Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Barber, Edward F. 1911
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Ionia Standard, 24 Nov 1911

Veteran Locomotive Engineer on Pere Marquette, Answers Death Summons.
	
Edward F. Barber, veteran locomotive engineer on Pere Marquette, and who 
alternated with Al. Lyon on the first two regular runs on the old Ionia & 
Lansing road, now a part of the P. M. system, passed to the great unfathomable 
beyond at 4 o’clock on Friday afternoon.  Mr. Barber all his long and active 
life was a remarkable specimen of physical vigor, mental equilibrium and tact.  
It was therefore not strange that his last illness was of short duration.
	
Though somewhat indisposed, he went out on his regular run on Nov. 2, but was 
worse upon reaching Grand Ledge, and “dead-headed” back, going directly to his 
home upon reaching Ionia, where he remained until the end came.
	
His time of service as a locomotive engineer dates away back to war times, and 
he was with the Pere Marquette through all its successive changes from 1870 to 
the time of his demise - forty continuous years.
	
Mr. Barber was twice married, the first wife passing to her reward some 7 years 
ago.  By this marriage there were two children, Clifton W., of Ludington, and 
Pearl, the wife of Arthur Acker, now residing in California.  The second wife, 
who survives, was Mrs. Laura Vosburg of Big Rapids.
	
Mr. Barber was peculiarly reticent about divulging his age, and because it was 
well known that he was a locomotive engineer of more than half a century of 
continuous service, he was generally guessed older than he really was, which is 
73 years.  Valvular heart trouble is given as the cause of death.
	
Away back in June on 1861 he was the engineer of a train drawing the Fourth 
Michigan Volunteer Infantry from Adrian to Toledo, for service in the civil 
war, and this entire long career was peculiarly free from mishaps.
	
When he first came to the old Ionia & Lansing road, and that was when it was 
first opened in 1870, his was engine No. 6, named the “Greenville;” Lyon was at 
the throttle of the “Lansing,” No. 5; Jim McDonald of the No. 4, the “Ionia;” 
and No. 3 was the “James M. Turner,” all these veteran engineers are now dead, 
and Mr. Barber was the last one to go.
	
The funeral will be attended from the home at 2 o’clock on Monday afternoon, 
Rev. W.K. Spencer, D.D., officiating.  Interment in Highland Park.


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