Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-30

Elisha Snow Newell of Farmingdale
who Is without doubt one of the best
known railroad men In the State Of
Maine, will on the coming Friday, Oct.
2, celebrate his 18th birthday. After
| As years of service on the Maine Cen
trial. most of the time as engineer,
/ Uncle Elisha" Is in splendid health
and his mind is as active as when he
was many years younger and held the
| throttle of an engine drawing a spe-
cial train bearing such celebrities as
/ Horace Greeley or James G. Blaine
! When he was "A years of age he was
/ still actively engaged as a railroad
engineer. retiring about four years
ago, although still able to perform the
arduous duties Of the profession.
| Mr. Newell was born IN Durham,
Me-. and remained at home until he
was % years old. In early life he had
! no inclination toward the calling of
| locomotive engineer. He taught school
| for some time and even today holds
! the of'ce Of president Of the Durham
Pathological Society Although the So
/ ciety Is new practically defunct It was
! active for many years in the affairs
| OF education. For the past three years
| the members have held no reunion, as
| Mr.. Newell says there are not enough
| left to have a real good get-together.
At the age of .. he went TO Lewis
! ton and was employed IN a saw mill,
where he remained for two years. On
April II. 1854 he went 20 work as fire
man for the Kennebec & Portland
| railroad. thu predecessors of the
Maine Central. The road had Just ac-
CURED the Somerset & Kennebec and
Mr.. NewelPs first engine was the J. D.
! Lang, named for q Vassalborp Quak-
er, who was one of the promoters
| of the road. During his As years with
the road he has seen general man
ayers come ana go, serving under II
in all, but few of whom are now liv-
ing. The J. d. Lang was wood burn
er like all others of this time. Three
trips per week from Skowhegan to
Portland and return was the schedule.
Mr.. Newell also ran another wood
burner, the Ruel Williams, which ran
on the Path branch. The Williams
weighed 10 tons. which seems very
light in comparison to the 125 and
better tons OF the modern locomotive.
For fourteen years he served on one
land TO WGterville and return. At this
time this was the longest run made
in New England. He is the only sur
ViVor Of the nine engineers who serv-
ed at the TINA he began his work. He
never received an injury during his
employment on the road
Mr., Newell for many years ran en-
gine I'll in the Gardiner freight yard,
known as the shifter. He liked this
especially as Il called for no Sunday
work. He remembers distinctly the
old wood burner that Joseph NJ. Alex
ander used to run IN the early part OF
his so years cervice on the Boston &
Albany. This same engine was sold
to junk dealer and from the scrap
heap went to this Kennebec & Port
land. Remodelled. it was assigned to
Mr.. Newell and became known as the
Dummy" running between Gardi-
ner and Augusta.
For twenty years Mr. Newell was
the regularly ordained pastor of the
Advent church Of this city, which du-
ties he performed while working upon
the railroad. He is wonderfully we'll
Versed in the Scripture and an inter
estins preacher and conversationalist.
He is a Mason. having Joined Acadia
Lodge in Durham in 1867 and has al
ways maintained a deep interest In
the order
Nr. Newell and his wife reside at
| 1877 Maine Avenue, Farmingdale and
| have the hearty best wishes Of many
! friends for a continuance of their
| health md bnppiOaaS