The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 107, July 2003 - April, 2004 Page: 98
660 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
city's first kindergarten teachers. Edwin was fifty in 1908 when he and
Blanche had a daughter, Edwina Blanche, mother of the author.
During the latter period of Dean's life, the family enjoyed frequent
travel. In 1915 they visited the Panama Pacific International Exposition,
and in 19g20o they toured Alaska. Young Edwina kept a wonderful scrap-
book of their trips and collected souvenirs, which are still among the
family's heirlooms today.3 She recalled, too, that her father was known
for his dry wit, and saved some of his humorous notes. One, in particu-
lar, gave specific instructions for the proper preparation of his lunch.4
Edwin Lyon Dean remained with the Columbia and Puget Sound,
renamed the Pacific Coast Railroad on March 2o, 1916, for thirty years,
retiring in 1927 as assistant superintendent. He died in Seattle, Wash-
ington, on August 8, 1935-
Eighteen-year-old Edwin Lyon began working for the railroads in 1876.
He started out as a night operator for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain &
Southern Railway.5 In 1878 he worked in Topeka as a dispatcher for the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company. Although he did not
stay long in these positions, he left with good letters of recommendation.6
In 188o, with four years of experience under his belt, he joined the
Mexican Central Railway project. He was hired as chief dispatcher under
superintendent George Anthony and thus became involved in the excite-
ment of linking Paso del Norte with Chihuahua, Mexico.7
Across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, was Paso del Norte, known
today as Ciudad Juarez. It was there that Dean rented two rooms from
Angela Strengson for twelve dollars a month.8 He participated in the local
s Scrapbooks and souvenirs in possession of the author.
"Dear Sister, Until further notice, please do not put into my lunch, sardine sandwiches or
green cheese sandwiches; also when enclosing ginger snaps, please wrap them in a separate
paper, so that they will not stick to the meat sandwiches and give everything a sweet taste. Have no
objection to enclosing spring chicken sandwiches. Yours truly, E. L Dean, Chief Dispatcher"
(original in possession of the author).
5 Employment records, 1876 to Oct. 1877, night operator, St. Louis, under A. W. Soper, gen.
supt., St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, left: wanted to see country (original m pos-
session of the author), 1878 to Nov. 1879, operator, dispatcher's office, Topeka, under R.,B.
Gemmell, supt., Tel., Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Co., left: homesick (original in pos-
session of the author).
6 Letters of recommendation, May 13, 1879, from A.W. Soper, gen, supt., St. Louis, Iron
Mountain & Southern Railway, St. Louis: Edwin L. Dean, son of Dr. T. J. Dean was for a time
employed as operator; also signed by T. L. Ely, who says Dean was employed at and m charge of
the main St. Louis telegraph office of the railway (original in possession of the author); May 18,
188o, from D J. Chase, division superintendent, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Co.,
Topeka: Dean employed for one year as clerk in the station department, leaves for other business
(original in possession of the author).
7 Employment record, 188o to Nov. 1882, dispatcher and chief, Paso del Norte, under Geo. H.
Anthony, supt., Mexican Central Railway, Lt., left: homesick (original m possession of the author).
8 Receipt for rent reads, "Received from Mr. E. L. Dean, the sum of Twelve Dollars (Amer
Money) for one month's rent of two unfurnished rooms from Aug. 25th to Sept. 25th 1882.July
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 107, July 2003 - April, 2004, periodical, 2004; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101224/m1/116/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.