My Genealogy Hound

BERT A. ORLAND, a practical and skilled machinist, who is now foreman of the machine shops and roundhouse of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad at Murphysboro, claims Ohio as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Cleveland, on the 7th of July, 1867. The family is of English origin. His father, W. P. Orland, was born in England, and during his boyhood crossed the Atlantic, becoming a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, where he learned the machinist’s trade. He became an expert mechanic and was employed in Cleveland as general foreman of the shops of the Big Four Railroad. The year 1883 witnessed his arrival in Illinois, and he is now master mechanic of the Cairo Division of the Big Four Railroad, his home being in Mt. Carmel, Ill. In the Buckeye State he wedded Miss Alice Hyde, a native of Cleveland, and a daughter of Addison Hyde, now a resident of Syracuse, N. Y.

Our subject is the eldest of four children, and in his native city made his home until sixteen years of age, attending its public schools, where he acquired a good practical education. In 1883 he went to Mattoon, Ill., where for one year he was employed in the office of the Big Four Railroad, and in 1884 he entered the shops at that place, serving a four years’ term of apprenticeship as a machinist. On the 15th of March, 1889, he came to Murphysboro, where Mr. Davis was then serving as master mechanic. He worked as a machinist until 1891, when he was promoted, being appointed to the responsible position of foreman of the machine shops and roundhouse. He is well liked by the men under him and has the confidence and trust of his employers, for he is faithful to every duty and the trust reposed in him.

In February, 1890, in Murphysboro, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Orland and Miss Zerelda Riseling, a native of this place. Their union has been blessed with one child, Frank. Although their residence here covers only a few years, they have already won many friends by their excellencies of character. Mr. Orland holds membership with the Masonic fraternity, and in his political views is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party.