Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1919 — OLDEST CONDUCTOR IN WORLD [ARTICLE]

OLDEST CONDUCTOR IN WORLD

Is John Bills, Whose Run Is From Orleans to French Lick. On the Monon, John Bills, age 89, alert and active, is a conductor. iHe makes the round trip three times dally between Orleans and French Lick, a distance of 18 miles. He has been in Monon service approximately 40 years, having been a railroad man prior to that time in the west during the pioneer days. Bills is married, he and his wife having made their home at Orleans for many years. He not only performs the usual duties of passenger conductor, but at times when it becomes necessary to turn the accommodation into a mixed train, Bills helps out as a brakeman. As the slow moving engine picks its way through southern Indiana hills John Bills frequently may be seen scaling a box car and riding atop his train. He is the oldest active railroad conductor In the world. For many years he was to charge of a passenger train on the* main line through Bloomington.