Rupert,
Attached are three versions of Aurora lodge 6,T.J. Potter BRT lodge stationary. I've never seen a seniority list old enough to have had his name on it. So I'm not sure the lodge was named after him or a trainman who had the same name.
I did some research in "The Great Burlington Strike of 1888" on Potter and Stone.
I'll summarize what I found. If you want specific quotes let me.
Potter:
Promoted from General Mgr. of Q to V. P. In 1885, resigned in 1887 to go to U.P. In a similar position.
Dies in 1888.
The Q rank and file employees respected him as he was from the Midwest and came up through the ranks after starting as a surveyor.
He had the ability to be firm but respectful of each man and negotiated in good faith.
Stone:
Came from Boston and Harvard. He was related to Mrs. Forbes.
He left Harvard in 1873 to become a foundry superintendent.
Came to Q in 1877/78 as an apprentice in the Aurora shops.
Advanced rapidly to become Division Master Mechanic,sup't. Of Motive Power,General
Sup't.,ass't to General Manager,then G.M. Of Q when Potter promoted.
In 1888 at start of strike he is only 36. He played a significant part prior to and during the strike. When no one else would he ran a train of coal across the bridge from East St. Louis into St Louis early in the strike.
Rank and file and many management subordinates see him as an eastern elitist.
Seen as inflexible,brusque,aloof and dictatorial.
Perkins cautioned Stone at least twice that " molasses catches more flies than vinegar".
He was probably deaf from the time at the foundry.
Leo
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