E.B. Pengra
| April 18, 2015 09:06PM |
(J.B. Bane of April 2nd)>"The ink stamp "EB Pengra" I believe was the rr's superintendant at the time."
The name Pengra caught my interest, because I knew it was somehow connected with early Oregon history and the Southern Pacific. See: http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/willamette_pass/#.VTKiT5OxOCg
It turns out Bynon J. Pengra (born in 1823 New York, married 1849 in Illinois, died 1903 Coburg, Oregon) had previously been the Surveyor General of Oregon, submitting his resignation to President Lincoln in 1861. In 1890 he is listed as living in Portland working as a surveyor. On April 10th, 1893 he was appointed Postmaster of Pengra, Crook County which lasted until April 22nd, 1895 when it was discontinued and the mail was transferred to Prineville. Between April 13th, 1897 until replaced on April 4th, 1899 he was the Postmaster of Rosland in Crook County, thought the record includes the notation "now in Klamath." His wife Charlotte (Stearns) kept a diary of their trip from Illinois to Oregon in 1853 which was published in 1966. I did find a note that the Stearns settled around modern day Bend, Oregon. No doubt Bynon had been through much of the area (including Baker and Sumpter?) surveying the military road during the Civil War. Despite the pass bearing his name, I haven't found anything showing Byron directly connected to any railroad, though he may have done contract surveying work for him. He did suggest routing a railroad across the pass that bears his name towards Winnemucca, Nevada which would not be completed by Southern Pacific as its Natron Cutoff sixty years later in 1926. There was a station on the new line named Pengra that existed until 1952 when the line was relocated due to a new dam and reservoir.
Now to E.B. Pengra of the Sumpter Valley Railway whose given name was Edgar.
1899 – "The Railroad Telegrapher", vol 16 – "E. B. Pengra is a son of the golden West, having been born within three miles of his present home, Springfield, Oregon, May 21, 1872. He commenced work in the telegraph business July 3, 1893, entering the service of the Southern Pacific Company. Bro. Pengra is a conscientious worker in the interests of his fellow telegraphers, and is a pusher instead of leaner. He, with the help of a few other zealous brothers, has been successful in solidifying the Oregon end of the Southern Pacific system in the interests of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. He has recently been elected as a member of the Local Board of Adjustment, also as an alternate to the Peoria Convention from San Francisco Division No. 170."
1900 Census – E.B. Pengra born May 1870 in Oregon (parents from New York) living with mother Louise S. (born Nov 1851 widow 4 children 3 living) in Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon. His occupation is listed as "telegrapher RR".
1900 – "The Railroad Telegrapher" (union publication) article by Bro. E.B. Pengra of SP Oregon lines.
1901 – Telegraph Age vol 24 – lists E.B. Pengra as extra dispatcher and copier at Ashland, Oregon for Southern Pacific.
1902 April 2 – marries Eva Dell Brussley in Ada County, Idaho (Boise area)
1909 – Railroad Age Gazette, Vol 47 -
1910 Oct 9 – E.B. Pengra, Assistant Superintendent at opening of new (third) SP depot in Medford, Oregon.
1910 – Jackson County Directory (Roseburg) – Pengra Edgar B, assistant superintendent Southern Pacific Co, res 822 W Mosher
1910 Census – Pengra, Edward B age 37 Asst Superintendent Steam Rail R (wife Dell E age 37 and neice Bessie Gill age 16) living in West Roseburg, Douglas County, Oregon
1914 – The Conductor and Brakeman, Vol 31 – "E. B. Pengra has been appointed superintendent of the Sumpter Valley Railroad, with office at Baker, Ore."
1914 – Baker (and Grant) County Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva D), supt Sumpter Valley Ry, res 1604 Dewey av
1915 – Railway Age Gazette, Vol 58 – "E. B. Pengra, superintendent of the Sumpter Valley, has been appointed general manager, with headquarters at Baker, Ore., and will assume duties heretofor taken care of by D. C. Eccles, president to whom Mr. Pengra reports. Mr. Pengra began railway work in 1893 with the Southern Pacific, with which company he remained 20 years, filling the positions of telegraph operator and agent and chief train dispatcher. In November, 1913, he went to the Sumpter Valley as superintendent of transportation, and he is no promoted to the position of superintendent, effective March 23." (Note they got the last sentence wrong as far as the promotion.)
1915 – Railway World, Vol 59 – E.B. Pengra, general manager, Sumpter Valley Railroad. Headquarters, Baker, Oregon.
1916 – Poor's and Moodys Manual Consolidated – "Sumpter Valley Ry (Independent) – Inc. Aug. 18, 1890, in Ore.; first section of road opened Oct 1, 1891. Line of road: Baker to Prairie City, Ore., 80.10 miles, Gauge, 3 ft. Equipment: Locomotives, 9; passenger cars, 11; freight cars, 296; miscellaneous cars, 45." "Officers: David C. Eccles, Pres., Ogden, Utah; C.W. Nibley, V-P, Salt Lake City, Utah; L.R. Eccles, Treas.; Jos. A. West, Sec., Ogden, Utah; J.L. Soule, Aud.; E.B. Pengra, Gen. Mgr. & Pur. Agt.; J.W. Hewitt, Supt., Baker, Ore. Directors: C.W. Nibley, Salt Lake City, Utah; David C. Eccles, Ogden, Utah; W.H. Eccles, Baker, Ore.; Geo. Stoddard, La Grande, Ore.; C.T. Early, Hood River, Ore."
1917 – Baker (and Grant) County Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva D), genl mngr S V Ry, h 1601 1st
1917 – Poor's and Moodys Manual, Vol 18 – "Sumpter Valley Ry (Independent) – Inc. Aug. 18, 1890, in Ore.; first section of road opened Oct 1, 1891. Line of road: Baker to Prairie City, Ore., 80.10 miles, Gauge, 3 ft. Equipment: Locomotives, 11; passenger cars, 11; freight cars, 311; miscellaneous cars, 45." "Officers: David C. Eccles, Pres., Ogden, Utah; C.W. Nibley, V-P, Salt Lake City, Utah; L.R. Eccles, Treas.; Jos. A. West, Sec., Ogden, Utah; E.W. Schauer, Aud.; E.B. Pengra, Gen. Mgr. & Pur. Agt., Baker, Ore. Directors: C.W. Nibley, Salt Lake City, Utah; David C. Eccles, Ogden, Utah; W.H. Eccles, Baker, Ore.; Geo. Stoddard, La Grande, Ore.; C.T. Early, Hood River, Ore."
1918 – Engineering Directory – Sumpter Valley Ry., E.B. Pengra, Gen. Mgr., Baker City, Ore.
1920 – Portland City Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva D), gen mgr Gales Creek & Wilson River RR Co h 1200 E Yamhill
1920 Census – Pengra, Edgar B age 49 General Manager Steam Railroad Co (wife Eva D age 49) 1200 E Yamhill
1920 – Poor's Manual of Railroads, Vol 53 – "Gales Creek & Wilson River R.R. – Line completed Aug, 1920: Wilkesboro, Ore., to Aagaard, Ore., 12.75 miles. Sidings, etc., 1.58 miles. Gauge, 4 ft. 8 ½ in. Rail, 60 lbs. Locomotives, 2. Cars – flat 2; caboose, 1; service, 1 – total 4. Incorporated April 6, 1917, in Oregon to build from Wilkesboro to Lillamook, Ore.; first unit recently completed." E.B. Pngra listed as Gen. Mgr. out of Portland, Oregon office. (The line never made it to Tillamook already served by SP, not sure if it went any further.)
1922 – Moody's Analyses of Investments – Gales Creek & Wilson River R.R. – E.B. Pengra, Gen. Mgr.
1929 – Portland City Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva) physiotherapy State Industrial Acc Comm h Oak Grove
1931 – Portland City Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva D) claim agt State Industrial Accident Comm h Oak Grove
1938 – Portland City Directory – Pengra, Edgar r3111 NE 102d av RD 7 box 1250
Edgar B. Pengra was the son of William Burnham Pengra (younger brother of Bynon) and Louisa S. Stearns (cousin of Bynon's wife?).
W.B. PENGRA - Was born in Genessee county, New York, May 5, 1834, but when quite young was taken to Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided eight years, then emigrating to Green county, Wisconsin and afterwards to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he resided until he came to Oregon in 1853. On arrival he first settled on a farm with his brother Hon. B.J. Pengra, in the vicinity of Springfield, Lane county, but in the spring of 1854 he moved to Phoenix, Jackson county, and assisted in the erection of the first saw mill in that place. Moving subsequently to Yreka, Siskiyou county, California, he engaged in mining operations until 1858 when he returned to Lane county, settled in Springfield and has since resided there, being one of the owners of the large flouring and saw mills there, a view of which is found in this volume.
Illustrated History of Lane County, Oregon
Published by A. G. Walling, 1884
Portland, Oregon
The name Pengra caught my interest, because I knew it was somehow connected with early Oregon history and the Southern Pacific. See: http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/willamette_pass/#.VTKiT5OxOCg
It turns out Bynon J. Pengra (born in 1823 New York, married 1849 in Illinois, died 1903 Coburg, Oregon) had previously been the Surveyor General of Oregon, submitting his resignation to President Lincoln in 1861. In 1890 he is listed as living in Portland working as a surveyor. On April 10th, 1893 he was appointed Postmaster of Pengra, Crook County which lasted until April 22nd, 1895 when it was discontinued and the mail was transferred to Prineville. Between April 13th, 1897 until replaced on April 4th, 1899 he was the Postmaster of Rosland in Crook County, thought the record includes the notation "now in Klamath." His wife Charlotte (Stearns) kept a diary of their trip from Illinois to Oregon in 1853 which was published in 1966. I did find a note that the Stearns settled around modern day Bend, Oregon. No doubt Bynon had been through much of the area (including Baker and Sumpter?) surveying the military road during the Civil War. Despite the pass bearing his name, I haven't found anything showing Byron directly connected to any railroad, though he may have done contract surveying work for him. He did suggest routing a railroad across the pass that bears his name towards Winnemucca, Nevada which would not be completed by Southern Pacific as its Natron Cutoff sixty years later in 1926. There was a station on the new line named Pengra that existed until 1952 when the line was relocated due to a new dam and reservoir.
Now to E.B. Pengra of the Sumpter Valley Railway whose given name was Edgar.
1899 – "The Railroad Telegrapher", vol 16 – "E. B. Pengra is a son of the golden West, having been born within three miles of his present home, Springfield, Oregon, May 21, 1872. He commenced work in the telegraph business July 3, 1893, entering the service of the Southern Pacific Company. Bro. Pengra is a conscientious worker in the interests of his fellow telegraphers, and is a pusher instead of leaner. He, with the help of a few other zealous brothers, has been successful in solidifying the Oregon end of the Southern Pacific system in the interests of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. He has recently been elected as a member of the Local Board of Adjustment, also as an alternate to the Peoria Convention from San Francisco Division No. 170."
1900 Census – E.B. Pengra born May 1870 in Oregon (parents from New York) living with mother Louise S. (born Nov 1851 widow 4 children 3 living) in Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon. His occupation is listed as "telegrapher RR".
1900 – "The Railroad Telegrapher" (union publication) article by Bro. E.B. Pengra of SP Oregon lines.
1901 – Telegraph Age vol 24 – lists E.B. Pengra as extra dispatcher and copier at Ashland, Oregon for Southern Pacific.
1902 April 2 – marries Eva Dell Brussley in Ada County, Idaho (Boise area)
1909 – Railroad Age Gazette, Vol 47 -
1910 Oct 9 – E.B. Pengra, Assistant Superintendent at opening of new (third) SP depot in Medford, Oregon.
1910 – Jackson County Directory (Roseburg) – Pengra Edgar B, assistant superintendent Southern Pacific Co, res 822 W Mosher
1910 Census – Pengra, Edward B age 37 Asst Superintendent Steam Rail R (wife Dell E age 37 and neice Bessie Gill age 16) living in West Roseburg, Douglas County, Oregon
1914 – The Conductor and Brakeman, Vol 31 – "E. B. Pengra has been appointed superintendent of the Sumpter Valley Railroad, with office at Baker, Ore."
1914 – Baker (and Grant) County Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva D), supt Sumpter Valley Ry, res 1604 Dewey av
1915 – Railway Age Gazette, Vol 58 – "E. B. Pengra, superintendent of the Sumpter Valley, has been appointed general manager, with headquarters at Baker, Ore., and will assume duties heretofor taken care of by D. C. Eccles, president to whom Mr. Pengra reports. Mr. Pengra began railway work in 1893 with the Southern Pacific, with which company he remained 20 years, filling the positions of telegraph operator and agent and chief train dispatcher. In November, 1913, he went to the Sumpter Valley as superintendent of transportation, and he is no promoted to the position of superintendent, effective March 23." (Note they got the last sentence wrong as far as the promotion.)
1915 – Railway World, Vol 59 – E.B. Pengra, general manager, Sumpter Valley Railroad. Headquarters, Baker, Oregon.
1916 – Poor's and Moodys Manual Consolidated – "Sumpter Valley Ry (Independent) – Inc. Aug. 18, 1890, in Ore.; first section of road opened Oct 1, 1891. Line of road: Baker to Prairie City, Ore., 80.10 miles, Gauge, 3 ft. Equipment: Locomotives, 9; passenger cars, 11; freight cars, 296; miscellaneous cars, 45." "Officers: David C. Eccles, Pres., Ogden, Utah; C.W. Nibley, V-P, Salt Lake City, Utah; L.R. Eccles, Treas.; Jos. A. West, Sec., Ogden, Utah; J.L. Soule, Aud.; E.B. Pengra, Gen. Mgr. & Pur. Agt.; J.W. Hewitt, Supt., Baker, Ore. Directors: C.W. Nibley, Salt Lake City, Utah; David C. Eccles, Ogden, Utah; W.H. Eccles, Baker, Ore.; Geo. Stoddard, La Grande, Ore.; C.T. Early, Hood River, Ore."
1917 – Baker (and Grant) County Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva D), genl mngr S V Ry, h 1601 1st
1917 – Poor's and Moodys Manual, Vol 18 – "Sumpter Valley Ry (Independent) – Inc. Aug. 18, 1890, in Ore.; first section of road opened Oct 1, 1891. Line of road: Baker to Prairie City, Ore., 80.10 miles, Gauge, 3 ft. Equipment: Locomotives, 11; passenger cars, 11; freight cars, 311; miscellaneous cars, 45." "Officers: David C. Eccles, Pres., Ogden, Utah; C.W. Nibley, V-P, Salt Lake City, Utah; L.R. Eccles, Treas.; Jos. A. West, Sec., Ogden, Utah; E.W. Schauer, Aud.; E.B. Pengra, Gen. Mgr. & Pur. Agt., Baker, Ore. Directors: C.W. Nibley, Salt Lake City, Utah; David C. Eccles, Ogden, Utah; W.H. Eccles, Baker, Ore.; Geo. Stoddard, La Grande, Ore.; C.T. Early, Hood River, Ore."
1918 – Engineering Directory – Sumpter Valley Ry., E.B. Pengra, Gen. Mgr., Baker City, Ore.
1920 – Portland City Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva D), gen mgr Gales Creek & Wilson River RR Co h 1200 E Yamhill
1920 Census – Pengra, Edgar B age 49 General Manager Steam Railroad Co (wife Eva D age 49) 1200 E Yamhill
1920 – Poor's Manual of Railroads, Vol 53 – "Gales Creek & Wilson River R.R. – Line completed Aug, 1920: Wilkesboro, Ore., to Aagaard, Ore., 12.75 miles. Sidings, etc., 1.58 miles. Gauge, 4 ft. 8 ½ in. Rail, 60 lbs. Locomotives, 2. Cars – flat 2; caboose, 1; service, 1 – total 4. Incorporated April 6, 1917, in Oregon to build from Wilkesboro to Lillamook, Ore.; first unit recently completed." E.B. Pngra listed as Gen. Mgr. out of Portland, Oregon office. (The line never made it to Tillamook already served by SP, not sure if it went any further.)
1922 – Moody's Analyses of Investments – Gales Creek & Wilson River R.R. – E.B. Pengra, Gen. Mgr.
1929 – Portland City Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva) physiotherapy State Industrial Acc Comm h Oak Grove
1931 – Portland City Directory – Pengra, Edgar B (Eva D) claim agt State Industrial Accident Comm h Oak Grove
1938 – Portland City Directory – Pengra, Edgar r3111 NE 102d av RD 7 box 1250
Edgar B. Pengra was the son of William Burnham Pengra (younger brother of Bynon) and Louisa S. Stearns (cousin of Bynon's wife?).
W.B. PENGRA - Was born in Genessee county, New York, May 5, 1834, but when quite young was taken to Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided eight years, then emigrating to Green county, Wisconsin and afterwards to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he resided until he came to Oregon in 1853. On arrival he first settled on a farm with his brother Hon. B.J. Pengra, in the vicinity of Springfield, Lane county, but in the spring of 1854 he moved to Phoenix, Jackson county, and assisted in the erection of the first saw mill in that place. Moving subsequently to Yreka, Siskiyou county, California, he engaged in mining operations until 1858 when he returned to Lane county, settled in Springfield and has since resided there, being one of the owners of the large flouring and saw mills there, a view of which is found in this volume.
Illustrated History of Lane County, Oregon
Published by A. G. Walling, 1884
Portland, Oregon
| Subject | Author | Posted |
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J.B.Bane | April 18, 2015 10:48AM |
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Dan Robirds | April 18, 2015 09:06PM |
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Dan Robirds | April 18, 2015 09:13PM |
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J.B.Bane | April 18, 2015 11:06PM |
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Chris Walker | April 19, 2015 12:06AM |
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J.B.Bane | April 19, 2015 10:50PM |
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Taylor Rush | April 20, 2015 08:37AM |
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Dan Robirds | April 20, 2015 11:25AM |
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J.B.Bane | April 20, 2015 02:10PM |
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