Person:Levi Develin (1)

L. C. DEVELIN was born in Cambridge City, Ind. (sic), August 6, 1835, and is one of the four children of George and Anna (Rains) Develin, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Indiana. Mr. Develin, about his majority began railroading as baggage-master at Cambridge; be filled the position three years and then went on as brakeman, working himself up, in two years, to the office of conductor on the Dayton & Western Railroad. In 1861, he engaged in the fruit and grocery trade at Chicago; then traveled for a wholesale house for awhile, and in 1863 engaged on the T.,L. & B., R. R., at Logansport, as traveling agent and extra conductor. May 8, 1864, while instructing a new yardmaster in his duties, be had both ankles crushed by a tank wheel, which led to amputation. The operation was not skillfully performed, and six weeks later a second amputation became necessary. After recovery and after providing himself with artificial limbs, Mr. Develin entered the telegraph office at Cambridge City as a student, and in December, 1865, he was appointed agent and operator at Burnettsville, the office being then first established, and he still holds the position. He was married, November 9, 1870, to Mary Sharpe, of Kentland, Ind., and this lady has borne him three children- Mertie, May and Leo. Mr. Develin is correspondent for a number of journals, Florin being his nom de plume. He is a Democrat, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Levi C. Develin, in the employ of the Pan Handle railroad for over a half century, and agent of the company at Burnettsville for forty years, died Monday night of last week at his home in Burnettsville. During his long service, says teh Logansport Journal, Mr. Develin never was "called on the carpet," was never reprimanded and was often complimented. In his possession, as the most prized articles, the old railroader treasured several personal and unsolicited letters of praise for his services to which he gave over a half century of his life and both legs. The service of the veteran agent of the Pan Handle includes such as trainman, baggemaster, car tracer, ticket agent and telegraph operator, all of which places were filled, officials say, with the same thoroughness and care. In compliment of Mr. Develin's devotion to duty, Logansport Pan Handle officials sent a beautiful floral tribute to the family and attended the funeral in a body. The pallbearers who bore the body of the old trainman to the grave were chosen from the ranks of the telegraph operators who were students under him. these were S.J. Graham, chief clerk trainmaster's office, Logansport; C.H. Nethercutt, assistant in same office; Charles Ireland, formerly in train dispatcher's office at Logansport; B.F. Bishop, agent at Lancing, Ills.; Max Mertz, operator at Onward; C.A. Barnes, agent at Idaville; J.E. Croll, day operator at Eilner.

Mr. Develin was born at Cambridge City, Ind., August 6, 1835, being just 70 years and 6 months old at his death. He entered the service of the Indiana Central railroad in March, 1852, serving as trainman on a work train on the Indianapolis division. He continued as trainman until 1857, when he became station baggagemaster at Cambridge City. From this he was promoted to car tracer on the old T.L. & B. road, the present Effner division of the Pan Handle. In this capacity he served until 1864, when he lost both legs in an accident in the Logansport yards. Mr. Develin, old railroaders say, was showing a student trainman how to turn a switch when he was caught by a moving train and thrown under it's wheels. He escaped with the loss of both legs and after a hard fight against death. The remainder of his service with the Pan Handle was minus his legs, one being removed just below the thigh, the other below the knee. A year passed in his recovery and the company gave him a position as student telegraph operator. He was then made operator and agent at Burnettsville, which he held for 41 years, or until placed on the pension roll July 31, 1903.

Since his retirement from active service Mr. Develin had been failing in health, death coming as a natural sequence to old age and long years of painstaking service. He is survived by a widow and two daughters, Misses Myrtle and Mary Develin, all of Burnettsville. Of his father's family he is survived by Mrs. Lee Pitman, of this city, Mrs. Nancy White, of Charlottesville, and Miss Malinda Develin of Indianapolis. Mrs. Pitman and Mrs. White and son Allen went to Burnettsville, last week, to attend the funeral and remain a few days with the grief stricken family. Mr. Develin was the personal friend of many of our older citizens, and particularly of the TRIBUNE, of which he was a patron for 40 years. Peace to his ashes and blessings on his family.

House Number 358
Line Number 41

George Develin M 45 Pennsylvania
Ann Develin F 38 Ohio
Nancy Devlin F 18 Indiana
Levi Devlin M 15 Indiana
Martha Devlin F 12 Indiana
Mahulla P Devlin F 6 Indiana

1899 Oct 12, p 2 - Levi Develin, Pan Handle station agent at Burnettsville, who has been off duty for thirty days vacation, and has been through the principal cities of the East, spent a few days here visiting his sister, Mrs. Lee Pitman, and greeting friends of his boyhood days. He has spent the greater part of his life railroading, and is probably one of the oldest and continuous employees of the Pan Handle company.

Levi C. Develin, born in Cambridge City, Indiana, August 6, 1835, died at his home in Burnettsville, February 6, 1906. He early engaged in railroading, and on May 8, 1864, lost both feet in the Panhandle yards at Logansport. He then learned telegraphy and in 1865 was appointed agent at Burnettsville, which position he held until 1905, forty years, when he was placed on the pension retired list.