Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13
JUNGLE JOE" HADDON.
An Unpublished Incident Of the
Famous Engineers Life.

Haddon-"Uncle joe," as he was
familiarly known, was o con.
spicuous parsonage in the hustling
little town of GIeenwood, 8. c.
Everybody in that part OF the
country knew, or might have
known, that "Uncle Joe," who
had lived lore than ninety win.
ters, enjoyed the reputation of be-
ing tho oldest engineer in the
world. He Was born at Newcastle.
upon-the-T Tyne, England, abou.
the year 1901. He was engineer
for George Stephenson at the time
that celebrated Englsshman made
Improvement on ths locomotive.
he ran the first engine from
Stephenson's colliery to tho sss-
shore.
From that part of England be
went to London, where ne was
employed about 1928 40 engineer
on a new road being built from
that city to a point 20 miles in the
country, whore he remained four
or five years, when he decided to
60 to America.
Young, full of vigor and hope,
he bade his sisters and other
kinsfolk farewell, before taking
ship for the New Work.
Reaching New York, he disem-
bsrked, remaining in that city
several months. From New York
he wentl:o Charleston, where he
Has employed as engineer on the
South Carolina road, at that time
the longest railroad in the world.
From the South Carolina road
he went to Cuba, where he was
employed as engineer on q road
running out from Habans.
Later he returned to South Caro-
lima, this time being employed 90
engineer at Dorn's gold mine, in
Abbeville county. In this county
he Was married, and hae one
daughter, now living at Cross Hill.
During all this time, governing 9
period Of 90 years, the relatives OK
"Uncle Joe" for some unaccoun.
table reason had received no in.
formation from him. Many
letters of anxious inquiry as to
his whereabouts were written, but
all failed to bring the much desir-
ed information. It was more
than quarter of q century before
his nearest relatives gave up all
hope of ever hesring from him.
About so years sitter he had left
England, "Unce Joe" received .
letter postmsrked "Coshocton,
Ohio, April 4, $780," Here 10 the
letter:
Coshocton, Ohio.
April 4th, 1880.
MIR Joe Haddon, Saluda, 8. c.
Dear Sir: I had 0 brother who
came to America over 6fty years
ago, and from whom We never
heard anything until about two
weeks ago, when q clipping came
ont in our county paper giving
such good description that We
wrote to several Of the papers Of
that State.
And yesterday, through the
kindness of Messrs. T. II. Riley
and M. c. Tsggsrt, Greenwood
8. c., by whom we were furnished
your address. I write you to see If
you are my long lost brother who
left the north of Eng.snd to come
to this country and! run . loco
motive; and if you had two sisters,
Mary and Margaret, who lived
near Gatesheat, Durham county,
England.
I am living with q son and
daughter, and have one son mar
ried.
Hoping that you will write as
soon as you receive this, as We are
very anxious to find you tho per-
son we are looking for. Yours in
suspense,
Margsrt Robson.
A letter enclosing one of "Uncle
Joe's" photographs was i'm
mediately sent to his sister, who
in return mailed one of her
photographic to him.
Up to the time of his death
about three years ago-both bro
thsr and sister were the recipients
of many letters Of affection from
one another.-The State.
var vMnW WHAT YnII ARE TAKING