Charles Peter PLATT

PLATT, SECORD, KERSHAW, ENSIE, ENSEY, HOWELL, FISHER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

Charles Peter Platt
3 June 1849 --- 6 September 1923

Engineer Chas. P. Platt died at his home on South Commercial Avenue last week Thursday morning at four o'clock. He had been ill but a few days. The Saturday evening previous he was stricken with a very slight stroke of paralysis. Another stroke Sunday evening was so severe that the doctors thought he could not possibly live through the night, but he did live until early Thursday morning.

The funeral services were held at the home Saturday afternoon. Rev. Wauby had charge of the services. The burial was in Rose Hill cemetery. John Howell read a history of Mr. Platt's life which we reproduce in full. There were frequent requests from many sources that this tribute to a former friend and fellow workman be published so that all might read it and file it away that it might again be read should anyone so desire. The floral offerings were beautiful and most elaborate, evidencing the esteem to which Mr. Platt was held by all who knew him. Always a busy man, when he reached the age of seventy-four years ago, and was placed on the retired list by his company, he sought other employment and was looking forward to the resumption this work when his fatal sickness intervened. His health was always good, and he never missed going out on his run-on account of sickness. He was very careful of the passengers entrusted to his care and was never involved in an accident which was in any measure attributed to his failure to perform his duty. In the one serious wreck in which his train figured, he stayed with his engine until it tipped over in the water which had undermined the track and then he swam to the side of the grade in safety.

Mr. Howell's tribute is as follows:

A Tribute to Chas. P. Platt

Charles Peter Platt, the only child of Harriet E. and Peter B. Platt, was born on Long Island, near Rockaway Beach, June 3, 1849. His father, who was a railroad conductor on one of the Long Island railroads, died when Charles was but one year old and before he was eight years old, his mother had passed away.

His early boyhood was spent with his grandparents, near Long Island Sound. When still a young boy, his grandparents brought him west and settled on a farm near Low Moor, in Clinton County, Iowa.

At the age of 19 years, he left the farm and went to work for the C. & N. W. Ry. Co., acting as watchman of engines on a work train. This was at Clinton, Iowa. He continued in this employ of the company until he was pensioned at the age of 70 years, about 45 years of his life being spent as a locomotive engineer.

On April 18, 1871, he was married to Hattie M. Secord. To this union, four children were born: Everett Charles and Mae Harriet of Eagle Grove, Iowa, and Grace E. Kershaw and Maud M. Ensie [Ensey] of New York City.

In November 1882, he was transferred from the Clinton Division to the Northern Iowa Division at Eagle Grove, where he has since lived.

In 1883, he pulled the first passenger train into Huron, S.D. Nearly all of his service at Eagle Grove was spent as engineer on trains No. 3 and 4, between Eagle Grove and Hawarden, starting in the year 1884. For several years, he was the oldest engineer in point of service on the Northern Iowa Division.

Besides his wife and children, he leaves four grandchildren.

It has been my good fortune to have shared the companionship of Mr. Platt for more than forty years. An almost daily contact during all these years has given me an opportunity to know the man; to know his open generosity and kindness of heart; his honest, integrity, and the many other sterling qualities which endeared him so much to all.

Coming to Eagle Grove in 1882, he was registered as Engineer No. 1 in the passenger service. He was one of the pioneers who helped to weave the network of railroads in Iowa and the Dakotas in the following years. During the 45 years that he presided at the throttle, thousands of lives were entrusted to his care and never, to my knowledge, was there the loss of a single life – truly a wonderful record.

The very length of service indicates something of what the habits of the man must have been. No man could stand against the strain of nerves, which that occupation demanded; and at the same time, let the lower elements of the spirit have their away.

Charles Platt was known to his associates on the C. & N. W. Ry. As one of the most careful men in the service, yet his train was always on time, when possible, to make the time.

He suffered but one accident during his many years at the throttle. By reason of a washout on the west branch, four miles east of Hawarden, on May 26, 1903, his engine went to the bottom of the angry waters. He nearly lost his life. Beneath the waves, he extricated a hand that was caught in the machinery literally tearing the flesh and came to the surface. He was taken from the water, bleeding, dazed, and stunned, but his first thought was for the safety of the precious freight of human souls in the coaches, and the fireman who labored in Engine No. 18, by his side.

The latter unfortunately lost his life in the wreck. This was a hard blow to Mr. Platt and one that cast a cloud over his future as Thomas Fisher, the one who lost his life, was a daily work mate for many years.

This incident shows the mettle of the man, in not deserting his post, in the face of death.

Three years ago, he was retired on a pension, having served the company 45 years, without a black mark. Is not that a splendid achievement? And yet how trifling it is, when compared with the record of his life. For his life was such, during all these years, that no man could point to a black mark, or a stain upon it.

He believed in the Brotherhood of Man, and while he was not a member of any religious sect, he was a firm believer in Christ. His views on religion were tolerant, believing that every man should be accorded the free exercise of his chosen religion. He was an exemplary citizen of his community, his state, and nation, demanding, observance of their laws.

His hearthstone was his altar, and it was here he spent the happiest hours of his life, surrounded by his family, whose every wish he tried to gratify.

I can picture him now, with the little tots of his family about him. How engaged he was with attendance upon them; how his eye followed their waxing years; how he rejoiced as time proved them successful.

Those of you who are left will sense keenly the vacancy in the home. The wife will miss the devotion of a true soulmate. The children the strong but loving hand that guided them through childhoods fretful years to life's maturity.

The loss, (if compensation can be had for it), is made good to some extent at least, in the consciousness that not a whisper of evil will ever pass a lip concerning the life activities of Charley Platt.

True it is, that his position in life was not as commanding in the world's esteem as that of many others, but the duties of his position were fulfilled to a fineness and that is the thing that finally counts man a success.

His last words, uttered with a smile were: "All right." One cannot but feel that those simple, but meaningful words betoken the confidence with which the dying man entered the Great Beyond. No fear quickened the final beatings of the heart. A calm of satisfaction pervaded the last moments. The man, as incidents of the past must have flitted through the memory, weighed himself against his duties, and happily recognized his state to be "All Right".

Mr. Platt has turned his last wheel; the final run is done. He has alighted with complacency from the engine of life's road, and I am sure he has been welcomed at the terminal with: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord".

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, September 13, 1923

Source -- Paul Wilde