Taking the Train from New York City to Cleveland in 1864

I'm taking Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy's “Sea to Shining Sea: Researching Our Ancestors’ Migrations in America” course this week. We spent a whole day learning about the waterways, roads, trails, and railroads our ancestors used. That made me wonder how my 2nd great-grandfather Henry Dauber may have travelled when he left New York City and migrated to Cleveland, Ohio.

I've written about Henry Dauber before. He was born in New York City on 23 October 1834. In 1861, Henry began a 3-year term of service as a Civil War soldier. He was mustered out of service in New York City on 13 June 1864. Family stories say Henry travelled west looking for work and liked what he saw when he reached Cleveland. He was married in Cleveland on 28 December 1864 and died there on 6 March 1911.

I think Henry probably took a train from New York City to Cleveland. Newspapers advertised trains to Cleveland and points west. This included the Atlantic and Great Western via the Eire Railway.

New York Times, 1 Jun 1864, p. 7, col. 2; Newspapers.com.

According to a June 1864 timetable for the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, Henry could have left the city at 7 a.m. and been in Cleveland by 5 a.m. the next morning. Or he could have taken a night train at 6 p.m. and arrived at 6:30 p.m. the next evening. In both cases there was an option for a sleeping car and time for meals.

"Erie Railway and Atlantic & Great Western Railway June 1864 Timetable," Western New York Railroad Archives (https://web.archive.org/web/20130921182152/http://www.wnyrails.net/railroads/agw/agw_tt_june1864.htm).

If Henry took this train, he left from the foot of Chambers Street on the west side of lower Manhattan and first took a ferry to Jersey City.

"Map of New York and vicinity," Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3804n.fi000110p/). Map created in 1867. Highlighting added for this blog.

From Jersey City the train took a route that followed the southern border of New York. It then cut across the northwest corner of Pennsylvania before heading on into Cleveland.

"New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and Canada, with parts of adjoining statesLibrary of Congress(https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3711p.rr000890/). Map created in 1860. Highlighting added for this blog.

When Henry arrived in Cleveland, he didn't stray far. In 1872 he bought property on Williams St. Today this is East 38th Street. Its location is at the red star.

"Cleveland, Cayahoga Co. From data furnished by City Engineer. 1872," David Rumsey Map Collection (https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~23312~810001#). Highlighting added for this blog.