WELLINGTON W. BLOOD, Port Jervis, New York
Though for a long time Mr. Blood has ceased to be an engineer in active service, yet he is one of those whose record and recollections go back to the earliest days of the Erie-back to the days, in fact, before the road had reached Port Jervis. Born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1825, he there received his schooling, and subsequently worked with his father at cabinet making. But the railroad instinct was always uppermost with him, and as soon as the Gravity road came into Honesdale he was on hand day after day, an interested spectator in its workings. Four years before the Erie was built through to Port Jervis he became a fireman, and in 1849 became an engineer, his first engine being the "Lazy Lord," as this was in the days when each engine had a name, instead of being designated - as now - by number only. For the first year he ran extra freight and passenger, but in 1850 was given a regular passenger run between Port Jervis and Jersey City-coming in over the Pennsylvania tracks-and between Port Jervis and Susquehanna, on the Delaware Division. Except for a brief period during which he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania, he continued in the service of the Erie up to 1868, when he finally left the road and went to work for the Pennsylvania again, this time remaining in their employ for twenty years, and retiring from their service in 1888. While with the Pennsylvania between 1868 and 1888 he was employed in taking care of engines at Pier 15, North River. After four years with the Gravity Railroad between Hawley and Scranton, he finally retired from active duty in 1892, and is now living at 39 Orchard Street in Port Jervis.

He was married in 1858 at Honesdale, to Miss Mary Smith, and their two sons are now residents of Port Jervis, both following the occupation of painters. He has four grandchildren.

In the old days Mr. Blood was something of a politician, but has ceased to take a hand, leaving it nowadays to the younger men. A few years ago he was stricken with paralysis, and in the case of almost anyone else it would have proved to be, if not fatal, yet sufficient to retire him permanently from the active walks of life, but he is not that kind of man, and contrary to the opinions of his friends and the physicians who attended him he is still upon his feet, and bids fair to last out many a younger man.

Of course, in all his years of various service he has had many narrow escapes, but was never seriously injured but once, when his train - loaded with hogs - went through a bridge nine miles west of Piermont, and he had his ribs stove in, his fireman, a man named Lee, losing his life at the same time. Again, about 1850, his train went off a switch near Middletown, causing a very bad wreck, from which he barely escaped by jumping. In his day Mr. Blood has been a fairly good telegraph operator, though never following that for a livelihood. His old friends on the road and his fellow-townsmen all wish him long life and happiness.


Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.