Transportation (2021 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

 

Silas Warren Mohney and the Railroad

Silas Warren Mohney

Silas was born 15 January 1851 in Crenshaw, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, son of Valentine and Sarah Anne (Mulkin) Mohney. On 3 August 1872, he married Margaret Jane McCamey at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Brockwayville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of George and Mary (Rodgers) McCamey, both of whom immigrated from Buncrana Townland, County Donegal, Inishowen West Barony, Parish of Fahan Lower, PLU Inishowon, Province of Ulster, Ireland.

The Rodgers and McCameys arrived, by ox drawn wagons, in Parker's Landing, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania about 1834.

Margaret McCamey Mohney

Silas and Margaret lived in Hallton, Spring Creek Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania. They lost their first son, Georgie, at age 5 in 1880. (Cause of death is unknown but he is buried in Parker with his grandparents.)   Their second son, Francis Murphy Mohney died in a hunting accident in 1900. Silas and Margaret had 9 children before 1902, when he died. They had a large home for the time and rented rooms to railroaders and loggers. The home is still standing- only a narrow road separates it from the Clarion River. It is known as the “Hallton Hilton” today and has been a bar and restaurant for some time.

Probable home of Silas and Maggie in Hallton

Silas was a railroad engineer on a train crossing the Clarion River. There was zero clearance crossing the Arroyo bridge. His grandson, (who never knew him, so he can be forgiven for this version), had this story to tell. "Grandpa was driving down the track when he saw a pretty girl, leaned out, looking back! His head struck the bridge abutment and he was decapitated. The moral of the story is "never lose your head over a piece of tail."

Later my mom and I found the true version at the Elk Co. Genealogical Society Museum, in a newpaper clipping. It is as follows:     

Article regarding Silas' Accident

Silas' Death Certificate

Almost illegible obituary of Silas. 

Silas Warren's youngest son was my grandfather, Valentine Edward Mohney. Valentine was only about 11 or 12 years old when his father died on 30 April 1902. After the death of his father and the marriages of his siblings, Valentine, who was the youngest, and his mother moved to Ridgeway. Valentine went to work on the railroads of the logging camps. After the death of his first wife, Clara Mercer and their child, Val moved to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where he boarded with the James Preston Book family while he worked on the railroad. On 13 October 1916, he married their oldest daughter, Margaret Annetta Book.

Valentine Edward Mohney

Valentine and Margaret (Book) Mohney

Valentine and Margaret (Book) Mohney

Valentine Edward followed in his father's footsteps and went on to work for the railroad for many years. 

Valentine Mohney and son, Warren

He worked for the Baltimore and Oriole Railroad as a flagman out of New Castle, Pennsylvania and Youngstown, Ohio. He later was a watchman for the B&O.

According to his obituary, Valentine was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Wikipedia says this about the BRT: “Founded June 1883 Date dissolved 1 January 1969 The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT) was a labor organization for railroad employees founded in 1883. Originally called the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen, its purpose was to negotiate contracts with railroad management and to provide insurance for members. 
 The BRT grew to become the largest brotherhood of operating railroad employees. In 1969, it merged with three other unions to form the United Transportation (Workers) Union.” My grandmother, Margaret (Book) Mohney, received his Railroad Retirement pension.   

Obituary of Valentine Edward Mohney

And the  family connection to the Baltimore and Oriole Railroad did not stop there. Valentine and Margaret's oldest son, Warren Silas Mohney worked for 38 years as a yard foreman for the B&O and was a representative of the United Transportation Workers Union.

 

Obituary of Warren Silas Mohney


All together, three generations of Mohneys' worked on the Railroad.