Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-19
CENTRAL R[I|RES
NOSE ARQUEnE
Oldest of Roads Engineers Is
Relieved of Duties and
Pensioned
MAN -t,,~-l a,n,-
ON ROAD THIRTY-NlNE YEARS
Arquette Holds Unique Record for
Years Of Continuous Service and Pc
culiar Luck in Avoiding Accidents
Has Been Rairoading Forty Eight
Years-Frst Man Pensioned.

Nose Arquette, the oldest il
length of continuous service of any OF
the Iowa Central engineers, was re-
tired Thursday from active duty as al
engineer and pensioned. This is prac-
tically what the order amounts to
which relieved Arquette of duty al
Oskaloosa Thursday morning, and
which finished what will prove to be
probably his last run on an engine
Marquett returned to this city this
morning to report to Master Mechanic
c. e. Gossett, who happened to be
away. and to learn what, if any, du-
ties were expected of him.
Given Liberal Pension.
AS far as the existing records OF the
company run back, and as far back
ward as the memory of the oldest en-
ploye goes, Arquette is the first oper-
ating department employee to ever re-
ceive a pension He has been allowed
$50 a month, but it is possible that
the company may assign him some
minor duty about the shops or else
where to occupy part or all of his
time as long as he is able to work.
But it Is thought improbable, in view
of his age, that the company will ever
again allow him to run an engine.
On Duty Thirty Nine Years.
For thirty-nine continuous years. and
a few additional months, Arquette has
torn over and over the line pulling
train after train loaded with precious
human freight. Now he is SO years of
age, and the company's officials believe
he is too old to longer be burdened
with the responsibility of the safe
opera ton of train. So he has been
"honorably discharged" to use mil
itary term, and his place will be filled
by a younger and more active man.
RaiIroaded Forty Eight Years.
Nose Arquette probably holds the
record for the longest continuous serv-
ice on locomotive of any other man
in the state. For forty-eight years,
almost an ordinary lifetime. he has
spent within the limits Of an engine
cab, most of the time on the engineers
side. Most of these years have been
spent in the employ of the Iowa Cen
trail, as an engineer. But for few
years before he came to the Iowa Cen
trail Arquette served on the Illinois
Central, where he learned his trade"
Went on Engine in 1864.
When Arquette had just reached his
majority he went to "railroading," by
Joining the operating force of the Illi-
nois Central as fireman. AS fire.
man and engineer he ran for five years
from Dubuque, the home, of his par
ents, to Cedar Fails, Waterloo, and
Iowa Falls, various division points at
various times. Then he left the road
and joined the force Of the Iowa Cen
trail, which was then little more than
a small branch line, with a track be-
tween Eldora and Ackley and head
quarters at the former place. The road
was then building both ways, north to
Mason City and south, pushing It's
track on to what was to eventually be
its terminal at Peoria.
"Mose" Helped Build the Road.
1t was on Nov. IA, 1869, that Arquette
went to work for the company at Ell
drora The first train he pulled was
one doing construction work on the
new line that was being built south.
He pulled similar trains, in both direc-
tions, and was hauling one of the con-
struction trains that came into this
city with the line from the north. Dur
ing most of the time that the road was
being built from Eldora north TO Ma
son City and south to this city, Ar
quette was hauling construction trains.
Arquette pulled the construction
train that was the first to run over
the newly laid rails of the Central into
Mason City,
Gets a Regular Run.
After the road had been finished be-
tween this city and Mason City Ar
quette was given regular" which in
those early days Of Iowa transporta-
ton consisted in mixed train = one
which was made up Of both passenger
and freight cars. In the very early
days Of the road there were no other
kind of trains, such a thing as strictly
passenger service being unknown.
.Arquette came to this city when the
headquarters Of the company was
moved here, and he has continued to
i've here ever since. He has run on
practically all of the passenger runs
Of the road. For years he took his turn
with the other old engineers, turn and
turn about. Then Arquette, being the
senior of the enginemen, was given the
preferred run, which was on Nos. 2 and
| between this city and Mason City.
For about fifteen years Arquette aas
oeen on this run.
Is sixty-Nine Years Old.
Mr.. Arquette is now an old man. He
recently celebrated his sixty-ni
but in spite of his age he is
active, altho his years are
showing on him. For that reason dur
ng recent months, he has not been on
he road more than half the time. He
loes not know what, if any, duties the
will give him, but says that
lie is perfectly satisfied, in fact more
han that, very much pleased, with the |
disposition the company has
made of him.
Has Never Had Wreck.
Arquette probably stands as unique
.mong the thousands of old or middle |
.ged engineers as one who has never |
lad serious accident, in which there
vas the loss of life He has had de- |