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Railroad Men

This picture, taken at the H. & T. C. Roundhouse in Ennis, includes my great grandfather, Stonewall Jackson Gathings. He is standing at the very right. The date of this photo is unknown.

Stonewall Jackson "Jack" Gathings moved with his family to Ennis in 1911, where he railroaded for Southern Pacific. First years as Head Inspector, and then Roundhouse Foreman for ten years. Because of a strike when he went out with his men and refused to return until it was settled, he lost his job, although he had been asked to return repeatedly. He also railroaded before moving to Ennis so his total railroading years ran from 1905 through 1922.

Jack later served as deputy sheriff for 18 months. There was a gun battle in a downtown alley and he was shot in the lung, liver, and kidney by a bootlegger and not expected to survive. He was 55 years old at the time and the year was 1931.

Jack died on March 18, 1955, only six days before his 79th birthday and is buried at Myrtle Cemetery.

From Jane B. Smith:
I believe the man who is third from left is John J. Kouba, who retired from the railroad after 40 years service there.