WILLIAM H. ANDERSON, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania.
William H. Anderson has passed through the school which makes good engineers, having started his railroad career as an engine wiper and been successively a brakeman, fireman and finally an engineer.
The son of Matthew Anderson, a retired Erie engineer, now a prominent farmer of Susquehanna County, he was born in Susquehanna September 16, 1857. On leaving school he secured a place as wiper on the Erie, and served in this capacity from 1871 to 1874, when he went as brakeman on the Jefferson Branch for two years, being then advanced to fireman. After firing two years he accepted a similar position on the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, and for five years fired between Albany and Binghamton. He then resigned and went to braking between Troy and Whitehall, New York, for six months, and then was transferred and ran on another part of the same road. Returning to the Erie as a brakeman, he ran on the Susquehanna Division for about a year, and then was given a place as fireman and assigned to instruct new firemen how to fire hard coal. In 1890 he was promoted to engineer, and has been running freight between Hornellsville and Susquehanna for the past nine years. Mr. Anderson is one of those men who are particularly adapted to their chosen calling, and he takes great interest in his work, eliciting the praise of his superiors and the friendly emulation of his brother engineers.
He was married in 1877 to Miss Alice Fletcher, who died in December, 1879. Two sons were born to them, Mathew and Charles, both of whom are working in a boot and shoe factory at Binghamton. In October 2, 1884, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Addie Shumway, daughter of Elanzo Shumway, who fell in the war of 1861. They have two children, Frank and Emma, aged 11 and 8 years, respectively, both of whom are attending school, Frank being a pupil of the Laurel Hill Academy. Mr. Anderson is a member of B. of L. E., Division 137, and is one of Susquehanna's respected citizens.
Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.
From the October, 1911 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
One day last month engine 1065, pulling train 96, broke number 3 side rod strap, right side, which in turn, broke strap on left side. Engineer W.H. Anderson was on the alert and removed the number 4 strap and applied it to the number 3 pin, which enabled him to bring the train into Susquehanna, with a delay of only one hour twenty minutes. Ordinarily a failure of this kind means the removal of all side rods and bringing in the engine light. Superintendent Taylor, in commending Engineer Anderson for the fine service he rendered, has also placed a credit mark on his record.
From the August, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
W.H. Anderson, Engineer, Susquehanna Division, gets special recognition of having made 30,090 miles in passenger service, from July 15, 1914 to June 30, 1915, without an engine failure.
From the June, 1926 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
William H. Anderson, engineer, fell from a trestle near the Lea (Susquehanna) Coal Pockets, fracturing both ankles, one in three places, and cracking several ribs.
From the May, 1935 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
William Anderson, retired Erie engineer, died last month at his home in Oakland, Susquehanna. Surviving are the following children: Matthew Anderson of Union, NY; Charles Anderson of Buffalo; Mrs. Newton Wideman of New Berlin, NY; Frank Anderson and Mrs. John Schell of Oakland. Mrs. Ford Carpenter of New York and Ernest Foster of Johnson City are step-children.