Young - Decalvius K. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Scrapbook of Chester Peffley of Ladoga, (Montgomery County) Indiana 1890-1916 p16 Special to the Journal -- Darlington, Jan 15 -- D.K. Young, or "Uncle Dick," as he is familiarly known to old and young alike, is perhaps the only person living today that was in the train service and held a position as brakeman on the funeral train that conveyed the remains of the martyred president, Abraham Lincoln, to his old home in Springfield, Ill. shortly after he was assassinated April 15, 1865. Superintendent John Curper had charge of the train and "Uncle Dick" was the rear brakeman. T he pilot engine, Boone No 2, in charge of Tom Cullum, engineer was run a few minutes ahead of the funeral train. The funeral train was pulled by engine, "Lebanon, No 7" in charge of Charley Lamb, an uncle of the veteran Big Four engineer, George E. Lamb. The run from Indianapolis to Lafayette was made without mishap and only one stop, and this at Hazelrigg, for water. The funeral coach was painted black and was in the center of the train. At Lafayette the train was transferred to the Wabash tracks and "Uncle Dick" an dhis train crew returned to Indianapolis. He likes to talk of his railroad days on the old I&L Road. He quit the train service at the time the I&C took over the Indianapolis & Lafayette properties. at the time of quitting he was first out for a passenger run. The engines, 12 in number were all named after some town or prominent man. He has hanging in his office a picture of the "General," the engine that was stolen by Andrews and his men at Big Shanty, GA during the Civil War.