PLACE, James D. 1830-1909
PLACE
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 10/15/2013 at 01:17:46
[Waterloo Semi Weekly Courier, Friday, April 9, 1909, Waterloo, Iowa]
HALF CENTURY OF SERVICE IS ENDED
"Uncle Jim" Place Passed Away Last Night.
Faithful Employe of Illinois Central Forty-Seven Years.
(From Wednesday's Daily.) [Wednesday, April 7, Waterloo Daily Reporter was "similar" but with less detail]
Last night at 11:20. James D. Place, better known as "Uncle Jim," who for forty years served as a faithful engineer of the Illinois Central and was in railroad service for over 49 years, passed away at the residence of his brother. Thomas W. Place, 312 High Street, after an illness of many months, death being due to uremia and the ills of old age.
Though death had been momentarily expected for a number of weeks and came to relieve a long period of suffering, the many friends of this veteran railroad man and early resident of Waterloo can not but feel sadness at his passing. "Uncle Jim" had been ill nearly two years, and since August 25, last, over seven months, he had been confined to his bed. He had made his home with his brother, T. W. Place, since the latter was married in Dubuque 56 years ago next July and the tender care given by Mrs. Place through all the years made life in the home very happy for "Uncle Jim," her personal ministrations during his last illness being faithful and unremitting. Everything was done that loving thought could suggest to add to the comfort of his closing days but death was at last the conqueror and beloved "Uncle Jim" has passed to the Great Beyond.
As nearly a half century of "Uncle Jim's" life was closely associated with the Illinois Central Railroad, his biography is largely but a history of the progress and growth of that great railroad system. The trying experiences of the early days of railroading as known by him during his earlier years of service are but the summary of the difficulties which must always lie in the way of great enterprises during the time of their beginnings.
"Uncle Jim" had his days of hard railroading and his nights of danger, blizzards and long extended blockades. Yet he loved his work and was willing to brave any danger remaining faithfully at his post until advancing years weakened his hold on the throttle and he turned to less strenuous labors during his old age.
James D. Place was born in Acworth, Sullivan County, N. H., August 17, 1830, being at his death in his eightieth years. He received a common school education in his native county and was engaged principally in farming until he began railroading at the early age of twenty years. His first experience was in 1851 with the Northern Railroad of New Hampshire, now a part of the Boston & Maine systerm, when he served as fireman on an engine named "Franklin" under Engineer James Blaisdell, now deceased, and later fired the engine, "Blackwater" under James Bachelder, also deceased. In those days, it did not take so long to become an engineer as it does now, and ten months after he entered the service of the railroad, Mr. Place was given charge of the "Shaker Engine."
After spending two and a half years with the Northern railroad of New Hampshire. Mr. Place came west and began work for the Illinois Central company in August, 1853, running engine No. 9 on construction work from Chicago to Kankakee before the bridge at the latter place was built. On November 6, 1954, he was transferred to Freeport, Ill., with engine No. 13 and at that time the track was not laid as far north as Lena, neither was the road graded south of Freeport, and only ten miles of track was laid on the northern division.
On January 1, 1854, a train ran in to Warren and in September of that year, the first train was run as far west as Scales Mound. October 31, the first regular train ran into Galena and the next day the first regular train out of Galena to points east was drawn by engine No. 45 with Mr. Place at the lever. He also took the first passenger train in to Dunleith, now East Dubuque, with engine No. 37, on June 12, 1855. At this time there were but two regular passenger trains running each way out of Freeport. In the spring of 156, Mr. Place severed his connection with the Illinois Central Co. and spent six months in the employ of the Chicago & Galena Union railroad and later two months in Minnesota, returning then to the Central and for a time running between Amboy and Dunleith. In June 1857, he went south, but after spending a few months on the Memphis & Charleston line, he returned to Amboy and for two years did no railroad work. In 1859, he secured a position on the Dubuque & Sioux City railroad, running between Dubuque & Cedar Falls and was thus employed until the summer of 1862.
-CIVIL WAR VETERAN-
During the summer of 1862, Company F. of the 75th Illinois Volunteer infantry was recruited in the vicinity of Amboy, Lee County, Illinois, and rendezvoused at Amboy. Mr. Place enlisted at Amboy, August 14, 1862, was mustered in at the same place August 21, and joined the volunteers at Dixon on August 27. He served faithfully for his country until he was mustered out at Nashville, June 12, 1865, recognition of his gallantry winning him a commission as 2nd lieutenant two years before, August 15, 1863. He served under Generals Buell, Roaccrans, Sherman and lastly "Pap" Thomas, participating in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Pine Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Atlanta, Look Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Franklin Tenn., and other minor engagements. Within recent years, Mr. Place's company held reunions at the scent of the rendezvous in Illinois and these occasions were always enjoyable events in his experience.
After the close of the war, Mr. Place returned to the Illinois Central, being given charge of an engine on the Chicago division running between Chicago and Champaign but later was transferred to a run between Central Ia., and Cairo. During this time he was caught in a collision at Hanging Rock, two miles north of Makanda. March , 166, in which he lost his right leg and was laid up for about a year. As soon as he was able to resume his duties, he was given charge of an engine to run between Chicago and Kankakee, Ill., for a short time and then went to Iowa and took charge of an engine running between Waterloo and Mona. This run, Mr. Place continued to hold for twenty-seven years or until January 7, 1894, when he retired from the road after an engine service of over forty years. He was placed in charge of the oil room at the Illinois Central shops and round house in Waterloo and held this position until he was pensioned July 1, 1901.
For the past several years Mr. Place had taken life easy. His interest in the Illinois Central, which he had served so long, continued unabated and until he was taken sick, he walked up town each morning to watch the improvements and to visit with railroad men with whom he was always a favorite.
Mr. Place's parents died many years ago, his father in 1836 and his mother in Waterloo, September 11, 1874. He is survived by his only brother,. T. W Place, of Waterloo: by four nephews, A. M.. and J. W. Place, of Waterloo; and F. E. and D. M. Place of Chicago; also by two grand-nephews, Meredith and Honore Place, and two grandnieces. Helen and Josephine Place, all of Waterloo, children of J. W. Place.
Everyone who knew "Uncle Jim" loved him. Young and old alike were his friends. His kindly disposition and gentle, character, his genial manner, his interest in all, drew them to him. He was universally respected and honored and will be sincerely mourned not only in Waterloo but wherever his name is known.
"Uncle Jim" was a member of Division No. 114, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers of Waterloo and of Robert Anderson Post No. 68, G. A. R., Waterloo.
The funeral will be held from the T. W. Place residence of 312 High Street Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. G. W. Hinkle, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Robert Anderson Post G. A. R., of which decedent was a member, will attend the funeral in a body.
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Gravestone shows middle initial "D"
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