Dates

• Existence: 1844-1927

Biographical Note

Samuel James Fields was born on August 10^th, 1844, to Samuel Hunter and Mary Jane (Fessenden) Fields, in Buffalo, New York. He was prepared by Reverend Mr. McGonegal, and he entered Rensselaer in September, 1862, where he graduated in 1867 with a degree in civil engineering. Samuel was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity, and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. On June 10^th, 1863, he left the institute for a three month service with the Seventy-fourth regiment N.Y.S.N.G., where he fought in the battle of Gettysburg. He enlisted again after this service, and did not attend Rensselaer during the scholastic year of 1864 and 1865. From August to October in 1867, he worked in the engineer’s office for the New York Central railroad in Syracuse, New York. Through October 1867 to December 1868, he worked as an assistant engineer on the Southern Central railroad, which ran from Oswego to Fairhaven, New York. He worked as a bridge engineer on the Niagara Bridge and the New York Central and Hudson River railroad, and was also in charge of the location and construction of the Junction railroad, which included the construction of the freight yards, coal trestles, and the surrounding buildings and water supplies, in and around East Buffalo, from February 1869 to June 1873. From January 1873 to an unknown date, he designed and superintended the construction of a large variety of bridges, roofs, viaducts, and other iron structures. On October 14^th, 1869, he married Charlotte Elizabeth Kellogg, with whom he had eight children. Samuel died in December of 1927, at the age of 83.

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