NEWS: Pennsy Veterans Retired as of June 1, 1918, Altoona Tribune, Blair County, PA

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RAILROAD NEWS

SIX PENNSY WORKERS PUT ON HONOR ROLL

Closing of Week Marks the Passing of Half Dozen Active Men to Retired List

J. W. Blake Most Widely Known

  June 1 marked the passing of six faithful Pennsy shopmen from the roll of the 
company's active laborers to that of the honored pension list. Probably the 
best known man of the retiring half dozen is John W. Blake, well known for his 
history as an orator, politician, army officer of the Civil war and Pennsy 
blacksmith. He resides at 1203 Sixth avenue.
  The other five men retired on Saturday are William H. Douglass, of 208 
Washington avenue, R. F. D.; Benjamin Caum, of 1015 Highland Place; Michael 
McCauley, of 2015 Washington avenue; George M. Landis, of 1533 Ninth street, 
and Frederick C. Gerhardt, of 1008 Fifth avenue.
  Of the retiring sextette only two, Mr. Blake and Mr. Landis, retire because 
of having reached the age limit. The others retire because of physical 
disability.

John W. Blake.

  Mr. Blake is probably the last Civil war veteran to leave the Juniata shops. 
He was born on May 8, 1848, at Martinsburg. He learned his trade in his 
father's shop at that place. He enlisted in the Union army before he had 
reached the age of 16, going into the Third Pennsylvania heavy artillery in 
1864 and serving until the end of the war.  He was mustered out with the rank 
of a second lieutenant.
  He graduated with the highest honors from the Juniata Collegiate institute in 
1871. Following his graduation he taught school for several years.  He 
afterwards returned to his trade, locating in 1880 at Roaring Spring, where he 
conducted a general blacksmithing and repair shop. His service with the Pennsy 
began in 1891 in the Juniata shops, then in their infancy, where he remained up 
until the time of his retirement. He was presented with a purse well filled 
with gold and an umbrella, a gift from his fellow employes, at the conclusion 
of his last day of active service.

Frederick C. Gearhardt.

  Frederick C. Gearhardt retires from service as assistant foreman in the 
Twelfth street blacksmith shop after service dating back to 1866. He started 
work with the Pennsy at the age of 14, first working in the lumber yard at 
Fourth street. Later he became a helper in the Twelfth street blacksmith shop. 
After working in several of the company's blacksmith shops he went to work for 
the Keystone Bridge works in Pittsburg.
  In 1874 he went to the Pennsy Meadows, N. J., shops, returning to this city 
in 1875. Since that time he has had a continuous service in the Twelfth street 
shop. He was appointed assistant foreman in 1905. He was born on August 22, 
1852, and came to this city in 1858.

William H. Douglass.

  William H. Douglass, a shophand employed in the tank shop of the machine shop 
department, retires voluntarily, due to the fact that he is incapacitated for 
hard work from injuries twice sustained in the shops.  He was born January 26, 
1851, in Clearfield township, Cambria county. He followed farming until March 
20, 1876, when he came to Altoona and entered the Pennsy service in the Twelfth 
street blacksmith shop. For the past twenty-three years he has been employed in 
the tank shop. Four years ago Mr. Douglass fell into an ashpit, not regaining 
consciousness for a week.  Two years ago he was badly pinched between an engine 
and a tank, his life at the time leaving the service at his own request.

Michael McCauley.

  Michael McCauley, a helper in the Juniata tank shop, also retires at his own 
request. He has suffered one stroke and his heart is very weak, he sometimes 
falling over at work.  He was born in Wilmore, Cambria county, February 23, 
1853, spending his boyhood in and around Wilmore. He came to this city in 1879, 
entering the Pennsy service in the wheel foundry under Foreman J. M. Barr. 
After ten years service there he entered a period of shifting about, working 
under Assistant Master Mechanic Houck, then operating the turntable in the 
Twelfth street roundhouse, then working in the old gas house and later still in 
the wheel foundry again. At the completion of the Juniata tank shop he was 
moved there and has continued at that place ever since. Owing to his extremely 
poor health, Mr. McCauley will live very quietly at his home.

Benjamin S. Caum.

  Benjamin S. Caum has served with the Pennsy for nearly forty-seven years, 
thirty-seven years of that time being in the No. 1 machine shop. He was born 
January 12, 1851, in Camden, N.J., moving to this city in 1872. He first 
entered the railroad service in the tin shop. Later he went west where he spent 
one year, then returned and took up work in the No. 1 machine shop under 
Foreman Whitehead, where he has been continuously employed ever since. He 
leaves the Pennsy service with the enviable record of never having been 
reprimanded.  On account of his poor health he will live quietly hereafter, 
intending to spend some time at his boyhood home in New Jersey.

George M. Landis.

  A biography of George M. Landis, the sixth man retired, was published in 
these columns on Saturday morning.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, June 3, 1918, page 5 & 10