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Railroad Stories: Rock Island Railroad Was Good to Family

The Rock Island Railroad was good to my family. My father worked there and thought that there was no other line as good as his line. He had steady work through the Depression years, and although the wages weren’t that great, we managed to get by.

We always had food on the table and clothes on our backs, not to mention the fact that my two siblings and I were able to attend school and get an education. My mother never had to take a job outside the home, so we did all right.

Because of my father’s work, we made several moves during my school years. During those moves, I made some very good friends, and to this day, I still keep in touch with them.

The railroad people were given what were called annual passes, and with those passes, we did some train traveling. I love trains! To this day, if I’m not rid¬ing, I love to hear them.

Margaret Lewis
Chariton, Iowa


Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.