I'm David House of North Richland Hills, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth., and I appreciate Charlie's permission to join this forum. A number of my House ancestors were loyal Frisco employees in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Springfield, Mo., Paris, Texas, and Hugo, Okla. At least two, including my great-grandfather Will N. House, who was night yardmaster in Paris in the late 1880s until September 1892, gave their lives in work-related accidents while switching cars. As I learn more about them through my genealogical research, I want to learn more about the Frisco and what was involved in my ancestors' work. One of my greatest hopes is to find a picture of one or all of them, because I have no pictures of them, including: 43-year Frisco scale inspector William H. House of Springfield (d May 1916), who was my great-great-grandfather; conductor Charles Parker House of Springfield (d July 1918); typist Freda House of Springfield (d 1988); switchman Frederick A. "Fred" House of Springfield (murdered 13 March 1894), and those related by marriage: conductor Charles R. Miller (d Oct 1920) of Hugo, my great-great-aunt's first husband, switchman Andrew G. Jones (killed while switching cars Nov 1891 less than a month after marrying), and conductor Richard M. Smith of St. Louis. Other relatives worked for the Frisco but briefly. Looking forward to exchanging information and learning about the Frisco.
David, welcome to the group. I'm sorry to say that brakeman mortality was quite high over 100 years ago. While it's a challenge to find 19th century documentation and/or photos, you never know what you'll find. Good luck and enjoy. Best Regards,
One of my grandfathers brothers fell down between two box cars. One of his other brothers fell into the pit. It must have been real rough. One of the things I look for in the All-Aboard is the retirement section. Most was retired account Disability. Lots of guys still go on Disability. It's hard, heavy work, some things are better, a lot of railroad tools have not changed since the 1800's Even the new tools are heavy.