This was sent to me in an effort to identify the year and place. There is no date, nor name of the paper it appeared in. Based on a guess about the Underwood and Underwood numbering sequence, this would seem to be about 1923. Any information or educated guesses are welcome. It is a remarkable story briefly told!! The caption reads... His Prayers Rewarded, 53 years an engineer, no accidents. Boarding the locomotive for his last run, George Bemis of Indianapolis, a railroad engineer for 53 years, has just retired from the service of the Big Four road, at the age of 70. Bemis has never made a run without first kneeling in the cab of his engine and praying that the Lord might help him to bring his passengers safely to their journey's end and he NEVER had an accident.
No help with the date, Roger, but I concur with Hank and Kurt, great story. I'm not familiar with the Underwood system, does it have to do with the number on the photo, 335172?
For what it's worth, from Ancestry. This would corroborate the picture date as being in 1923. Re: George Bemis cbemis22 (View posts) Posted: 13 Jul 2006 12:31AM Classification: Query I think I can help. I have George Washington Bemis, b. 2/14/1853 in Cincinnati, OH, son of George Francis Bemis and Julia Craft. George Washington Bemis was m. twice and dau. Ella C., b. abt. 1901 in IN from first wife, and son Frank R., b. 12/14/1907 in IN from second wife Emma Dawson. I do not know the name of his first wife except the name of his daughter Ella C. You can find a picture of George here, and a very nice story. from-- http://madisonrails.railfan.net/big4memories1.html http://madisonrails.railfan.net/big4/bemis.jpg Lots is known about this entire family, ancestors and descendants. If this is the family you seek, we can exchange information.
