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.
Extracted 31 Jul 2020 by Norma Hass from 1894 Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry, and Monroe Counties, Illinois, pages 645-646.