George W. Hassman, the affable and highly competent division foreman of the mechanical shops, on the Aberdeen division of the Illinois Central, at Durant, Mississippi, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on July 3rd, 1861.
Louis H. Hassman, the father of our subject was born at Strasburg, Germany, on August 20, 1817. At the age of fifteen years he became an apprentice machinist in his native place and served four years time, completely mastering the trade. He then travelled through Germany, France, Switzerland and other countries, and in 1845, emigrated to America, landing in New York in April of that year. Going to Philadelphia, he worked there for a short time, and in 1846 went to Reading, Pennsylvania, securing a position with a firm of stationary engine builders. In 1848 he entered the service of the Philadelphia & Reading R.R. in the shops at the latter place, serving twenty-eight years as foreman of the stationary engine department, and directing the erection of the extensive car shops and rail mill. This remarkable old gentleman, bears the unique distinction of fifty years service, in the shops of that company, and is now, at the age of eighty-three, still on duty with vim and energy of many a younger man. He has followed his trade of machinist sixty-seven years, a record probably unequaled throughout the whole United States. For the last eight years he has been employed in the locomotive department, fitting up the engine gearing, and cab work. He performs his duties without the use of spectacles, showing what a remarkably well preserved man he is. He built the first stationary engine used in a printing office in the city of Reading, Pa., and did it without the use of a lathe.
Mr. Hassman married a Miss Wayne, a descendant of the family of Anthony Wayne, of revolutionary fame. He has seven children, of whom William Hassman, is superintendent of motive power on the Vermont Central R. R.It is needless to say that Mr. Hassman, Sr. is a respected and honored citizen of Reading, Pa., where he has so long lived and been identified with the leading industry of the place.
George W. Hassman the subject of our sketch, began railroad life at the age of fourteen in the Philadelphia & Reading shops, running a steam hammer for two years at night, which was in those days considered quite a feat for a boy. He then served four years in the shops under his father, being shown no favors but on the contrary being held to account more strictly than other boys, who were serving at the same time. After finishing he went to the Enterprise Works of Cleveland, Ohio, and later went to St. Louis, where he was for a time in the employ of the Iron Mountain R.R. and the machine shops in that city. He then worked on the Texas & Pacific R.R., next on the Gulf Coast & Santa Fe, and then to the Missouri Pacific R.R. as foreman in Kansas City, Kansas. From August 1881, to October 1884, he was round house foreman at Cypress, Kansas. In 1885 he served in the same capacity at Sedalia, Missouri, and in March 1886 went to the Richmond & Danville R.R. at Richmond, Va. His next work was with the Baldwin Locomotive Works, where he was employed in 1887, following which he went to Paducah, Ky., working one year for the Illinois Central in the round house at that point. Leaving Paducah, Mr. Hassman next went to Little Rock, thence to the northwest and New Mexico. He then returned to Kansas City, Mo., and served as round house foreman for the Missouri Pacific there, from 1892 to 1896. Resigning that position he was for one year in the employ of the Santa Fe R.R. in New Mexico, and left the latter to accept a position with the Illinois Central, at Water Valley, Miss., where he was employed until July 1898. In the spring of 1899 he was appointed division foreman for the I C. at Durant, Miss., where he is now serving and has charge of the mechanical department of the Aberdeen division, and Tchula district. His duties consist in looking after all the repair work of seventeen engines. He has in his department sixteen engineers, nineteen fireman, two hostlers, two machinists, one boiler maker, besides the car inspectors, and a force of twenty-seven laborers. The shops and round house of the I.C. at Durant, are considered the most complete of any, south of the Ohio river.
Mr. Hassman married a beautiful and accomplished lady, the daughter of Henry Holmes, who was a veteran engineer in the service of the New York Central, and, at the time of his death, in the employ of the West Shore R.R. He had been in active service as engineer for forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Hassman have one son, Henry Hassman, a bright and promising boy.
Mr. Hassman is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of Kansas City. He is a man of more than ordinary ability, discharging his duties in the most satisfactory manner, and the officials of the road recognize in him a valuable and trustworthy employe.
Source: Illinois Central Railroad Company. History of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and Representative Employes. Chicago: Railroad Historical Company, 1900, pp. 527-528.
Contributed by: Nancy.