Notes for James Dickson * Collinson: LETTERS TO HIS DAUGHTER LUCY COLLINSON __________________________________________________________________ From James Collinson Office of Division Master Mechanic, The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry, Co., Fort Madison, Iowa To Miss Lucy Collinson, Whitney Hall, Knox College, Galsburg, Ills
Letter head: Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad Company, Mechanical Department Fort Madison, 10/10 1890
My Dear Partners Lucy and Willie Fort Madison is a larger town than Hastings was and the river is wider and lots of trees and steam boats and a big draw bridge same as at Hastings only larger and I see more fishing in boats and I know someone that might borrow my fish pole and go fishing sometime - guess each of you who it is So good bye and kisses and hugs for you. Your letters was very nice and pleased Pa Pa very much. Be good to Ma Ma and Lucy mind and help her and Will I know is getting in the wood at night. Your loving Fathe Jas Collinson _____________________________________________________________________ From Office of the Division Master Mechanic, The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co., Fort Madison, Iowa addressed to: Miss Lucy B. Collinson, Whiting Hall, Galesburg, Ills Postmarks: Fort Madison, Iowa, Sep 20 1896; Galesburg IL, Sep 21 96
Letterhead: The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company. Mechanical Department FortMad, 9/20 1896 (Lucy is almost 16 at this time) My Dear daughter, I have been intending for some time to write to you. But ?? if full of people who had good intentions but not of good deeds.... so to try and avoid being one of them, thought I had better act. You know I went to the Club at the Auditorium Tuesday in the a.m. took lunch at the Athletic Club. Attended the regular Club meeting in the afternoon, went back to the Athletic Club, took a Turkish Bath and a swim in the large swimming pool, which is the largest in the U.S., and found I still could swim three times round it. After a very fine dinner went to the theater and saw the Prisoner of Zenda played and enjoyed it very much indeed, one of the best things I ever saw. Slept at the Great Nothern and next morning went to Milwaukee, drove round town went through Papbsts large Brewery, it is an immense place and I felt aful mean. They made me drink 4 glasses of beer. It nearly made me sick as you are aware it always does. Went to the theater in the evening and then in the a.m. to Wawkesha, drank all the water in town. Visited the Ry shops. And arrived in Chicago at 7:00 PM, went to the theater again and left for Home at 10:30 PM. So you see I had quite a time. We are all very well but I want you to come home next Saturday afternoon. Don't work too hard, have all the fun you can and enjoy your self.
So good bye my darling girl and be good from Afect Father Jas Collinson. _____________________________________________________________________ Letter Head: Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad, Mechanical Departme Fort Mad 10/23 1896 (no envelope)
My Dear Daughter I have been worrying this week about the way you seemed to fret when leaving home last Sunday. I hope and trust that the feeling of deppression was only temperary and that you are again cheerful and happ You know Lucy your Father is not very demstrative in showing his love for his own. Think this is Characteristic of the AngloSaxon race. But you must feel that their is nothing closer to your Father's heart than his girl and he is very much pleased and proud of her and hope she will above all take care of her health. We are well, deep in Elections and got a new coal stove so Kisses and Love from your afect Pa Jas Collinson ___________________________________________________________________ From Jim Allen's memories of his grandfather:
Jim trained as apprentice machinist for Manchester Railroad. He was the eldest of about 5 children . His father died, and his mother was responsible for the family. As she needed money, she indentured her eldest son to the Manchester Railway Steele and Plant Company in 1864. When his indenture was up when he was 18, he immediately packed a carpet bag and caught the next steamer to the U.S. He went through immigration in New York, Staten Island. Worked for the NY Central Railroad for a short time, and then moved to Minneapolis/ St. Paul. He worked for the railroad in Hastings, Minnesota, where daughter Lucy was born. He worked in many railroad roundhouse locations, including Chicago, Raton, NM, Galveston and Cleburne, Texas. He retired in the early 1900s after serving as superintendent of machinery with the Santa Fe Railroad, working from their general offices in Topeka, Kansas. Jim Collinson was a dedicated worker, who believed in working 10 hour days, 6 days a week, and was critical of those who could not hold to this standard.
In 1892, Lucy travelled with her parents to Saratoga Springs, New York, to a convention of master mechanics and superintendents of machinery.
Jim Allen remembers going for walks with his grandfather, when Jim was about two years old, and creating a problem by insisting on walking in the gutter.
More About James Dickson * Collinson: Burial: Unknown, Columbus, TX. Comment 1: Indentured 1864-1869, Manchester Railway Steele and Plant Co. Limited. Comment 4: 1921, Died of heart attack while chopping wood. Education: 1864, Manchester England indentured to Railroad, age 14.162 Ethnicity/Relig.: Congregationalist. Immigration: 1869, Immigrated to U.S. through Staten Island, NY. Occupation: Railroad machinist and later, roundhouse foreman. Personality/Intrst: Masonic Lodge. Residence: 1880, Hastings, Minnesota. Retirement: Abt. 1900, Retired from Sante Fe Railroad as Superintendent of Machinery.
More About James Dickson * Collinson and Agnes T. * Kellie: Marriage: Abt. 1878
Children of James Dickson * Collinson and Agnes T. * Kellie are:
James Dickson * Collinson (b. 22 Jan 1850, d. 09 Nov 1921)
Notes for James Dickson * Collinson: