PACAMBRI-L Archives

Archiver > PACAMBRI > 2012-01 > 1326384173


From: Patty Millich <>
Subject: [PACAMBRI] Obits Nov. 24 1911 Cambria Freeman
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:02:53 -0500


Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa.

Friday, November 24, 1911

Volume 45, Number 47




Pioneer Dead

Old Engineer Dead at
Altoona after Years of Service

Altoona, Nov. 20

David Cassidy died at his home here last
night of diseases incident to old age. He had been in failing health for some
months. The deceased was born near Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 11, 1832. He
came to America in 1851 and took up his residence in this
section of the state. He secured employment on the old Portage railroad and after years of service he
resigned and entered the employ of the PRR as a fireman. A few years later he was promoted to the
position of engineer which he faithfully filled until his voluntary retirement
eleven years ago. Mr. Cassidy’s record as an engineer was an enviable one for
during his long years of service he was never injured and never injured any
others. His train over the Pittsburg division was the second to pass through the
Gallitzin tunnel after it had been bored through the Allegheny mountains and he also had the honor of driving the
first engine over the Ebensburg branch of the Pennsylvania road after its completion some years ago. He
also was one of the few enginemen surviving that saw service on the Pittsburg division under Andrew Carnegie while he was
superintendent of the division. Mr.
Cassidy was married Aug. 25, 1862 to Miss Annie Connely in St. John’s Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, who is seriously
ill at the present time, and six children.



Suicide

Nant-y-Glo Man takes
Life by Shooting Himself

An inquest was held Tuesday morning into the
death of Ephraim Kephart, a middle aged resident of Nant-y-Glo, whose lifeless
body was found in his room Monday morning. A bullet hole in his right breast
and a revolver lying beside him told the grim tale of how he came to an
untimely end.

Members
of the Kephart family say that Mr. Kephart kindled a fire in the kitchen stove
about 5:30 a. m. and shortly afterward, Mrs. Kephart
heard the sound of a fall in the room occupied by her husband. She failed to hear the report of a revolver,
however, and was surprised when she found that her husband had taken his own
life. Dr. J. P. McFarland was speedily
summoned but death had probably been instantaneous as the bullet entered his
body only a short distance from the heart.
Mr. Kephart had been afflicted by asthma for a long time and his
sufferings as a result of his ailment are believed to have prompted him to take
his life. He is survived by his widow
and a number of children.



Joseph A. Skelly

The funeral of the late Joseph Skelly of
Ebensburg who died Wednesday night at 7 o’clock will be held at 9 o’clock Saturday morning from the church of the Holy
Name in this place. The Rev. Father H.
M. O’Neill, pastor of the church, will have charge of the services.

Mr. Skelly was well known throughout this
section of the county. He as born Nov. 4,
1836 in Munster Township and was therefore aged 75 years and 18 days
at the time of his death. He served with
distinction during the War of the Rebellion, being a member of Co. G, 11th
Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. He was a
member of John M. Jones Post 556, Grand Army of the Republic. Members of this camp will attend the funeral
services in a body.

As stated, the deceased is survived by his
wife, two sons – Aloysius and Joseph A. Skelly Jr.; two daughters - Mrs. Joseph
Urda and Mrs. John Stibolitski and three brothers. These brothers are John A.
Skelly of Dayton; David A. Skelly of Derry and William A. Skelly of Portage Township. Mrs.
Susan McDermitt of Gallitzin
Township and Mrs. Margaret King of Johnstown are surviving sisters.

THE FREEMAN tenders its sympathy to the
bereaved relatives of Mr. Skelly.



John Davis Dead

John Davis (Bethel), formerly a poor director of Cambria County and for the last seven years one of
Ebensburg’s most respected citizens, died in Philadelphia Tuesday morning. Mr. Davis had been ill for a number of years,
having been afflicted while still a member of the county poor board with what
is known as creeping paralysis.

John Davis was born in Blacklick Township Jan. 25, 1846, near Bethel and to distinguish him from other John
Davises living in this section, he was known as “John Davis (Bethel)”. He
spent practically all of his life in Blacklick Township, filling various township offices and as
stated, being at one time a poor director.
He moved to Ebensburg about seven years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Davis went to Philadelphia some time ago where their sons, Lawrence and
Clarence, are at college. In Philadelphia they resided at 3437 Lancaster Avenue.
While Mr. Davis had been ill for some time, his condition grew gradually
worse during the last couple of months.
Mr. Davis was a member of the Baptist Church here.
During his residence in Blacklick Township he was a member and a deacon of the Bethel
Baptist Congregation.

The deceased is survived by his widow and
these sons: Merton A. Davis of Norfolk, Va.; Montell Davis of Pittsburg; Everett C. Davis of Nant-y-Glo; Lawrence and Clarence Davis, of this place. The
following brothers and sisters also survive:
Daniel J. Davis; Joseph Davis and David Davis, all of Ebensburg; Mrs.
Joseph Thomas and Mrs. Elias Lewis of Cambria Township and Mrs. Mary Davis of Sayre, Bradford County. A brother,
Evan J. Davis, was a United States soldier who went with his command to the
Texas-Mexican border right after the Civil War to keep an eye on the French who
were occupying Mexico. He
died in Texas in 1865.

The remains of John Davis were brought to
Ebensburg Wednesday evening and taken to the residence from which the funeral
was held Thursday afternoon, interment being in Lloyd Cemetery. The services were in charge of the Rev. Mr.
Whitely, pastor of the Baptist
Church.



Alfonso Sollecchia

Altoona

Alfonso Sollecchia, a track laborer on the
PRR, stepped in front of a fast freight
at Lewiston Junction and was instantly killed. He was aged 30 years and leaves
a family in Italy.



Frank Walters

Uniontown

Frank Walters, aged 22, and single of Lemont,
was instantly killed when a team of horses he was driving ran off, throwing him
out head first against a stone.



Abram Schilley

Louis Wagner, 45, of this city, is alleged to
have shot and almost instantly killed Abram Schilley, an aged veteran of the
Civil War. The shooting occurred in a Cambria City hotel.
Wagner, it is stated, was temporarily insane as a result of excessive
drinking. There was no trouble between
the men. Wagner, it is alleged, simply
pulling his revolver, saying, “I am going to shoot you,” and at once making
good his threat. Schilley was about 76 years old. Wagner is in the city jail.





This thread: