Rome Daily Sentinel Mar. 31, 1903
OLD TIMES ON THE R. W. & O
FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN TO OGDENSBURG AUG. 4, 1862.
William H. Tuller of Rome Was the Conductor and James R. Purdy of Rome, the Baggageman The Other Members of the Crew. T. H. Cooper of Watertown, who read the articles on early railroading recently published in the Sentinel, writes to James R. Purdy of this city, giving some additional facts and correcting some errors in dates which appeared at the that time. He says that in 1852 R. B. Doxtater was superintendent of then Rome & Watertown Road and Mr. Cooper began work for the road that year. W. H. Tuller and D. N. Bosworth entered the employ of the road the following year. In the summer of 1855 Mr. Tuller was “baggaging” for Conductor P. L. Butler, Conductor George Smith was discharged and Mr. Tuller was given the latter’s train. The first passenger train from Rome to Ogdensburg was run on Aug. 4, 1862, with the following crew: Conductor W. H. Tuller; Baggageman, T. H. Cooper; Brakemen, J. R. Purdy and “Bob” Champlin. Some of them stopped at the Oswegatchie House, Ogdensburg, of which Mr. Chatterton was the proprietor. Mr. Tuller went to the Seymour House. The way freighting between Watertown and Ogdensburg was done by them. Mr. Cooper thinks the engine was the Collamer and that William Dickson was the engineer. The Fenian raid occurred in 1869 and E. Warner was train dispatcher at Watertown Junction. The Fenians reached Watertown one evening, seized an engine and went to Chaumont where they got two cars of guns and ammunition. When they got back to the Junction, Warner put an engineer and fireman on and they left for the south. General Mead was at Ogdensburg with troops and was notified by telegraph. His troops meet the Fennians (sic) at Richville and seized the arms. In speaking of the various superintendents of the road, Mr. Cooper, who says he always kept memoranda of the changes, gives the following dates: Addison Day was made superintendent Jan. 1, 1860, in place of Carlos Dutton, resigned: Aug. 16, 1868, Mr. Day resigned and C.C. Case was given the place pro tem. A circular issued Sept. 6, 1868, stated that Mr. Case had been appointed superintendent, but on account of failing health he gave it up and J. W. Moak was appointed, serving for four years. Mr. Cooper took the run on the Cape Vincent branch on Oct. 9, 1862, and held that position until the spring of 1884, nearly 22 years. He will be 71 years old on August 7.