Peter Bryson McFarlane

Peter Bryson McFarlane

           Peter was born in Scotland in 1856. He is the son of Peter and Mary McFarlane. He came across the plains with his family in 1862. He was only 6 years old. They came with the Israel A. Canfield Company.[1] For more information about the their journey, see the blogpost of Peter and Mary McFarlane.                    
           Peter lived in Ogden. As a young adult, he worked as a brakeman on the Central Pacific Railroad. One day his life was miraculously spared. The train he was working on was approaching a snowshed. At this time, Peter climbed atop the train to apply the brake.

Railroad Snowshed

           There was a blinding snowstorm, so Peter couldn't see very well. Peter's head hit a timber from the snowshed, which knocked him out. He was unconscious on top of the train for several miles. Eventually, the engineer realized Peter was missing. He found him on top of the leading train car. Peter was sent home on the express train. He received a bad wound on his face and his head.[2]
             

Marriage and Children

          Peter married Rose in 1894. They had three children: Peter, Mary, and Katie May. He also had stepchildren. Peter's younger brother Arthur lived with him.[3]

Occupation and
Spanish-American War

           Peter was a miner.[3] He died of lung congestion in 1900, at the age of 44.[4]

            

References

1.Peter Bryson McFarlane. Retrieved from LDS.org

2. Hurt on the train. Ogden Standard Examiner.

3. 1900 United States Federal Census. Retrieved from Ancestry.com 
4. Peter Bryson McFarlane Obituary. (30 Oct 1900). Ogden Standard.