Can anyone tell me who P.F. Barns was? I just received a Elgin 349 with the following inscription in it, "Presented to P.F. Barns (I think the F is a F) by the employes of C.B. & (G or Q) RR 5-8-12 Edgemont S.D."

The "F" is hard to make out. It could be something else but I don't know what it would be. The RR looks like the CB&G RR but I could not find anything on that so it may be the CB&Q RR.

Thanks,
Harry

On Nov 02, 1889 South Dakota was admitted to the Union. The Lincoln Land Company, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington & Missouri Railroad decided that the location was perfect for the terminal/depot which would be the home of the railroad. In the Spring of 1890, the depot, railroad yards, and the town of Edgemont was built and born. The Burlington &Missouri River line served as its subsidiary, operating several lines in the Black Hills, including those acquired when CB&Q took over the Black Hills and Fort Pierre Railroad.

Rapid growth and prosperity followed until the late 90's when serious trouble came upon them. Eastern capitol was no longer available, the dam on the Cheyenne River washed out, the Edgemont Company went broke, a fire swept thru the business district wiping much of it out, typhoid and smallpox epidemics hit the area, all of which was overshadowed by the great depression.

In the early 1900's it became primarily a railroad and livestock town. It has had it's good times and bad times throughout the 20th Century. Today it remains a ranch town and the home to the Edgemont Depot of The Burlington, Northern, Santa Fe Railway.

I imagine by the early 20th century that the CB&Q had taken over that subsidiary and short line operations of the CB&M Railroad and the B&MR Railroads.

I can't research the railroad worker.......

regards,
bb

Thank you Buster. That is a fascinating history of the railroad operations in Edgemont during good times and bad. Maybe Tom will have some info on the worker. You have been a big help.

Harry

Not sure if this is your guy.

In the 1910 Federal census for Edgemont there was a Peter Barnes who was listed as foreman of a railroad shop. He was born about 1879 in Ireland & immigrated to Nebraska in 1895.

I will see if I can find any more.

Thanks Tom it sure sounds like the guy. I kind of suspected that they misspelled his last name considering they misspelled employees also.

Harry

Harry
I am sorry, I actually misspelled his last name, it is listed as Barns. Out of habit I spelled it the other way. Sorry

No problem Tom I am accustomed to spelling it the other way also that is why I thought they might have misspelled it.

Sure sounds like your guy, I haven't been able to find him in any other listing other than the 1910 census. Since he was the foreman of the shop at the time I would guess it was his watch. Perhaps he was leaving in 1912 when he got it. His name is so common that trying to find where he went is difficult.

Thank you Tom. Yes I think it was his watch also. Sounds like he got transferred or found another job with another company since he would have been 33 years old.

I guess I will have to clean the well worn GF'd case up the best I can since I'm sure this movement goes with this case as the is a scratch on the movement that transfers to the case exactly.

Thanks for your help,
Harry

Your welcome. I like watches like that. If I run across anything else I will let you know.

Thanks again Tom.