Follow the Rails with Railroad Tales

FOLLOW THE RAILS WITH RAILROAD TALES

Evolution of the railroads as found in the old papers

From the Lawrence Register Archives

Ironton Register, Feb. 17, 1853, Town of Webster

The first sale of lots in the new town, adjoining Bloomfield, on the S. & H. V. railroad, took place on the 10th inst. We understand that about 20 lots were sold at an average of over $50 each, the highest going at $93. The liquor restrictions are placed upon the lots.

Ironton Register, April 7, 1853
The Iron Railroad is now doing fine business. The number of passengers carried over the road during the month of March amounted to over 1300 – more than 50 per day.

Ironton Register, June 02, 1853
It is stated that the reports of the earnings of fourteen railroads, taken indiscriminately from Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Indiana, and Georgia, show a universal increase in March, ranging from 11 to 100 cent., and in one or two instances to about 150 percent. This indicates not only the flourishing condition of the country but in the state of the people ______________ in the iron tracks.

Ironton Register, April 13, 1854, WEBSTER

This new town on the S. & H. V. Railroad is thriving finely, as we learn from Co. Walton, who has just been into our office. The town is about a year old, has a healthy location, is pleasantly situated 18 miles from Portsmouth and about 20 from Ironton, has no intoxicating liquor, and the lots (do not have end of the article yet)

Ironton Register, July 9, 1857 – DISASTROUS RAILROAD ACCIDENT

The Cincinnati night train on the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad met with a terrible accident, on the 1st inst., at 5 o’clock in the morning, 12 miles west of Marietta, killing three persons and wounding twenty. At the point where the accident occurred, there is a three hundred feet long trestle fifty-three feet high. The regular track at the west end of it is not finished, and a reverse curve reaches the trestle on a temporary track.

The train had just entered upon the trestle when the passenger car, from some unknown cause, ran off upon the northern side, became uncoupled from the baggage car, plunged forward and fell to the ground bottom upward, and was broken into fragments. There were in the car between twenty and thirty people. The wonder is that every one of them was not instantly killed. Three were taken out of the car dead, and all the others were more or less wounded. Two have since died, and several others were badly injured; one on Monday was but just alive.

Thirty passengers were in the car—the wife of Wm. Brigham of Marietta, William G. Richardson of Boston, Mass., and Mr. Connelly, Founder at Pioneer Furnace, Lawrence county, were killed instantly.

Two sons of Dr. Bullard of Indianapolis, Wm. Brigham of Marietta, Elias M. Str___berry of Morgan county, Ohio, W. W. ____ock conductor of the train, Edward Plum__y of Big Run, Ohio, Rollin Vincent of Vincent’s Station, and L. G. McGuffey of Columbus, O., were badly injured.

Chas. Talbot, a river man; William Williams, of Harper’s Ferry, Va.; Samey Hays of New Matamoras, Ohio; Wm. H. Crawford, of Harmar, Ohio; Rev. D. C. Perry and son, of Barlow, Ohio; Jacob Rosner, of Wheeling, Va.; Edgar Blunden, of Malta, Ohio; B. __everson, of Baltimore, and E. W. Plum___r, of Marietta, were slightly injured. Some others were injured slightly; the names were not ascertained.

The wounded persons were taken to Marietta, and every attention was paid to them.

Ironton Register, June 24, 1858
We have just received a copy of the Cass County Sentinel, published at Rock Bluffs, Nebraska, which looked as if it had been “through the wars,” or at least through the floods; it was badly “used up,” and in great part not readable.

But enough of it was left for us to discover that a great railroad meeting of the citizens of Cleveland, Liberty, and Kenosha had been held to confer with the President of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad – “to offer such inducements as shall justify the same to locate said road on the middle survey, terminating directly opposite this place.

JACOB LAIR, Esq. (formerly of Ironton) was chosen President of the meeting.” Esq. Lair is presently a citizen of Kenosha, Cass county, Nebraska, and George W. Irwin, son of George Irwin, of Symmes Township, in our county, has his post office at Lewiston, Cass county.

Ironton Register, Sept. 13, 1860, Alfred Royer will leave the post of Conductor on the Iron Railroad in about a month, and Henry C. Rodgers has been secured to take his place, a fortunate selection, we think.

Ironton Register, Jan. 13, 1870 –
Messrs. Leete and John Campbell went to Circleville last Monday to attend a Directors’ meeting of the Columbus and South Point Railroad Company.

Ironton Register, Jan. 13, 1870 – In 1852, some workmen kindled a fire in a Missouri Coal mine to warm themselves, and last week it was found still burning. – Exchange.
At the TunnelPhotos of Ironton, Ohio Tunnel, on the Iron Railroad, there is a fire in a large pile of slack, which has been burning for seventeen years. What makes the incident most curious is that a stream of water runs through the pile. A few days ago, we saw the fire burning brightly.

Ironton Register, January 20, 1870 RAILROAD INTELLIGENCE

We copy as follows from our exchanges short items, shedding light on the railroad situation:
{From the West Va. Journal.}

OFFICE OF THE C. & O. R. R. CO., N. Y. December 29th, 1869, to Col. B. H. Smith:

{From the Chillicothe Advertiser.}
THE SOUTH POINT RAILROAD-

{From the Scioto Gazette.}
The counties on the line are abundantly able to build the road. If we take the tax lists of the counties on the line, we find they amount to nearly one hundred million dollars. A very small percentage of this amount would make the road. Let us then go to work.

We believe that our citizens will see and appreciate the advantages of this road and will take hold of the matter in such a manner as to show their earnestness. It will conflict with no other railroad project inaugurated in our midst.

We have accumulated wealth enough to do our full share in all the enterprises to which we may be called to contribute, and if we work as we should, we can become, in the space of but a few years, a great and thriving railroad town of the State. Will we do it?

Ironton Register, Jan. 20, 1870 – Large tracts of land and improved farms are being purchased by eastern men and New Yorkers in Western Virginia, near the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. – Cabell County Press.

Ironton Register, Jan. 20, 1870 – The farmers of Ross county, on the completion of the Ironton and South Point Railroad, will find that their wheat will be worth ten cents more per bushel. – Scioto Gazette.

Ironton Register, Jan. 20, 1870 – The Iron Trade Circular estimates that at the end of the past year, there were laid in the United States, in round numbers, 1,100 miles of steel rails. These rails are in use on more than fifty different railroads.

Ironton Register, Feb. 24, 1870, COMMENCED

Col. Morris, the Engineer on the C. & I. R. R. with a corps of about a dozen surveyors, chain carriers, and axemen, commenced the road survey last Monday morning. Their first station was a short distance from this side of the Iron Railroad bridge.

Thence their line runs along the hill up toward Ice Creek. They will go as far as South Point, run lines, fix levels, and note bridge sites. Col. Morris has been provided with Grave’s survey of the Iron Railroad and will make that answer, partly, for his estimates on the portion of the road from here to Centre.

Ironton Register, March 31, 1870 – The high water has submerged portions of the Iron Railroad so that the running of trains is interfered with. The passenger train did not go out yesterday, nor will it today.

I.R. March 16, 1871, FINE WORK.

Should any of our readers desire to observe fine work in the way of paintings, let them go to the depot and closely scrutinize the effect of our young friend, B. V. Hicks’ brush on the locomotive, Olive.

It reflects credit on his skill and tastes as a workman in every respect and points to a future thoroughness in the trade he has adopted. They who desire sign, fancy and ornamental painting, graining &c.;, can call on Mr. Hicks with an assurance that their work will be faithfully attended to.

Ironton Register, November 11, 1875 – RAILROAD SUITS AGAIN

Another of the suits against the Iron Railroad Co., under the law of last March, came up before Esq. Golden and a jury of eight men yesterday. The jurors were: H. Detmar, J. H. Nixon, Lewis Sheppard, John Raine, Jacob Blessig, Lewis Tucker, W. D. Henry, and Thomas Johns. The case was H. Campbell & Sons vs. the I.R.R.

The bill of particulars disclosed the following allegations: On the 15th of September, the plaintiff paid a bill of $8,63 for transporting 15,700 lbs of pig iron from Centre Station to Ironton, which amount was $5,18 over what the law allows. A similar case and the same parties, alleging the transportation of 37,750 lbs of prig iron and $12,45 overpaid, was submitted at the same time—Dean and Cole for the Plaintiffs; Cherrington and Hamilton for the defense.

The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff. These suits are brought under the act passed, march 30, ’75. It provides that for the transportation of coal, pig iron, and limestone, &c.;, the freight shall not be more than five cents per ton per mile for any distance of five miles or more. The penalty for a violation is the payment of double the amount of the overcharge and $150. The I.R.R. claims that certain qualifications in the law exempt them.

In the case of W. D. Kelly & Sons vs. the I. R. R., there was a judgment by default against the defendant. All these cases will go up to higher courts.

I.R. Sept. 27, 1877 RAILROAD NEWS

From Portsmouth Tribune – The Cincinnati and Eastern Railway is moving steadily toward Portsmouth. The engineers have reached the county line and are rapidly moving to the end of their work.

I.R. Jan. 1, 1880 – The new locomotive for the I.R.R. will arrive next Friday.

IRWIN, ROBERT I.R. AUG. 04, 1881

Robert Irwin, son of Wash Irwin, one of the pioneer citizens of Ironton, was killed by cars in Minnesota last Saturday night. His sisters were Hattie and Maggie, who are now married and live in Texas. The heirs of the Irwin estate were stockholders in the I.R.R., and their stock was recently transferred to E. F. Gillen, the administrator. Robert’s share amount to about $600.

Ironton Register, Nov. 12, 1885

A nice new passenger coach was put on the Narrow Gauge last Saturday. Thanks for your kindness. It was badly needed.

Ironton Register, Nov. 12, 1885

INVENTION – In the Railway Age, for October, is an article relating to an invention of a continuous rail-crossing by A. C. Rumble, a brother of our friend Bruce Rumble of Hanging Rock. He was here last Spring and is a pleasant enterprising man. The invention consists of a simple arrangement to complete the connection of the rails at a crossing or “frog” on the approach of a train.

This device prevents the jolt and the wear and tear of the usual crossing and enables a train to keep up its full speed. We hear Mr. Rumble has disposed of his right to a company in Lima, Ohio, whose capital stock is $100,000. They propose to manufacture and dispose of rights. Mr. Rumble gets as his share $17,000 cash and $30,000 stock in the company.

Ironton Register, June 10, 1886, KILLED BY CARS

Last Tuesday night, at about 6:15, a short distance below Ice Creek bridge, the westbound train on the Scioto Valley struck Wm. Hicks was so injured that he died in about four hours. Hicks was walking up the track towards the coming train and had stepped to the side of the track, but not far enough to escape the train.

He was knocked down the embankment and through a wire fence. The train stopped and took the man aboard and brought him to Ironton.

Hicks was about 45 years old. He lived at Coryville, above Rockwood, where he has a family. He worked at the coal tip in Huntington. He was at Ironton as a Court witness and missed the 5 o’clock train. He and a man by the name of Weaver started to walk to Ashland to catch the 6 o’clock train there. At the time of the accident,

Weaver was some distance ahead, and when he saw the train coming, which Hicks couldn’t see for a bend, he stepped aside and motioned to Hicks, but the latter didn’t seem to understand. Hicks was drunk, but for that fact, the accident probably, would not have happened.

Ironton Register, Sept. 30, 1886 RAILROADS. – It is said that the purchase of the C. & E. railroad by Albert Netter promises the completion of the road through this county to Gallipolis surer and sooner than if the O. & N. W. company had bought it because Netter is in with Senator Camden’s party who own the road from Parkersburg to Pt. Pleasant and the bridge at the latter place, and that the purchase was to make this connecting link.

Ironton Register, November 4, 1886 –
(Need beginning of this article)
charge of the N. & W. R. R. enterprise was in town Monday on his way to Olive Furnace, where he expected to meet Mr. Letcher, the Engineer, and locate the big tunnel. So the N. & W. project is still alive. The sale of the C. & E. to Albert Netter was not confirmed because he did pay the $60,000 necessary to confirm the sale. We understand that the N. & W. company is fairly new to getting hold of the C. & E., which makes the road from Gallipolis to Portsmouth a certainty.

Ironton Register, Oct. 13, 1887 – Gen. Manager Pechin says the O. & N. & W will be finished in Gallipolis next year. But by November 1st, the road will be standard gauge from Cincinnati to Sciotoville.

Ironton Register, Dec. 29, 1887 – B. M. Chaffee, the popular railroad agent at Ashland for many years, has resigned and will move west to Iowa or Illinois.

Ironton Register, Feb. 9, 1888
Last Monday was the seventh anniversary of the first passenger train on the S. V.

Ironton Register, April 19, 1888 STREET RAILROAD

At the City Council’s last meeting, a resolution was passed requiring Mr. Dunham to show why he has not begun work on the street railroad in accordance with the stipulations of his franchise which ended on April 1st. Mr. Dunham has been notified of this action and has written that the arrangements for beginning work are completed and that the rails and cars have been ordered.

He says the Chicago parties are in the company, and the work is certain to proceed. As the REGISTER reported before, it is likely that Mr. Burkholder is the owner of the rights and franchises and will be on the ground to begin work in a few days. It is a matter of interest to Ironton that operations begin soon, for it is highly probable that other parties stand ready to prosecute the work.

Ironton Register, May 03, 1888 RAILROAD MEN COMING

The committee of the Board of Trade appointed to meet the Directors of the O. & N. W. R. R., at Cincinnati, Tuesday performed the service assigned to them. Gen. Enochs, Col. Gray, Leo Ebert, W. M. Kerr went. They met the Directors at their meeting at the Burnet House, presented the attractions of this region for a railroad route, and provided the directors with a supply of statistics and other literature throwing light upon the situation. Gen. Enochs and Col. Gray made extended remarks and were listened to with great attention.

They cordially invited the Directors to visit Ironton and look over the situation for themselves. The gentlemen accepted the invitation, so they will arrive here Thursday night and remain over Friday as the guests of the Board of Trade. They will be taken out on the Iron Railroad and in carriages to various points adjacent to Ironton to see the variety and extent of our minerals and the magnitude of our industries.

Among the gentlemen expected is Hon. Geo. West, President of the road, Messrs. McNeale, Hunt, Phelps, Letcher, and others. We are sure the Board of Trade will give their guests a cordial welcome and make their visit instructive.

Ironton Register, May 3, 1888 – Next Sunday, the O. & N. W. will inaugurate regular Sunday excursion trains in each direction. Tickets will be sold for these trains at half rates between all points.

IRONTON REGISTER, SEPT. 06, 1888 OPTIONS ON LAND

Col. H. B. Wilson and W. B. G. Hatcher spent last week in the upper Symmes Valley region trying to get options on mineral lands in the interest of a railroad. They succeeded in getting options for over 1100 acres. They met with two obstacles. In the first place, Col. Gray obtained options on about 6000 acres of land last winter, and these options do not run out until a year from now.

Col. Gray is out in Kansas, and correspondence is going on to procure a transfer of his options in the interest of the new road. Esq. Amos Griffith, who is associated with Col. Gray, is quite willing that this should be done.

Unless it is, the further effort to obtain options will likely cease. Another trouble is that people fear this is another speculative effort, and no amount of argument seems to be strong enough to overcome the impression. It is to be regretted that this is the case.

We are sure that the purpose of obtaining the options is to induce the building of a railroad in that direction, and if the inducement in the way of options is not offered, the road will not be built. It is no speculation.

The whole project was at first conceived in the public interest and urged upon railroad men who made these options as a condition of the road. If people don’t want to grant options, it is their right that none should criticize. But they are wrong in refusing on the ground that Col. Wilson is speculating on options. We are certain he is getting options solely to induce capital to build the road.

Col. Wilson left for Columbus last Monday morning, at the request of Gov. Foraker, for the performance of duty on the Governor’s military staff.

Ironton Register, October 25, 1888 – Col. H. B. Wilson left for New York last Monday night to see the railroad men. He carried options for about 20,000 acres of land, surveys of the route, estimates of construction, &c.; He proposes to hold the railroad men to their promises if a faithful performance of the conditions required would do it. He has statistics and facts showing that the Waterloo coalfield route will prove a valuable investment. We hope he will succeed.

Ironton Register, October 25, 1888 RAILROAD NEWS

Receiver Robinson of the Scioto Valley R. R. has received an order from the Scioto Common Pleas Court to construct a railroad track from Sciotoville to Portsmouth, thus giving that Company an independent line.

Receiver Hunt of the O. & N. W. has under contemplation the building of a track from Bloom switch to the Olive furnace coalfield and use the C. W. & B. branch from Portsmouth to Bloom until the O. & N. W. track is constructed.

IRONTON REGISTER, DECEMBER 27, 1888

Last Monday, the Maysville and Big Sandy R. R., which runs on the other side of the river, was to have begun its regular passenger transportation between Ashland and Newport, but the trains were not put on. C. P. Huntington, who owns a little over one-half of the stock of the road, put a quietus on the arrangement because he did not think the track was ready for passenger travel.

He desired to inspect the track before accepting it from the Construction Company. So, this Thursday, he and others will go over the line, when the track will be closely examined, and if it is all right, passenger travel may be expected soon.

IRONTON REGISTER, DECEMBER 27, 1888
One of the most elegant-looking hotels and resorts of the many along the C. & O. Railway. That at Alderson, presided over by Thos. Moffett puts in the most agreeable appearance. Tom makes it comfortable for his guests.

IRONTON REGISTER, DECEMBER 27, 1888 RAILROAD TALK.

We have been frequently asked about the result of Col. Wilson’s trip to New York in the interest of the railroad to the Waterloo coal fields, for which he obtained many options on land along that route. There is nothing particular or definite to report. Else we would have had something to say on the subject some time ago.

Col. Wilson went to New York prepared to meet the conditions asked as a basis for the construction of the road. He met the railroad capitalists, but it was when the election had paralyzed affairs in the business world, and at a juncture, too, when the capitalists ..do not have the end.

IRONTON REGISTER, AUGUST 14, 1890 RAILROAD SPECULATIONS

What is to become of the Chatteroi R. R.? Since the sale of the Scioto Valley to the N. & W., the Chatteroi seems to be left out in the cold. And yet it is not thus neglected. It shows many signs of a future useful existence. It is being put in first-class condition. Steel rails are going down. Grades are being perfected, and curves rectified. Hundreds of men are at work upon it. There is a purpose everywhere, evident to make a first-class road of it.

Now is this being done for it, simply in its character as a local road? Is the line being put in a condition fit for the wear and tear of big and rapid through trains purely for the local traffic between Ashland and Peach Orchard? We can hardly suppose that this is Mr. Huntington’s idea. Neither can we conclude that he is getting ready for the coming of the Carolina road, the three C.’s, for that is coming too slowly, and Mr. H. is probably not enlisted in its destiny.

The probable outcome of the situation is that N. & W. will take it in. By that route, the N. & W. will save fifteen miles over the Twelvepole route, coming to the Ohio river. For instance, a train from Ironton to Pigeon on Tug will save 13 miles by running to the Kenova bridge, crossing there, and then on a short connection with the Chatteroi, taking that instead of the Twelvepole route.

And not only is the distance shorter, but the line is straighter and of a better grade. The Twelvepole route is full of sharp curves and some steep grades. The Chatteroi is level and straight comparatively, so trains will have a great advantage on the Chatteroi route.

With this fact in view, the Twelvepole route might be used for freight and local mineral business, and the Chatteroi for the big passenger business that the N. & W. may in the future calculate upon. These, of course, are only theories drawn from the effort to make the Chatteroi the first-class line and to put it in far better trim than its local demands would warrant.

IRONTON REGISTER, AUGUST 21, 1890 – We learn that the train that carries the delegates to the Gallipolis Convention next week will have a car for Portsmouth and one for Ironton. We object. Let them crowd together. They are good friends, and should not be separated, in life or death.

STIMSON, JOEL H. I.R. AUG. 21, 1890

Died, at the residence of R. Mather, this city, of paralysis, at 10:45 p.m., Friday last, Mr. Joel H. Stimson, aged 46 years. Mr. Stimson was a brother of Mrs. Mather, had been an invalid for some months, and had made his home with his sister. Mr. Stimson entered the army as a volunteer in October 1861, enlisting in the 8th New Hampshire Infantry under Col. O. W. Lull.

At the time of enlistment, he was under 16 years of age, ran away from his home in Milford, N. H., and went to Concord and enlisted. Two other brothers were in the same regiment, and another brother enlisted here in 1861, in the 18th Ohio, three months of service, and afterward entered the 2nd W. Va. Cav. All three brothers served until the close of the war.

After coming out of the army, Mr. Stimson went to Toledo, O., and entered the service of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R., and continued in the service of that company until stricken with paralysis in December last.

For 17 years past, he has been an engineer on the M. S. & L. S. Road, running their fastest passenger trains; and for some seven years, past has run the pay train of that system. The terrible mental strain of running such a train produced the paralysis that terminated his life. During his 17 years as an engineer, he never had an accident on any train he was running.

When here some fifteen months ago to attend the funeral of his mother, he told his brother-in-law that the strain on his nerves was fast breaking him down, but he little thought that in fifteen months he would die in the same house where his mother died, and within three feet of the same spot, and the same disease.

Ironton Register, January 01, 1891, SOME RAILROAD TALK

The recent failure of the financial agent of the Charleston, Cincinnati, and Chicago R. R., the route proposed from the south Atlantic to Chicago, seems to have staggered that project beyond restoration in the immediate future. We have been reminded of a ludicrous incident, that the enterprise had never attained the advanced stage which was generally supposed.

We have several times published reports of the work of the C. C. C. engineers from the Ohio river to the Breaks of Sandy – how they had run lines along the Chatteroi and clear up through Pike; how men were lustily throwing dirt on the grade near Marrowbone; how the “Breaks” were occupied by graders, thus securing that strategic point in behalf of the C. C. C., the whistle of whose locomotive, screeching through the rice fields and tar forests of the Carolinas, and the ferruginous mountains of Virginia, would soon break on the “Breaks” and resound down the valley of Big Sandy.

But the whistle has not yet resounded. The truth is, as we are solemnly informed, the engineer parties that traversed the valley, driving stakes across the people’s cornfields, and casting admiring glances at the buxom daughters of the natives, were employed by a company of land speculators to peregrinate that region to exalt the prices of real estate.

Joined to a like purpose was the little cohort that invested in the “Breaks” and the transient shovellers that threw up little grades in the vicinity of Pike. -In 1879, the C. & O. R. R. contracted for running rights over the Ashland railroad from Ashland to Denton for twenty years.

That contract has nine years yet to run and is held now by the N. N. & M. V. R. R. It is about 20 miles from Denton to Ashland and the same to Louisa. The purpose of the N. N. & M. V. is to construct a new line of road from Denton to Louisa and thence up Tug 40 miles to Pigeon, to connect there with the Norfolk & Western and thus secure a more direct and better-graded route to the seaboard.

The N. N. & M. V. is an important system with good connections with the Mississippi Valley, so this 60 miles link will greatly advance its business opportunities. When at Louisa, it would be only seven miles to the N. & W., but to strike it there would compel the use of heavy grades, which would be avoided by going up Tug to Pigeon.

The N. N. & M. V. road begins at Huntington and runs west to Catlettsburg; then, it uses the C. & O. track to Ashland, where it gets on the Ashland Railway Co.’s track and runs to Denton. So the C. & O. has only running rights from Huntington to Catlettsburg, and the N. N. & M. V. from Catlettsburg to Ashland. But the N. N. & M. V. have lately been trying desperately to get through Ashland.

The affair was carried into the courts, but our last intelligence is that a compromise has been effected, securing it a right through Ashland and, thus, a reasonable prospect of meeting its line between Catlettsburg and Huntington. But what effect will the proposed link with the N. & W. at Pigeon have on this purpose or vice versa? Will it take time to develop?

Ironton Register, June 4, 1891 – By the time the N. & W. road is finished through Virginia, they will have a road built to Chicago.

Ironton Register, June 4, 1891, N. & W. Item

The late rise in the river took the water over one of the channel piers of the Kenova bridge, but the river is falling now, and the work will not be delayed.

The rails on the road beyond Ceredo are now laid to within four miles of Wayne C. H. It is thought that passenger trains will be running between Ceredo and Wayne C. H. in a month.

They are laying the ground for a station house at the Ferguson place, just above South Point. It will be built right away. It indicates that a local train will soon run from Ironton to the bridge. Arrangements are going on to build a station at Sheridan, too.

Ironton Register, June 25, 1891

The first rail was laid on the Hanging Rock street railroad extension yesterday. Many timbers are down, and the road may be completed and cars running next week. Some additional cars will be received for that portion of the road. They will run on the extension independent of the main line, the cars making connections each way at the stables.

IRONTON REGISTER, APRIL 09, 1891 RAILROAD NOTES

The N. & W. Have reduced the force of laborers on their line through West Virginia and are not pushing the road to completion with the former haste. This is largely accounted for because the river’s rise has sorely delayed the bridge over Ohio. The bridge is nearly a year behind. Last Fall, when the masonry should have started, there was a big swell of the river, and it has been up ever since.

There will be an important change in Ohio and Big Sandy R. R. – the old Chatterji. Instead of the road running straight to Peach Orchard mines, it will be built along the river to Richardsons. This is done to avoid the steep grade. The road to Peach Orchard will be taken up, and the coal will be transported, via Richardson, and down the river, thus securing a downgrade to Ashland. President Huntington was up at Peach Orchard last week, the first time he ever went over his property.

Ironton Register, May 07, 1891 RAILROAD MEN

Last Monday evening, a delegation from the C. D. & I came in on a special lodged at the Ironton House for the night. They were:

J. E. Gimperling, C. H. Cary, C. G. Waldo, C. Neilson, C. Wood, J. B. Porter, M. D. Woodford, M. J. Mulviehill, G. Defenbach, C. W. Fairbanks, E. Zimmerman, W. H. Whittlesey, J. S. Lea, A. H. McLeod, G. R. Belch, E. O. McCarnie, G. W. Lesanatic, E. D. Pool, U. C. M. Creary, W. L. King, J. W. Anderson, F. A. Hockett.

Mr. Woodfill is the company’s President, Mr. Zimmerman is Vice President, and Mr. Fairbanks the Attorney.

These gentlemen took a run down here to inspect the road. There is to be considered money spent on the C. D. & I this year, and they were sighting around to see where it was needed most. While here, they seemed to be engaged in having a good time. They went down to the Ironton furnace to see it cast and, the next morning, took a run-up to the roundhouse and watched Mr. Clarke’s elevator raise cross-ties from the river. At 7 a.m., they returned to Wellston, where they will take a little trip over the Ohio Southern.

IRONTON REGISTER, MAY 28, 1891, WORK BEGUN

The work of laying the ties and stringers on the extension of the street railroad to Hanging Rock has begun. At present, the progress is slow, for much of the force has been taken away to put down the new switches on the line above the town, but when that work is done, the line will be pushed with all vigor to Hanging Rock. The timberwork will all be done by the time the iron gets here.

Ironton Register, May 28, 1891 – Thos. McKee, who was badly injured on the Iron Railroad, is getting along nicely and will have no permanent injury.

Ironton Register, May 28, 1891 – Mr. Monahan, the contractor on the railroad above Coalgrove, and a colored man, were seriously injured by a premature blast last week. Mr. Monahan was sent home to Kentucky. He may lose an arm. The colored man has had an arm amputated.

Ironton Register, May 28, 1891 – Three new cars have arrived for the street railroad, and henceforth all trips of the cars will be made to Ashland, except at night, there will be shorter trips in town. To enable all the cars to run to Ashland, two more switches are being put down – one at Isaacs and another at Cemetery lane. The withdrawal of the shorter trips will make the intervals between cars about three minutes greater than now. All cars will have two horses.

Ironton Register, May 28, 1891 – There is some probability that the C. D. & I. Will get into Ironton by the Waterloo route and down Ice Creek to the river. They are considering the scheme.

Ironton Register, June 25, 1891 – The Judicial Convention delegates went to Portsmouth by C. & O. this morning. Also same date: Only six persons went from here on the C. & O. excursion to Cincinnati last Sunday.

Ironton Register, June 25, 1891 – Clayton Tulga, a brakeman on the Iron Ry., had two fingers cut off last Monday between cars.

Ironton Register, June 15, 1891 – The C. D. & I. operator at Gallia Furnace, Mr. Welsh, had his right foot crushed by the cars last Sunday, and the doctors had to amputate it. Mr. Welch is a young married man who has been at the Mt. Vernon station for some time and was transferred to Gallia only a few days ago. He attempted to board the caboose of a passing freight train and fell under the wheels. His hand was also badly hurt.

Ironton Register, July 9, 1891 – The C. D. & I. will run an excursion to Niagra Falls via Detroit on July 30th.

Ironton Register, July 9, 1891 – The Street Railroad carried about 4,500 passengers on the 4th. It was the biggest day up to date.

Ironton Register, July 9, 1891 – Ironton holds out two arms to greet the people – street railroads to Coalgrove and Hanging Rock. Also, same date: Last Friday, the street railroad extension to Hanging Rock was completed, and Capt. Johnson, Superintendent, and W. M. Kerr, Secretary and Treasurer of Co., took a trial trip over the line accompanied by several residents along the route.

They made the trip from the stables to the Rock in 15 minutes and back in 14. The track was in fair condition, and regular trips were established at once. Currently, there is only one car on the extension, and it makes a round trip every hour. The road was built under the direction of Mr. A. Lawless, who finished it practically in ten days. This is pretty quick work, and it is a good job. About 300 passengers went over the road on the first day.

Ironton Register, July 9, 1891 – Auditor Varnum leaves next Saturday for a ten days trip with the Auditors on the line of the B. & O. road to Deer Park. Mrs. Varnum and Miss Callie McKnight go with him.

Ironton Register, Sept. 03, 1891 – The locomotive HOWARD has not been repaired since the unlucky experience at Lagrange.

Ironton Register, January 21, 1892 – The C. & O. have bought the Big Sandy and Ohio and the N. N. & M. V. Railroads. The former is the old Chatteroi, and the latter is the road from Huntington to Lexington, Ky.

Ironton Register, January 21, 1892 – The new N & W. Bridge has raised the freight on coke, ten cents. Per ton.

Ironton Register, April 7, 1892 – Mr. E. E. Heald, who for some time has held the position of the operator at the N. & W. passenger station in this city, has been promoted to the position of station agent at Hanging Rock and the agent there has been sent to Waverly. Hence, there is a general promotion all around. Ed is a genial, pleasant, and pains-taking official and will not fail to win himself friends, in any field to which he may be called. The night operator here, Mr. Scott, will probably be promoted to the place made vacant by this promotion.

Ironton Register, April 14, 1892 RAILROAD MEN

The following gentlemen connected with the C. H. & D. R. R. were in town last week making the acquaintance of our businessmen, and visited the REGISTER: A. D. McLean, A. G. Frt. Agt.; R. H. Campbell, G. A. Dayton; H. G. Stiles, G. A. Indianapolis; Frank Ensworth, Cont. Agt. Dayton; G. C. Smith, Traveling Frt Agt, Indianapolis; Wallace McGowan, Ft. W. C. & I. Agt; and Cliff S. Walker, Traveling Frt. Agt., Cincinnati. They were a social crowd and mixed finely with our businessmen. They visited all the establishments in town. They were after a share of Ironton business and will undoubtedly get it.

Ironton Register, Sept. 22, 1892 – Only ten miles of a gap in the N. & W.. Same date: The C. & O. treated the old vets nicely.

IWR Feb. 18, 1893 Excursion Rates to Washington D. C. Via C. & O. R. R.

On account of the inauguration of President-elect Cleveland on March 4th, 1893, the C. & O. R. R. will sell tickets to Washington at rates of one fare ($12.50) for the round trip.

Tickets are good going on all trains on Feb. 28th, March 1st, and 2nd, also on train No. 2, March 3rd, 1893. Tickets are good for return until Nov. 8th. Solid vestibule trains through without change.

Ticket office corner Front and Railroad street, Ironton, O. C. B. Ryan, Asst. G. P. A.

Ironton Weekly Republican, April 01, 1893, Mr. S. Summers, employed with the N. & W. company at Kenova, is now a clerk in the C. H. & D. office in place of Ed. C. Culbertson, who recently resigned. Mr. D. L. Ogg, (I do not have the end of this article yet)

Ironton Weekly Republican, April 01, 1893, Dr. E. P. Gould, of Sheridan, is in the city today. He says in regard to opening up the Sheridan mines, little can be done until the N. & W. put in the side tracks that the Sheridan Co. asks for. The N. & W. officials were looking over the ground yesterday.

Ironton Weekly Republican, April 01, 1893, A NEW BRANCH

The Norfolk & Western Company has given notice to the land owners along the line of the proposed Dingess branch of their road that they will ask for the appointment of commissioners at the coming term of Logan Circuit court to assess damages for the right of way. The line is four miles long and is to be built to reach several mines being opened. Wayne News.

Ironton Register, October 5, 1893
The transfer engine on the Iron R. R. transfer backed off the track into about 30 inches of water last Saturday night. The next day three locomotives pulled her out. No damage was done. The locomotive was doing its work Monday.

Ironton Register, November 9, 1893, MORE OLD TIMES.

We copy again from an article on local history in the Jackson Standard, a chapter on the career of the Iron Railroad. It spades up old times delightfully:

The transfer of this subscription had a vital bearing on Jackson County’s history. It built Oak Hill mostly in Jefferson township instead of in the “Flatwoods” of Madison. It gave birth to Berlin and Wellston and deferred the development of Jackson and Washington townships for thirty years. It knit a political and commercial bond between Jackson and Scioto instead of Jackson and Lawrence.

Ironton Register, November 16, 1893
Col. Dick Rifenberrick was in town Tuesday. He is connected with the C. H. & D.

Ironton Register, Dec. 20, 1894, THE JOHN CAMPBELL

The Iron Railway Co. has purchased a new locomotive which will be here sometime in January. It will be called the John Campbell and is the tenth locomotive the company has bought. Baldwin Locomotive Works is building it. Its weight is 100,000 lbs; driver three on a side 50 inches in diameter; 24-inch stroke; forward of the engine is a four-wheel truck; the tender, when full of water and fuel, weighs 69,000 lbs. The tender has a sloping back suitable for switching purposes. The engine has been made for the Iron Railway and will exactly suit the track. It will be a great addition to that company’s business.

This is the tenth locomotive bought by the company. The list is as complete as we can make it and is as follows:

Essex
Ironton
Lawrence
Scott Engine
Mt. Vernon
Olive
Howard
John Ellison
Thomas W. Means
John Campbell

The Scott locomotive was a small affair built at the company’s shops by Perry Scott, the Master Mechanic of the road. The name of the new locomotive is in honor of the founder of Ironton and the long-time principal proprietor of the road.

Ironton Register, February 14, 1895 – The C. & O. contemplate building a fine and commodious depot at Ashland, constructed of pressed brick with stone trimmings. The interior will be finished in yellow pine, showing the natural wood. Plans are now in the hands of Cincinnati contractors, preparing their bids on them.

Ironton Register, February 21, 1895, N. & W. ACCIDENT

Last Monday morning, as the No. 3 westbound passenger train on the N. & W. was entering Kenova at high speed, the engine parted a split switch and jumped the tracks pulling the train with it. The engine and tender turned over on their sides, and the baggage and smoking cars were badly wrecked. There were twelve passengers in the rear coach. One of these, a little son of Mrs. Kinricks of Louisa, was knocked through a window and killed. The engineer and fireman and three or four passengers were severely bruised.

Ironton Register, May 16, 1895 – Through trains between Ironton and Dayton on the C. H. & D. is to be resumed on the 19th. This is largely the result of Ironton businessmen asking for the service. The schedule is not yet announced.

Ironton Register, May 16, 1895 – A new time card went into effect on the N. & W. last Sunday. See the schedule in our advertising columns. The principal change is that the night train from Columbus is about two hours later to wait at Columbus for several important trains. The time of other trains is changed a few minutes.

IRONTON REGISTER, SEPT. 26, 1895- SERIOUS WRECK

Buck Batten’s cow wandered on the trestle at the N. & W. Storms Creek crossing early last Saturday morning and got fastened there. A freight came along, 15 miles an hour, but the engineer failed to see the cow. The engine struck her, jumped the track, and went over the embankment, the engine on one side and the tender on the other.

Several freight cars piled up in chaos, and three went over the bank to keep company with the locomotive. It was a bad smashup, and it looked like the loss was many thousands of dollars, but probably $4000 will cover it. There was no one seriously hurt. Engineer Kilgore and Fireman Jones were bruised and scratched some, but there was nothing serious. No’s 3, and 33 passenger trains had to transfer.

Ironton Register, November 21, 1895 – The Mercantile Trust Co. of New York has brought suit against Norfolk & Western to foreclose mortgages for $16,000,000.

Ironton Register, November 21, 1895 – Maj. Biggerstaff keeps up constant pressure on his Ohio River railroad (need to copy the end of the column)

Ironton Register, January 30, 1896 – In addition to American Independence, we are to celebrate the next 4th of July, the completion of an electric street railroad in Ironton. Then hurrah for 76 and 96.

Ironton Register, January 30, 1896 – Steam was raised in the renovated locomotive Thos. W. Means, at the Iron Ry. Roundhouse, last Monday. The locomotive has a new boiler and has been thoroughly overhauled.

IWR, March 26, 1896 – Six wagon loads of coal were brought from near Arabia to Etna Station last week, and thence in on the I.R.R. to be tested in the interest of the Symmes Creek R. R. That looks like a business, and it will look more like a business when the tests are made. The coal is all right.

IWR, March 26, 1896 – The Council again refused to modify the street railroad ordinance. They were right. Let it stand as passed.

IRONTON REGISTER, MAY 14, 1896: Two private cars of the C. & O. were in Russell Friday and Friday night, and in the meantime, the party of officials they brought crossed on the transfer and came down along the railroad tracks to the company’s ticket office, returning by ferry.

The party consisted of Mr. George Ingalls, son, and assistant of Pres. M. E. Ingalls; F. M. Whitaker, assistant traffic manager; George Benjamin, general coal agent; Don Alexander, assistant general freight agent; Frank Renahan, chief clerk for Mr. Benjamin; J. M. Gills, general superintendent of the western division of Huntington; H. C. Boughton, assistant superintendent, also of Huntington.

IRONTON REGISTER, MAY 14, 1896 – Wm. Elswick, son of Elias Elswick, near Kitts Hill, met with a terrible accident at Dunlow, W. V., both his legs being mangled by an N. & W. train. One may be saved. He was working in a sawmill at Ferguson. He was 21 and single. His parents and grandfather have gone to him.

Ironton Register, July 23, 1896 – Mr. Charles R. Batt of Boston, principal owner of the Iron Railroad, was in town on his annual visit last Monday, at which time the annual meeting of the company was held.

Ironton Weekly Republican, Jan. 02, 1897, Thos. L. Nelson, a young brakeman on the C. & O. road, and Miss Dolly Chinn, of Russell, Ky., were married Friday afternoon in the parlor of the New Hotel Olive, Rev. Geo. H. Geyer, officiating.

Ironton Weekly Republican, Jan. 02, 1897, Small Wreck at Catlettsburg

On the C. & O. road at Catlettsburg Monday morning, the air brakes broke on a west-bound freight, and one car went over an embankment, wrecking another car loaded with glucose(?))

Ironton Weekly Republican, Jan. 02, 1897, PROBABLE MURDER. Body of an N. & W. Conductor Found Under the C. & O. Bridge

The body of N. R. Campbell, a freight conductor on the N. & W. road, was bound by Ben Keyser Saturday morning, lying under the West Virginia side of the new C. & O., a bridge that crosses the Big Sandy at Catlettsburg, Ky. Campbell was in Catlettsburg Friday night. When found, he had $16 in money and a gold watch.

His body was taken to Kenova, where it will be forwarded to his late home, Johnson City, Tenn. He had $80 in his pockets at Catlettsburg, and the impression prevails there that the money and watch were left on his body to be used as a blind to conceal his murder. Had he fallen off the bridge, would his body have been dashed to pieces?

Ironton Weekly Republican, Saturday, June 26, 1897 C-R-A-S-H-! WITHOUT A CRACK OF WARNING, THE ROUNDHOUSE ROOF FALLS IN. Several Workmen Narrowly Escape Injury – One Slightly Hurt. – A Rotten Truss-Beam Lets Go, And the Roof Comes With It

Without the slightest warning, a large section of the roof of the Iron Railway roundhouse gave way and fell in with a crash at about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Two or three workmen were caught under the debris, and one or two other persons narrowly missed it, but luckily no one was seriously hurt. A locomotive and a flat car were buried under the mass of timber, lumber, and slating.

When the crash came, D. J. James and John Lutz were working on the front end of the Iron engine “Thos. W. Means,” which was standing on jacks in one of the center stalls, immediately under the section of roof that fell.

Mr. Lutz jumped and ran out of the building in time to escape. Mr. James dropped down into the pit, took refuge under the engine, and escaped injury. On a flat car in the adjoining stall, Killian Lutz was struck by a piece of timber and injured about the hip, though not seriously. He was able to walk away in search of a doctor.

James McGowan, a passer-by who had just stepped into the roundhouse, got out just in time to escape the falling roof. Mr. George A. Meyers was working at the vice bench at the end of the building at the time and was not under the section that fell, but he got out when the crash came, as it was not known what the entire roof was giving away.

The engine, “Means,” is not much damaged while buried under the debris. The cause of the falling in of the roof was the rotting away of the ends of a crossbeam that spans the width of the roundhouse and on which the ends of the rest of the rafters, the rafters and beam being bolted and braced together and forming a truss which supports the roof. One of these trusses gave way, and all of the roofs, sheeting, slate and all, on either side of it and to the next trusses came down.

Ironton Register, September 23, 1897, A NEW MOTOR

The motor cars which the Baldwin people ship to the C. H. & D. Traction Company next week will, it is expected, prove an epoch in railroad local transportation matters. The car’s design is entirely new. Nothing of this description has ever been attempted in this country. It is calculated to run at high speed on the steam railroad track and, simultaneously, by condensing appliances, can be operated through the streets of a city without frightening horses.

This feature is not quite offensive as the trolley line with its poles, attendant noises, and sudden and startling flashes from the trolley connections. There is a great number of steam railroads in the country today anxiously awaiting the result of this experiment of the C. H. & D. people in the hope that it may afford a solution to the problem which now faces them, of carrying people on such short hauls as the inter-urban lines can do without the impracticable feature of the trolley wire over the steam railroad track.

IWR, OCT. 23, 1897- AS TO A RAILROAD ROUTE –

A Correspondent Invites Examination of One He Has to Offer. As a route for a railroad from the Webster and Waterloo coal fields to connect with the Iron railway, the course should be up Johns creek to Bud Neal’s, then take the right-hand fork, past Koster’s and Harrison Dennison’s, tunnel through the dividing ridge and go down to Dean station on the Iron road.

This would take the road by a two miles shorter route than the Cannon’s creek route. It would also run through vast fields of bituminous coal as well as rich deposits of iron ore. This route should be examined before locating the road.

I propose to show the iron ore and stone coal to the satisfaction of anyone. There is an abundance of lime on Long Hollow west of the divide. It has not been exhausted like the Cannon’s Creek region. There is also the finest building stone to be found in southern Ohio.
Decatur Powell.
Arabia,
Oct. 18, 1897.

IRONTON REGISTER, NOV. 20, 1897 – MR. CHARLES Q. DAVIS – Gives The Symmes Creek People Some Advice Regarding Options

In a letter to the editor of the REPUBLICAN, Mr. Charles Q. Davis, who is supposed to be operating in the railroad interest of Hon. Calvin S. Brice says:

“The land owners of the Symmes creek valley should be on their guard against land speculators who seek to tie up their land by long time options to get the advantage of building a railroad. Under no circumstances should an option be given for more than six months because when parties who intend to build a railroad get ready to do so, they will certainly not proceed with the land tied up to a lot of speculators at all sorts of prices.”

IRONTON REGISTER, DECEMBER 22, 1898 – The Iron Railroad Co. will order a new locomotive soon.

Ironton Register, April 20, 1899 – It has been intimated that the division offices of the N. & W. R. R., now located at Kenova, might be moved to Ironton if citizens here would manifest an interest in the matter and go after them. It certainly im- do not have the end of the article.

Ironton Register, June 15, 1899 – Dan Reagan’s Death

Last Thursday afternoon, as the accommodation train on the C. H. & D. was coming down the grade on this side of tunnel No. 3, it jumped the track and then dropped over with its wheels sticking in the air. But the sad part about it was that Dan Reagan, the popular engineer, for many years connected with the road, was caught someway in the wreck and was crushed and scalded to death.

He was the only fatality. His fireman escaped. The news of the awful accident was heard in Ironton with great sorrow. Dan Reagan was an attractive man of fine appearance, courteous, honorable, and intelligent. Though a young man, he was one of the oldest engineers on the road. He had been an employee with the C. H. & D for twelve years.

His wife was Miss Mary Davlin, the eldest daughter of Mrs. Mary Devlin of Wellston. They have three children, one a baby at ten days old. To that sorrowing home, all hearts turn in deepest sympathy. The deceased’s father, mother, and family live in Dayton, where the funeral was held last Sunday.

Ironton Register, August 17, 1899 – RAILROAD WRECK – need to type

Ironton Register, Dec. 28, 1899 – Receiver Wilson of the Ironton Electric Light & Railway Co. was the happy recipient of a handsome K. of P. charm presented by the company employees on Christmas day.

Ironton Register, November 15, 1900 – The new C & O transfer barge is about ready. It is considerably larger than the one in use, having 216 feet of car capacity, which will accommodate six large cars. It will take 480 feet of rails to track the barge.

Ironton Register, November 15, 1900 – C. O. L. Cooper, private secretary to Attorney General Griggs at Washington, D. C., left for that city last Monday after a visit with his parents here. Mr. Cooper will relinquish his position after March 4 to take a more lucrative one in the office of President S. R. Callaway of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. He will then go to New York to reside.

Ironton Register, April 25, 1901, NEW CARS ARRIVED

Two new cars for the Camden Interstate Railway Company have arrived and will be put in shape for the track at the earliest possible date. The cars will be run for the present between here and Big Sandy River and will make hourly trips. This will give patrons a car from Ninth street to Sandy every half hour. The new cars are simply magnificent, nothing finer in the State. They compare favorably with the best cars on metropolitan railway lines. – Huntington Advertiser.

IRONTON REGISTER, AUG. 15, 1901 RIGHT OF WAY SECURE

Ward Taylor, the Republican candidate for Sheriff, was here Saturday. He says the Detroit Southern Railroad has secured a right of way 100 feet wide from Wellston to Rockwood. The route crosses the C. H. & D. Line at several points and passes through Marion. He says there is no doubt whatever about the road building and believes that it could be induced from Marion down Ice Creek to Ironton if the citizens of Ironton would make the proper effort. It is very probable that the road will run a branch line to Ironton anyway, owing to the immense freight business to be had here and at Ashland.

Ironton Register, August 29, 1901, INJURED IN A WRECK

Mrs. Jed B. Bibbee, the wife of the well-known young attorney, was severely injured in a railroad wreck late Monday afternoon.
Mrs. Bibbee had been visiting her husband’s folks at Letart Falls, Ohio, for the past two weeks, and on Monday, Mr. Bibbee was returning home with her over the Ohio River Railroad.

The train was running at only 20 miles an hour. When near Spillman, 12 miles above Point Pleasant, W. Va., it collided with the rear end of a freight train. The crew of the passenger engine jumped and escaped injury, and except for Mrs. Bibbee, the passengers were equally fortunate.

The shock of the collision threw the passengers about, and they tumbled up the seats. Mrs. Bibbee was thrown forward and fell on her knees between the seats. Her left kneecap was broken, her left leg was very badly bruised below the knee, and her side was bruised.
When the train reached Huntington late in the evening, Dr. Brandebury, the C. & O. surgeon, came to the train.

Ironton Register, April 3, 1903 –The transfer of the Palace Hotel from D. C. Davies to Simon Labold, the latter representing the N. & W., was made Saturday. The consideration named in the deed was $7000.

IRONTON REGISTER, JANUARY 21, 1904, NOTICE

Is hereby given, in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage of the Ironton Coal & Iron Co. Dated January 3d, 1893, that the Trustees under said mortgage have $23,000 in hand applicable to the redemption of bonds of said company and as provided in said mortgage, offers of bonds for sale to the Sinking Fund will be received until 3 o’clock P. M. On January 29th, 1904.

The outstanding bonds and the overdue and unpaid coupons amount to $26,600. Any further information desired can be obtained by applying to the Treasurer, Room 160 Bullitt Building, Philadelphia. Offers should be addressed to the Trustees, Room 710, Bullitt Building, Philadelphia.
EDWARD G. McINNES.

I.R. Nov. 30, 1905 – Capt. J. F. Morgan is busy at Pt. Pleasant supervising the repairs made to the transfer boat, Bib Ballard, and the barge. The repairs required to be made in haste as the traffic is heavy and besides costing the C. & O. and the D. T. & I. a good round sum by the N. & W. railroad doing the transferring via Kenova.

Ironton Register, November 26, 1908, WRECK ON C. H. & D. A bad wreck occurred on the C. H. & D. railroad Monday morning near Rock Hill, where four cars were derailed. It was necessary to send Dayton for a train to convey the passengers and mail. While the wreck was the worst in years, no one was hurt. As a consequence, all trains on the road were late on Monday. A broken flange caused the wreck.

Semi-Weekly Irontonian, Feb. 26, 1909, THE MURDERER LIVED AT OLD MAIDSVILLE
“Jack” Pruitt, the young boy who shot and killed Conductor Frank Blevins of the Sandy Division of the C. & O., formerly made his home with W. R. Richardson of Old Maidsville and was well known in the city. He is about 20 years of age.

Charles Adams, the porter of the Clutts’ House, was ported on Blevin’s train for several years and said that the dead conductor was a man who knew not what fear was. His run is one of the most dangerous on the road, owing to so many drunken Big Sandians riding on the cars. Blevins’ predecessor was also shot and killed by a drunken passenger.

Semi-Weekly Republican, February 13, 1912, GENERAL ROAD MASTER HERE

J. T. Markin, general roadmaster on the D. T. & I. R. R., was a business visitor in the city Friday and was calling the offices in this city. Nothing out of the ordinary called the manager to the city other than the inspection of the tracks and looking into repairs that the road has found necessary.

Mr. Markin seemed pleased at the large coal and freight business that the road is doing at present and thinks that the company is now doing some of the largest haulings it has had for some time.

The business on the line today was keeping up the record of a few days ago as a result of over 150 cars being shipped out of the city. The coal and other freight sent from this city are not all left by the D. T. & I. as a large amount of freight are picked up at points outside of Ironton. Most of the coal going through is from the C. and O. company.

Ironton Daily Register, August 18, 1919 – N. & W. CO. IS SUED BY COL. BASSELL

Columbus. Aug. 18 – Declaring that he is permanently disabled and unable to use his left arm due to an injury received in an N. & W. Pullman car, John Y. Bassell, manager of the Columbus Convention & Publicity Association, Saturday filed suit for $10,950 damages in federal court against Walker D. Hines, director general of the railroads.

The suit resulted from an injury suffered on January 9, 1919, when Bassell, according to his petition, stumbled over a footstool in the aisle of a Pullman car where he was riding. He charges that the stool was left there carelessly, and as a result, he fell against a seat and fractured a bone in his left arm. He asks for $450 for surgeon’s fees, $50 for the nurse’s bill, and $10,000 for the permanent disability. The accident occurred as Bassell was leaving the train at Union station.

All information contained within the Lawrence Register site is accurate to the best of our knowledge. We cannot be responsible for any misinformation provided to the coordinators or typographical errors contained herein. Always request an original copy from the provided source to document your genealogical research.

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