Erie Railroad Biography - 1913 MOW Prize Winners
From the March, 1913 issue of Erie Magazine:
Another year has passed and the faithful ones employed in the
Maintenance of Way Department have received their money prizes for having the best kept sections of track. This is a competition that embraces good feeling with honest rivalry, and no supervisor or section foreman harbors the envious spirit because another becomes a winner.
This year it is the privilege of the Magazine to present the achievements of the men who stand in the limelight by reason of their success, as well as to show their pictures.
John Brown (above), foreman of section 17, Lordville, on the Delaware Division, was the winner of the Grand Prize of $125 for the best maintained section throughout the season and for the greatest improvement shown in the year on the Erie Grand Division, Main Line, 118 foremen, between Jersey City. Salamanca and Buffalo, being in competition on six divisions.
Mr. Brown is a particularly dependable foreman, a man of the best habits, intensely interested in his work and loyal to the Erie Company, for which he works. His winning of the Grand Prize was due to the thorough, conscientious manner in which he attended to his duties as foreman throughout the season, accomplishing what other foremen failed to do by the painstaking care with which he did his work, without increased force, keeping in mind always due regard for economy, the expense on his section being next to the lowest on the Delaware Division.
He was born in Providence, R.I., June 22d, 1857, of Irish parents, with whom he came to Hancock, N.Y. when an infant. Commenced railroading at Hales Eddy, N.Y., as water boy at the age of 13 under M. Taffany, foreman. Served in train service about four years and later was engaged as switchman at Depew, N.Y., from which he came to the Delaware Division and worked as brakeman for four years. He left the Erie service and for three years worked as brakeman on the P&R. Next he came to the NYS&W and was a trainman for two years. Returning to the Erie in 1877, he became a trackman at Roods Creek, N.Y., and remained in the service until 1900, when he was promoted to track foreman at Deposit. He was transferred to Lordville in June, 1910, and won the Grand Erie Division Prize.
George Meckle (above), foreman of Section 8, Tusten, Pa., was awarded first prize, $100, for Delaware Division, and won it on his merits. He directed extra gangs ballasting and rail laying on a little more than two miles of bad track on his section himself, as well as working over the balance with his regular gang, effecting the greatest improvement after Foreman Brown, who won the Grand Prize.
Foreman Meckle lives at Tusten and is a very capable, industrious foreman. His services as foreman have been shorter than a great many others, but that he does his work thoroughly is evidenced by the record he has made in earning the first Division Prize for the season's work. He was born in Germany in 1870 and came to this country when 12 years old. He commenced work for the Erie 25 years ago as track laborer and in this position remained until 1909, at which time he was promoted to foreman. His good fortune in winning first prize gives his many friends pleasure, for he is a generally liked man.
M. McNearney (above) is foreman of Section 10, Hancock, N.Y., and was awarded second division prize, $50, for the second best maintenance. He ranks as one of the oldest and best foremen on the Delaware Division, has a very difficult section and is entitled to great credit for the excellent manner in which he maintains it. Mr. McNearney has been in charge of extra gangs ballasting and rail laying for many years and has earned the respect of everyone by the excellent and thorough manner in which he does his work.
Foreman McNearney was born at Lanesboro, Pa., August 16th, 1871, and went to work for the Erie Railroad as trackman at that point on March 15th, 1887. He was promoted to foreman in 1897 and was sent to Hancock, N.Y., to take charge of section and has been employed there continiously, except when he had charge of extra ballast gangs, etc., in summers.
The showing made by all foremen in this territory was very creditable, and the margin by which the winners were awarded the prizes was very close. All the foremen in this territory are entitled to great credit for the improvement they have shown in track conditions for the past several years. The total number of 3/8-in. low joints on Delaware Division, as registered by track inspection car in 1908, having been 8465. of which 223 were 5/8 in. low, whereas the total registered by . the car in October, 1912, was 488 only, and only seven 5/8 in. low.
The New York, Susquehanna & Western Division has three good men on its roster -- that is to say, three men who have, by their own energy, won money prizes for efficient service along the right of way.
Thomas Beam (above), supervisor, winner of first prize, $100, for best subdivision, was born at German Valley, N.J., December 25th, 1856, and came as a Christmas present to his parents, the most cherished they received on that day of days. He is a farmer's son. On November 6th, 1879, he entered the service of the Central Railroad of New Jersey as a track laborer, and served in that capacity for three years, when he was promoted to the position of section foreman at Lake Hopatcong; he held this position for nine months, when the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company acquired the Central R.R. of N.J., when he was promoted to the position of road foreman, with headquarters at Dover, N.J., and held this position for one year, when the Central R.R. of New Jersey again resumed control.
He again resumed the position of section foreman at German Valley, N.J., and continued in the service of that Company until August 12th, 1899, when he resigned and went South, taking a position as extra gang foreman on the Georgia Northern Railroad Company, and one month later was appointed track supervisor, with headquarters at Pidcock, Ga. He held this position about three months, when he resigned
to accept a more lucrative position with the Southern Railway Co., as track supervisor, with headquarters at Knoxville, Tenn. His territory extended from Knoxville to Morristown, Tenn., and from Knoxville to Cumberland Gap, Va. He held this position until Feb. 28th, 1905, when he resigned and entered the service of the Erie Railroad Company March 1st, 1905, as supervisor at Jersey City Terminal, and remained there until April 1st, 1909, when he was transferred to the Wilkes-Barre & Eastern Division as supervisor, with headquarters at Stroudsburg, Pa.
Mr. Beam is the proud father of thirteen children, nine of whom are living. The prize being received on Christmas evening came not alone as a Christmas present, but also as a birthday present.
William Davenport (above), foreman Section 12. winner of first prize section, entered the service of the NYS&W RR as trackman on Section 12, Butler, N.J., April 1st, 1898, under Section Foreman Ira Kimble; on February 20th, 1900, was promoted to section foreman at Oakland, N.J. under Road Master Smith, and September 1st, 1904, was transferred to the Butler Section, No. 12, as section foreman, and is still there.
You can see from the accompanying picture that Mr. Davenport is well pleased with the prize of $100, which was awarded him.
Henry Huldrick Dietrick (above), foreman, section 38, winner of 2d prize, $50, was born in Switzerland, August 15, 1880. He came to this country in April, 1886, and was educated in public schools of Scranton, Pa., and Wood's Business College.
He commenced railroad work as truckman on Section 37, at Clifton, Pa., under Chas. Klinkle, foreman, Nov. 26th, 1899; on Sept. 14th, 1905, was promoted to assistant foreman, extra gang, laying steel under Mr. Thos. Corcoran, foreman, returning to Section 37 as trackman, when laying of steel was completed for the season. On July 17th, 1906, he was promoted to foreman, Section 22, Sparta, N.J., and was transferred to his present section, No. 38, at Ash Gap, Pa., as section foreman, Sept. 17th, 1906.
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