Person:James Lindsey (33)

Name	James William Lindsey
Gender	Male
Birth`^?`	6 Feb 1858	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Christening`^?`	28 Feb 1858	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSt. John the Evangelist
Marriage	Feb 1882	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United Statesto Mary Magdalene Casey
Death`^?`	5 Oct 1916	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Burial^[1]	9 Oct 1916	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesHoly Sepulchre Cemetery

James W. Lindsey was born Feb. 6, 1858 in Philadelphia to Michael and Margaret Lindsey. His father, mother and two older brothers had immigrated to the United States in 1848 from Scotland, though his father was originally from Ireland.

The 1880 census shows that Lindsey was working as a tailor, no doubt assisting his father. In 1887, he became a policeman. A book published that year, The Philadelphia Police Force: Past and Present by Howard O. Sprogle, lists the entire Philadelphia police roster as of Feb. 15, 1887 and James is not mentioned. However, he was appointed house sergeant of the 17th District in June, which seems unusual if he had only became a policeman within the past few months. In April 1889, when James was in the 20th District, one of his officers found an abandoned infant near 15th and Filbert and the newborn was named Carrie Lindsey in James' honor. The baby unfortunately passed away two months later. In 1890, Lindsey started work as a "fire operator" in the Electrical Bureau. He would make his make his mark there, dispatching more than 5000 alarms in his 26-year career and never once making a mistake. The following anecdote was published March 14, 1915 in the Philadelphia Evening Ledger:

"Lindsey acquired his title as 'the most accommodating man in the United States' in an amusing incident 10 years ago. A minister from Boston, who with his daughter was being shown through the bureau, expressed the wish to see a fire alarm sent out. At that moment the signal apparatus began working, notifying Lindsey that a fire had broken out at 13th and Market streets. Lindsey sent out an alarm, and not only did the minister and his daughter see the operation of the system, but also the fire apparatus dashing by. On his return to Boston, he sent Lindsey a letter signed by several Boston clergymen thanking him for his courtesy."

Yearly Salary as an Operator

1891-1898: $1040
1899-1902: $1140

Source: Philadelphia Record Almanac, 1891-1902

Lindsey married Mary Casey in 1882. James and Mary had five children: Michael, Richard, Mary, James and Margaret. He sadly outlived all three of his sons, none of whom reached the age of 30. His son James tragically died in 1894 at the age of two after he fell into a large pan of scalding water. Sons Richard and Michael died in 1909 and 1910 respectively.

His daughter Mary was the only child to have offspring of her own.

The Lindseys, all of their children, and other relatives are buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Odds and Ends

1905 - Took 278 calls in a single day as Philadelphia saw mass flooding during a storm. (Inquirer, Aug. 7, 1905)
1906 - Helped police catch a man who had been making prank calls resulting in the unnecessary dispatch of police and ambulance. (Inquirer, Jan. 8, 1906)
1907 - Claimed a $1000 reward for identifying the body of Frank S. Morton, a noted violinist who had gone missing. (Inquirer, Feb. 4, 1907)

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