OBIT: Jacob A. BOYCE, 1916, Eldorado, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_________________________________________ 

AGED ELDORADO MAN IS KILLED BY ENGINE
Jacob A. Boyce, 82 Years, Run Down Near His Home Yesterday
NECK OF VICTIM WAS FRACTURED

  Walking on the Hollidaysburg branch tracks of the Pennsy, a quarter 
mile east of Eldorado station, Jacob A. Boyce, aged 82, a widely known 
resident of Eldorado, was run down and almost instantly killed by a 
light engine at 2:33 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
  Boyce was hurled twenty feet along the tracks.  His neck was broken, 
his right arm dislocated and the left side of his scalp bruised.  
Deputy Coroner C. Rothrock, of this city, was apprised of the accident 
and is investigating.  It is unlikely that an inquest will be 
conducted, as the aged man was trespassing at the time of the mishap.
  Pittsburg division engine No. 258, in charge of Engineman L. B. 
Stewart and Conductor D. S. Duffy, both of this city, was running with 
a cabin car from Altoona to Hollidaysburg.  Boyce was walking on the 
track to take a shorter route to a point in the woods nearby where a 
driver and a team had preceded him.  The victim failed to hear the 
warning blast of the approaching locomotive and was run down before the 
engineer could present the accident.
  As rapidly as the engine was stopped, Boyce was picked up, placed in 
the cabin car and started toward Altoona.  The man expired before aid 
could be secured.  The body was turned over to Funeral Director Stevens 
to be prepared for burial.
  Jacob A. Boyce was born in Bucks county, Pa., February 19, 1834, and 
was the son of Jacob and Charlotte Boyce, both deceased.  He was 
educated in the public schools, later learned civil engineering and 
followed that occupation for several years.  He began teaching school 
in 1858, the same year as did Rev. George Brumbaugh, father of the 
governor, with whom the Eldorado man was well acquainted and whose 
death occurred this week.  He continued teaching until 1882 and had 
resided at Eldorado since 1863.  For several years he taught school at 
the old structure near his home.  Until 1869 he operated a saw mill in 
the nearby mountains and in 1882 was appointed postmaster and station 
agent at Eldorado.  
  Early in 1882 Mr. Boyce took up gardening in a small way and after 
giving up his other occupations, engaged extensively in trucking.  He 
erected a large greenhouse and sold his products direct to the 
consumers in this city.
  Mr. Boyce wedded Miss Sarah Lance in 1865.  She died in 1909.  Four 
children survive - Miss Jennie, Eldorado; Mrs. Annie Culbert, 
Philadelphia; Mrs. Kate Gorsuch, Patton, and Mrs. Mary Roberts, 
Eldorado.  The deceased was a strong Republican and was active in the 
temperance cause, having written a book on that subject.  He was a 
member of the Eighth Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, this city.
  Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from 
his late home and private burial will follow at Rose Hill cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday Morning, December 27, 1916