1900 Bourbon Twp, Douglas Co, IL. In the census he was still livingw ith his parents and listed as a day laborer.
2/5/1903 Arthur, IL, byline. The newspaper carried the followinghead lines and story:
"Saved from Fiery Death
Conductor and Brakeman Helpless in Burning Car
Train Ditched but Engineer Went Ahead
Bad Wreck on C. & E.I. near Villa Grove
A wreck occured on the C. & E.I. railroad near Villa Groveyesterd ay morning at 11 o'clock. A rail broke under the southboundthrough fr eight about a half mile south of that village and six carsand the cabo ose were ditched. The conductor, Jake Scoles of St.Elmo, and his rear b rakeman, Sylvan Powell of this city, were in thecaboose when it left t he track and with it were hurled down a fifteenfoot embankment.
The engineer knew nothing of the wreck for some time and ran onfo r some distance before the cars were discovered missing.
In the meantime the caboose caught fire and had it not been forth e arrival of an old gentleman named William Richman, who saw thewreck, t he conductor and brakeman, both of whom had been renderedunconcious, w ould have burned to death. The old man barely succeededin rescuing th em from the burning car.
The wounded men were taken to Villa Grove and medical attendancea t once summoned. They were both seriously hurt. Mr. Scoles isinjured i nternally and it is feared will die. He was stillunconcious at 4:20 o 'clock when he was taken through here enroute tohis home. Young Powell w as brought here and is at the home of hisbrother-in-law, H.M. Rigney. H e had several bad cuts on his head andis terribly bruised about the bo dy, but he is resting easy thismorning and it is thought he will recov er.
The men were in the lookout when the rail broke, saw the cars inf ront of them begin to tremble and realizing their peril attempted toes cape but were caught before reaching the door. The wreak occurrednear a s mall stream and one car which left the track at the bridgewas half bur ied in the water. Trains were delayed several hours."
1910 Denver, Denver Co, CO, was the address given by the newspaperwhe n reporting his parents' anniversary celebration. Sylvan wasstill the re when his father died in 1932. While at this address hecompleted 31 y ears of employment on the Colorado & Southern Railroadas a conductor. S on Robert remembers 353 S Clarkson St as his firsthome.
1/8/1920 Same place. The census listed Sylvan Z, 39, with Effie, 33,a nd 2 children, Reed, 14, and Helen, 11. He was a freight conductoron t he railroad, owned their home but it was mrotgaged.
4/24/1930 S Gilpin St, Denver, Denver Co, CO. It is unknown why thec ensus taker should have listed him as Chas W, 50, married for thefirst t ime at age 28 to Effie M, 43, who was 18 at the time. He wasa brakema n on the railroad that year, owned the home which was worth$7000, and o wned a radio as well. At home with them were Helen, 21,typist in a mi ning office, and Robert, 7. Also living there wasbrother Earl O, 45, w ho had married at 20, and was a railroadswitchman.
1941 1218 High St, near Washington Park, Denver, CO, where he workeda nother few years after retiring at age 65 from the railroad. Therehe t ook care of the gardens and oversaw the hockey rink and tenniscourts.
The funeral was held at the Washington Park Community Church on Mondaya t 12 PM with Rev Richard E Halbert officiating with music providedby t he Olinger Male Quartet.
