Anders Magnuson, my great great-grandfather, worked for the C. St. P. M. & O. Railway

Anders Magnuson
This retired personnel record for Anders Magnuson indicates that he was granted a pension from the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (C. St. P. M. & O. RY.) on April 21, 1906. Anders Magnuson began employment on October 10, 1875, as a railroad car repairer with the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad (St. P. & S. C. RR.), which later was acquired by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway. Anders is listed as a railroad car repairer for the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad in the St. Paul city directories for the mid-late 1870s as well as in the 1880–1881 St. Paul city directory. In 1881, the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad was absorbed into the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, which had been formed about a year earlier through consolidation of the Chicago, St. Paul & Minneapolis Railway and the North Wisconsin Railway. In subsequent St. Paul city directories, Anders is listed as working as a railroad car repairer for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway. This retired personnel record is signed by J. W. Muncy, M.C.B. (Master Car Builder).

Anders Magnuson
The back of this record has faded handwriting which also says “Continuous service. I understand this man worked for contractors on grading & surfacing gangs for about 5 years.”

Anders Magnuson probably worked on the railroad grading and surfacing gangs from about 1870 to 1875 when the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad was being constructed in southern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.

The above photocopies of the original retired personnel record were provided from the archives of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society (CNWHS). Any information about the Chestnut Street yard or shop in St. Paul, for the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad, would be greatly appreciated. Also, any information about the Robert Street yard and East St. Paul yard or shop, for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, would be greatly appreciated.

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Home Andrew Craig Magnuson
Forks, Washington
November 1, 2007