Edward Lightfoot ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

  General Notes:

Brothers Nelson, Andrew, and Edward Lightfoot worked for the New Jersey, Indiana and Illinois Railroad Company. The NJI&I was originally created by the Singer Sewing Machine Company in order to transport their products from South Bend, IN, to a connection with the Wabash Railroad in Pine, Indiana. The line began service in 1905 and officially operated on only 11.4 miles of track. The line ran between South Bend and Pine, Indiana, where it met the Wabash Railroad.

Up until and through World War I the line offered two passenger trains round trip daily to Detroit. In the 1930s passenger service was discontinued. The Wabash had purchased the line in 1926 but continued to operate it as a separate railroad. The major customers included Singer Manufacturing and The Studebaker Company. The NJI&I continued in service until 1982 when the Norfolk Southern absorbed the line. Despite both manufacturers going out of business in the early 1960s and early 1970s, the line continued to operate for several other smaller customers.

The name is derived from the three states Singer had plants in at the time of charter. The railroad was eventually taken over by the Wabash and operated through the Norfolk and Western takeover. The line continued to service several customers until the NS-Conrail takeover allowed NS to access their customers via the former New York Central Chicago line. The line was abandoned and removed in the late 1990s.
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  Noted events in his life were:

1. 1900 US Census, 4 June 1900, Union Township, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ² Page 4B, District 138, Dwelling 72, Family 74
Union Township, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
house rented
Edward Lightfoot...Son..Aug 1898..1..IN
(Living with parents.)

2. 1910 US Census, April 1910, Union Township, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ³ Sheet 3A, District 195, Family 47
Union Township, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
Ed Lightfoot...Son..10..IN
(Living with widowed mother.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 31 Aug 1898, then his age should have been 11 instead of 10.

3. Occupation: Section Hand for the New Jersey Railroad, 12 September 1918, Lakeville, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ¹

4. Residence: R.R. 1, 12 September 1918, Lakeville, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ¹

5. United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, 12 September 1918, South Bend, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ¹ Name: Edward Lightfoot
Birth Date: 31 Aug 1898
Birthplace: , , United States

6. 1920 US Census, January 1920, Union Township, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ⁴ Sheet 1A, District 215, Family 2
Union Township, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
Ed Lightfoot...Son..21..IN
(Living with widowed mother and maternal grandmother.)

7. 1930 US Census, April 1930, Union Township, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ⁵ Sheet 5B, Roll 628, District 0095, Family 109
Union Township, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
Edward Lightfoot...Bro..31..IN
(Living with brother and widowed mother.)

8. 1940 US Census, April 1940, Liberty Township, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ⁶ Sheet 9B, Roll 1092, District 71-11, Family 178
Liberty Township, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
Residence in 1935: Rural, St. Joseph, Indiana
house owned, $700
Edward Lightfoot...Son..41..IN..6th grade..Farming
(Living with widowed mother.)

9. Military: Enlistment in Army, 14 October 1942, Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States. ⁹ Name: Edward Lightfoot
Birth Year: 1898
Birthplace: INDIANA
Education Level: Grammar school
Civilian Occupation: General farmers
Military Rank: Private
Army Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Serial Number: 35344129

10. Cemetery: Lakeville Cemetery, June 1979, Lakeville, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States. ⁸ Find A Grave Memorial 106703010