
W.J. Flynn, winner of the $200 first prize for best kept subdivision, Susquehanna Division, subdivision No. 2, Waverly to Corning, was rounded up by Superintendent Taylor, and told to assemble the clan for a photograph. That's how the five --F lynn and his four section foremen -- came to face the camera together. Superintendent Taylor, being some size himself, believes in doing things on a large scale.
Mr. Flynn was born April 11th, 1870. From October, 1885, until April, 1888, he was trackman on the D.,L.& W. R.R. From April, 1888 until June, 1890, he served as trackman on the Erie. From June, 1890, until April, 1903, he was section foreman and extra gang foreman. From April, 1903, until September, 1905, supervisor, Tioga Division, and from September, 1905, to present time, supervisor, Susquehanna Division.
D.C. Lyons, section foreman, was born at Cameron, N.Y., December l7th, 1865, and began work for the Erie, August 1st, 1881, as trackman at Corning. Was promoted to foreman at Cameron Mills, June 6th, 1886. Was transferred to Waverly, as section foreman, in July, 1892. From 1890 until 1908 he had charge of extra gangs in construction work on the Susquehanna Division. Mr. Lyons' entire life of industry has been spent in the service of the Erie, beginning at the age of 16. He has never been laid up through illness, or accident, and is proud to have his name on the roster of Erie veterans.
Angelo H. Barbara, section foreman, is 35 years of age, and was born in Italy. He came to this country in 1899 and entered the Erie's employ as trackman the same year. He was promoted to section foreman in 1903.
S.L. Parmenter, section foreman, was born on a farm at Daggett, Pa., May 26th, 1872, and entered the service of the Erie as trackman on section No. 1, at Pine City, N.Y., in March, 1895, under Foreman E.F. Skelly. He served as foreman, also, of extra gangs on Tioga Division, 1901 to 1903. Was promoted to regular foreman of Section No. 1, in January, 1903.
F.H. Pierce, section foreman, was born in Rutland, Pa., June 28th, 1876, and began work on the Erie as trackman on the Tioga Division, Section 6, where he worked until May 31st, 1910. Was promoted to foreman of Section No. 2 June 1st of the same year.
E. Madell, who won second prize, $100, for second best subdivision,
Rochester Division, subdivision No. 2, Avon to Mount Morris, and Mount Morris & Attica Branch, was born February 14th, 1862. He entered the service of the Erie Railroad Company as water boy on the train on the Rochester Division, February, 1881, and was employed in that capacity, and as section hand, until September 7th, 1883, on which date he was appointed foreman of Section 16 at Savona, N.Y. Held this position continuously, until July 1st, 1894. at which time he was made extra gang foreman, Rochester Division, returning, however, to the position of section foreman at Savona, during the winter months, until July 1st, 1904, when he was called to Jersey City to take charge of extra gang engaged in enlarging Pen Horn Yards at that point. Held this position until yard was completed, December, 1904, when he returned to Savona, and took charge of section, July 1st, 1905, during the electrification of the Rochester Division, between Mt. Morris and Rochester, he was general foreman, in charge of work in electric territory, returning to Section 16 in December, 1905. Was made acting supervisor on Rochester Division March 12th, 1906. Appointed supervisor, Rochester Division, June 1st, 1906.
W.H. Connolly
W.H. Connolly, winner of the $100 second prize, for second best subdivision, Allegheny Division, subdivision No. 1, Wellsville to Hinsdale, was born July 9th, 1872. He entered the Erie service Aug. 1, 1890, was foreman of ballast gang in summer, and section foreman at Middletown in winter, until Mar. 1, 1893. From Mar. 1, 1893, to August, 1897, general foreman Jersey City yard and Weehawken yard, Aug. 1, 1897, to Oct., 1900, general foreman Jersey City yard improvements. Not in service of the Erie from Oct. 1, 1900, to July 1, 1903. On July 1, 1903, was made inspector of track work for engineer, maintenance of way. On Sept. 27, 1903, he was appointed supervisor, subdivision 1, Allegheny Division.
L.B. Shaffer
L.B. Shaffer, winner of the $200 first prize for best kept subdivision, Wyoming Division, subdivision No. 2, Plains Junction to Nay Aug and
Jessup, was born January 28th, 1872, at Drinker, Lackawanna County, Pa., educated at public schools and employed as farm hand and lumberman, until April, 1893, at which time he entered the Erie service as trackman at Georgetown (now Gravity), Pa. Promoted to section foreman September 1st, 1897. Promoted to extra gang foreman March 17, 1902, on construction of Saco Yard, until October, 1902; when this work was completed, returned to position of section foreman. Employed as section foreman and extra gang foreman continuously, until July 12th, 1911, when promoted to supervisor, Wyoming Division, subdivision No. 2, Plains Junction to Rock Junction and Jessup. He was married at Port Jervis, N.Y. July 1st, 1891, to Miss Effie Reed. Family consists of six daughters and three sons.
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