Here's the text, from The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Monday, October 13,
1862: Fatal Accident in the Pittsburgh
Railroad Yard
George Barkwill, a car repairer, in the employ of the Cleveland and
Pittsburgh Railroad Company was almost instantly killed about nine
o'clock this morning, in the yard of the latter company, under the
following circumstances: Mr. Barkwill was at work between a couple
of
cars near the Pittsburgh Freight Depot, repairing the brake. While
engaged in this task, a locomotive suddenly backed up against the car
upon which he was at work, and pushed the train to which it was
attached, (consisting of three cars) suddenly together, catching Mr.
B.'s neck between the "bumpers" of the car upon which he was engaged,
and the one at his back. The unfortunate man had sufficient strength
left, after being struck, to crawl off from the track, when he sank
upon
the ground and almost instantly expired.
This sad accident is owing entirely to the deceased's carelessness,
in
commencing to work between the cars, before he had displayed a red
flag
from the end of the train - a rule which is universally observed among
car repairers in the Pittsburgh yard.
Mr. Barkwill was about forty years of age, and had been in the employ
of
the Pittsburgh Company about two months and a half. He resided at corner
of Scoville and Perry street, and leaves a wife and two children.
There is more as there was a full inquiry by court and someone yrs ago
sent me transcripts of each worker interviewed. Georges son received
a
life time job from RR after this. His wife would remarry into the ASPLIN
family.He was my great grandfather from Devon Eng. Family info says
he
was working on RR in England before he came to US, but have never found
any info on this. I need to see Devon census records for 1861 to find
out.
I am always on the look out for info on Cleveland RR yard operations
in
that period. I have been looking for photos of that period of RR cars.
The closest I have gotten is LOC Civil War photos of RR yards with
cars.
I think the LOC has on line some CW photos of its RR yard also, but
not
100% sure.
Dick
###################### FULL FILE TEXT ##################
George ____ Barkwill
Version of 8/17/93
b. Christened Dec.24th, 1822 in Monkleigh, Dev, Eng
1821, 23 or 24 (tomb stone says 1824)( records of Mrs. Budd says 1821?)
Born in England?
i pre 1850
m. ??? cia 1860 in US ?
d. October 13th,1862 (43) Cleveland RR yard of C & PRR(See Cleveland
newspaper Plain Dealer article)
* Father & Mother were: Francis Barkwill
/ Balkwill & Catherine Lemon.
• His wife was Louisa Elizabeth (Cross) Barkwill who will later married
Mr. Asplin and was referred to Gramma Asplin by my dads family.
• US census of 1850 lists George as being 26 (This would make his birth
date 1824?)
* George had 2 sisters and a brother:
(1) Elizabeth Jane (b.12/4/1825 m. 10/26/1846 & became Mrs. John
Palmer)
(2) Mary Jane (b. ? m.2/15/1888 d. 8/16/1907& also married John
Palmer
after her sister died); & son .
Had a son
???????????? Son or Brother???????
(3) George Franklin Barkwill, b.12/16/1857 & d.1/13/1919. He was
married
to Emma L. Jones. His son and wife had children:
Ruth,
Eva,
Florance
Frank. This son Franklin was born in Ohio and moved to Sewickley, Pa.
Frank & wife Zella had daughter who is/was Mrs. David Clark of
Rochester, Mich & Detroit. She likely had two children as it was
reported there were two grandchildren. May run this line and report
under new sheet for George Franklin. G.F. Barkwill was listed as clerk
auditors office, C&PRR, bds. 130 Croton.; Cleveland. This must
have been
the RR job promised to George's son.
* Eva listed here in 1900 was age 21, born
Nov. 1878 and living at
91 Belle Ave.!
* Josephs notes indicate his son was Ernest
??
• Being in Census of 1850 indicates George was here in US at
least 10
years before becoming a US citizen
• Listed in 1861-62 as Barkwill
• Nov. 5, 1860 became a citizen of USA from England. We have
state of
Ohio, Cuyahoga County document still in family. Document has
both
Barkwill & Barkwell on it?
• Home was 51 scoville (4th Ward ) in Cleveland.
• Buried in Old Woodland Cemetary which is proported to be in a very
bad
neighborhood now.
• George had daugthter Ella Louisa (Barkwill) Bolt born 1862. Was this
before his death or after. Existing info says Ella was born in Dec.1862
and he died in Oct. ! The death notice says two children at home also???
Only know of two children?? Was an extra one in the hopper?
•• See attached News paper articles here. To copy on reader and input!
• Where in England did he come from? Family info says he was a
blacksmith by trade in England.
• When and how did he come to the US?
Here's the text, from The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Monday, October 13,
1862: Fatal Accident in the Pittsburgh Railroad Yard
George Barkwill, a car repairer, in the employ of the Cleveland and
Pittsburgh Railroad Company was almost instantly killed about nine
o'clock this morning, in the yard of the latter company, under the
following circumstances: Mr. Barkwill was at work between a couple
of
cars near the Pittsburgh Freight Depot, repairing the brake. While
engaged in this task, a locomotive suddenly backed up against the car
upon which he was at work, and pushed the train to which it was
attached, (consisting of three cars) suddenly together, catching Mr.
B.'s neck between the "bumpers" of the car upon which he was engaged,
and the one at his back. The unfortunate man had sufficient strength
left, after being struck, to crawl off from the track, when he sank
upon
the ground and almost instantly expired.
This sad accident is owing entirely to the deceased's carelessness,
in
commencing to work between the cars, before he had displayed a red
flag
from the end of the train - a rule which is universally observed among
car repairers in the Pittsburgh yard.
Mr. Barkwill was about forty years of age, and had been in the employ
of
the Pittsburgh Company about two months and a half. He resided at corner
of Scoville and Perry street, and leaves a wife and two children.
* Census data seen: 1850, see 1860, and poss. 1840?
* Look for English info on Work in England?
