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Women Telegraph Operators in the Civil War
Elizabeth Cogley (1833-1922) Telegrapher, Pennsylvania Railroad, 1856-1900
- Became operator for Atlantic & Ohio in Lewistown, PA in 1855
- Became Pennsylvania Railroad’s first female operator in 1856
- Moved to Harrisburg during Civil War
- Retired in 1900 after 44 years service with Pennsylvania RR
- Born in Lewistown, PA in 1833. Her father owned a book and stationery store and delivered newspapers
- Educated in “dame schools” and the Lewistown Academy
As a child, remembered hearing the news read from the post office steps when the mail stage came in Learned telegraphy from Charles Spottswood, operator at Lewistown; delivered telegrams Became operator when Spottswood left in 1856 Became a railroad operator when the Lewistown office was taken over by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1856; taught telegraphy to several Lewistown women Moved to Harrisburg in 1862 and sent important messages during the Civil WarNever married; retired from the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1900 after a career of almost 45 years Her Voluntary Relief file index card is at the State Archives, Harrisburg Retired in 1900 with title of “Chief Messenger” and a monthly pension of $26.05 Returned to Lewistown, and became active in church and civic affairs Died at age 88 in 1922
Helen M. Plummer Telegrapher, Greenville, PA 1850- The early telegraph companies were continually in need of operators in small towns in Pennsylvania, and continually strapped for cash to pay operators
- Women could be hired for less money than men
- Helen M. Plummer became an operator for the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company in Greenville, PA around 1850 – for a starting salary of $125 a year!
Emma Hunter Operator at West Chester, PA, 1851
- Became operator for Atlantic & Ohio Telegraph Company in West Chester in 1851
- Her initial salary was $50 per year
- First “electronic commuter” – worked out of her parlor in 1851
- One of many women considered to be the “first female operator”
- Born in Meadville, PA, in 1831.
- Her father died when she was young
- Her mother moved to West Chester and opened a stationery store and lending library
- Emma learned telegraphy from Uriah H. Painter in West Chester and began to operate in 1851
- She was considered to be an expert operator – “Emma of S” was her “sine”
- Her income helped to support her mother and brother
- Her telegraph office and her mother’s stationery store moved to the Pennsylvania Railroad depot in 1857
- Managing a telegraph office is a little-studied aspect of business management by women in the 19th century
- Telegrapher at West Chester during Civil War; sent many war-related messages
- Left the telegraph office in the late 1860s and worked for the Bank of Chester County
- Married Thomas T. Smith, tobacco merchant, in 1868; they had two children
- Died on December 21, 1904, in West Chester
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Abbie Struble Vaughan B&O Operator, Pittsburgh, 1866
- Learned to read by sound in Pittsburgh, 1860s
- Married J. L Vaughan and moved to Texas, 1880s
- Operated in Mexico for the Mexican National Railroad, 1890s
- Taught telegraphy in Long Beach, CA, 1917
- Born in Port Perry, PA in 1845, of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. Her father was a steamboat pilot.
- Learned sound telegraphy in Pittsburgh around 1861, together with her sister Madge.
- Married J. L. Vaughan, telegraph lineman, in 1866.
- Worked for B&O Railroad in Pittsburgh, late 1860s – early 1870s. Instructed many other railroad operators
- Lived in Ohio and Missouri. Had 5 children, all of whom became telegraphers
- Moved to Merkel, Texas, in 1882 and became operator at the Texas & Pacific Depot. Entire familiy moved into the depot.
- Moved to Mexico in 1891 to become operator for the Mexican National and Mexican Central Railroads
- Left Mexico after 1911 Revolution and settled in Long Beach, CA
- Came out of retirement in 1917 at age 72 to teach telegraphy during World War I
- Died in Long Beach, CA in 1924
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Hettie Ogle Manager, Johnstown, PA Western Union Office - 1889
- Hettie Ogle began working for Western Union in 1861
- Became manager of Johnstown W. U. office and telephone exchange
- Her daughter Minnie was chief operator
- Remained at her post during May 31, 1889 flood - drowned
- Civil War widow; operated at Bedford, PA before coming to Johnstown in 1869
- Became manager of Johnstown Western Union Office; her daughter Minnie became Chief Operator
- Opened telephone exchange in the 1880s
- Remained in her office during flood; both she and her daughter Minnie were killed in the flood
- Her son Earl survived and became postmaster in Johnstown
SIGNAL CORPS. ASSOCIATION (1860 to 1865)
MARLEY CREEK ARCHIVES, 13 BEACH ROAD, GLEN BURNIE, MARYLAND 21060
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