VGN Engineer “Dad” Aldrich Killed in Ingleside Wreck, 1927

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Just who was “Dad” Aldrich, Engineman on VGN Train 3, killed at
Ingleside, May 24, 1927  ?  There was even a song about him recorded
at the time (available on YouTube.)  But who was he…?

An afternoon spent with Ancestry.com developed some facts about
Aldrich and his Fireman, Frank Wesley O’Neal.

ELMORE GEORGE ALDRICH  --  born 3 Mar 1869 in Illinois, the son of
Herbert Aldrich b 1846 Illinois, and Elizabeth Agnes (maiden name
unknown) b 1849 Illinois.

1870 Census shows young Elmore, age 1, living with his parents in
Sioux City, Woodbridge County, Iowa, father’s occupation shown as
farmer.

1880 Census shows Elmore, age 11, with siblings Charles 8 and Jennie
7, on farm in Minnehaha County, Dakota Territory.

1890 Census was lost in a warehouse fire in Washington.

1900 Census: no record for this man found.  Such things happen.

1910 Census, shown living Kincaid Precinct, Fayette County, WV (which
is about one mile south of Page, employed as Railroad Engineer, age
42, living with wife (indecipherable, probably Eunice or Elizabeth)
age 45, the couple having been married 3 years.

1920 Census shows Elmore and Elizabeth/Eunice Aldrich living at 320
Maple Ave, Roanoke, Va, owning (as opposed to renting) said home,
under mortgage.

The 300 block of Maple Ave, Roanoke, no longer exists, account the
re-jiggering of house numbers done by the City of Roanoke in the late
1940s.  After analysis of a number of pages in the 1920 Census, I
conclude the old 300 block of Maple St is now that short block of
Maple Ave between Jefferson St and Walnut Ave.  There were five houses
in this block shown in the 1920 Census, numbers 301, 311, 313, 319 and
321.  In these houses lived 2 Conductors, 3 Enginemen and 2 Brakemen.
Assuming that the odd and even sides of the streets were not flopped
in the 1940s rejiggering of house numbers, Dad Aldrich and his wife
most likely lived on a spot now occupied by New River Dermatology
building, 1225 Maple Ave, SW, Roanoke.

The VGN crewmen living in this block had about a 1,000 foot walk to
the VGN Roanoke Passenger Station, and about 1 1500 foot walk to the
Round House.

Elmore “Dad” Aldrich and his wife Elizabeth had no children.
Engineman Aldrich is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Roanoke (image of
his tombstone is attached.)  Elizabeth is shown in the 1930 Census as
living, widowed, at 1419 Maple Ave, and without occupation.  She died
at home of heart disease 5 Feb 1938, at age 74, and is buried in
Evergreen with her husband.  The informant on her death certificate
was a sister living in Lacrosse, Wisc.  Her name is confirmed as
having been Elizabeth by the death certificate and by her tombstone.
There were no children.

FRANK WESLEY O’NEAL, the Fireman, is easier to track.  He was born in
West Virginia in 1899 (although Find-a-Grave lists his birth year as
1893,) the son of Alfred Moore O’Neal and Susan H. Woolwine O’Neal.
The 1900 Census shows him as the youngest of seven children living on
a farm at Fayetteville, WVa, and the 1910 shows the family living at
the same place.  On his 1918 Draft Card he lists his date of birth as
3 Jan 1899, his permanent address as Page, Fayette County, WVa, and
his employment as Brakeman at the Loop Creek Colliery.  The 1920
Census shows him at age 21, living in Akron, Ohio, with his sister and
brother-in-law, and employed as a tire finisher at a rubber company.
The next record is when he is killed at Ingleside, 24 May 1927.
Find-a-Grave lists his final resting place as Woods Avenue Plateau
Historic Cemetery (a.k.a. the IOOF Cemetery,) Oak Hill, Fayette
County, WVa (memorial #179679569,) where is buried with his father and
mother.

I have found no photographs of either Engineman Aldrich or Fireman
O’Neal, but photos of their burial monuments are attached (both from
Find-a-Grave.)

Messrs. Miller, Sandermann, Blackstock & Bundy, LLC, can figure out
why, if at all, he was called "Dad."

Here ends the quest.  I am now satisfied.  Quod erat demonstrandum.

-- abram burnett
Try Our New Electromagnetic Turnip Soup
.
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