Allegheny County PA Archives-  Obituaries: Torley, et al, Oct 1880

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Martha Little, <littlegen03@hotmail.com>, Jul 2010

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** In the late evening of Saturday, October 9, 1880, there was a train
accident at Twenty-eighth Street on the Pennsylvania Railroad. These
were some of the victims of that accident. **
 
 
from The Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette dated Monday, October 11, 1880 (page 1):
 
One of the saddest events of the terrible calamity is the death of Mr
John J TORLEY, member of Select Council, from the Sixteenth Ward, and
of his daughter, Katie, a bright amiable young lady of eighteen years.
Father and daughter were in the hind car of the first section, and
together with the servant girl, Maggie JACOBS, were sitting near the
rear end of the car, and the injuries to both were caused by the
escaping steam, which rushed through a broken steam - --ck at the
front of the engine in the second section. Mr TORLEY got out of the
car through a broken window, and, learning that his daughter had been
taken to the hospital, he walked to the office of Dr CLARK on Butler
street, fully a mile from the scene of the accident, where he received
medical attention and was taken home by Dr C. As soon he reached his
residence, on Penn avenue near Thirty-ninth street, Mr TORLEY sent his
wife in a buggy to look after Katie, who he believed to be more
seriously injured than himself. Mrs TORLEY tenderly nursed her
daughter through the night, until she died, and then hastened to the
bedside of her dying husband, where she remained, displaying wonderful
calmness, until death deprived her of her beloved one, when she
completely broke down and is now in a critical condition.
 
LIttle Johnny, the only surviving son of Mrs TORLEY, was in the city,
and was taken home in a buggy by Mayor LIDDELL, and thus escaped the
entire disaster.
 
Mr John J TORLEY was a member of the firm of McConway & Torley, of the
Malleable Iron Works, on Liberty street. He was in the City Councils
for many years, and was for two terms or six years, a member of the
board of Fire Commissioners. At the time of his death he was a member
of the Select Council from the Sixteenth Ward. Mr TORLEY was always
an active, energetic and public-spirited man. When in Councils about
thirteen years ago he, as a member of the Police Committee, was the
first to suggest the uniforming of the police force. He was one of
the members of the first Board of Fire Commissioners and was one of
the organizers of the Paid Fire Department. He was an old member of
the Vigilant Fire Company, and in the days of the volunteer system he
was an active fireman. In politics, Mr TORLEY was a Democrat, but he
was never a bitter partisan, and had many warm friends in the
Republican party. Deceased was born in the Second ward, this city,
and was about forty-nine years of age. When a young man he learned
the trade of a plumber and gas fitter and was afterward a chainman
with a surveying party on the Connellsville Railroad. He was
subsequently connected with the firm of Weldon & Kelly, and afterward
with the Malleable Iron Works, in which establishment he has amassed a
fortune. Mr TORLEY, about twenty years ago, married Miss SEIBERT, of
this city, and they had five children - three girls and two boys. One
son (Frank) died a little over a year ago. The deceased was a man of
warm and generous impulses, and was greatly esteemed by all who knew
him. Toward his wife and children he was most affectionate, and to
them his death is a terrible bereavement. We, in common with a host
of other friends, extend to the afflicted ones our heartfelt
sympathies.
 
 
from the City of Pittsburgh Death Records:
 
Margaret JACOBS, age 30 years, single, died October 10, 1880; born in
Danville, PA; lived on Penn Avenue; burial in Danville PA cemetery on
October 11, 1880.
 
Catherine TORLEY, age 19 years 6 months, single, died October 10,
1880; daughter of John J and Mary TORLEY; born in Pittsburgh; burial
in St Mary's Cemetery on October 13, 1880.
 
John J TORLEY, age 49 years, married, manufacturer, died October 10,
1880; born in New York; lived at Penn Avenue and 39th Street; burial
in St Mary's Cemetery on October 13, 1880.
 
 
On census records, the wife of John J TORLEY was listed as Frances or Fanny.