John Zuback quit school at 13 to go and work in the coal mines like many of the young boys did back in those days. He didn't much like that work and when he was about 30 or 31 years old, he decided to move his family to Connellsville, PA, and go to work on the B&O Railroad. At first, he was what they called a fireman. That was the guy who continually had to shovel coal in a big furnace on the steam engine to make it run. Later, he applied for the job of engineer and studied very hard for the test. John was a pretty smart guy and passed the exam and become an engineer on the big diesel engines. The train tracks ran behind our house and when he was working, and was driving the diesel home after a run, he would go by the house blowing the train whistle, and we kids would switch the back porch light on and off to signal to him that we knew he was coming. Also, when he got home, he always had those 3 Muskateer candy bars in his work bag that he brought home and that we looked forward to. He'd always say, "now we give them to your mother, and don't eat them all at once." Dad did teach us one thing and that was a strong work ethic. No matter how sick he was, as he suffered from ulcers and even contracted tuberculosis, he would get up and go to work. We never knew just how sick he was until he literally fell off the train and had to go to the hospital, where they discovered his illness. One thing for sure, we sure had strong parents, who didn't whine or give in to self-pity. Not did they spoil us with materialistic things, although as kids, we no doubt asked. Looking back, I think that was their greatest gift to us, as we all made our way without any lofty expectations of being indulged by others. So for that I'm very grateful.
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