OBIT: Sarah BOYER, 1880, near Williamsburg, Blair County, PA

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IN MEMORIAM.

  Died near Williamsburg, Blair county, Sunday, March 7, Miss Sarah 
Boyer, aged 30 years, 5 months and 18 days.  Miss Boyer was one of 
Clover creek's most highly respected young ladies.  She was a native of 
near Grafton, Huntingdon county.  For three years past she has made her 
home with Mr. George Smith, near Williamsburg.  On Christmas day last 
she was summoned to the bedside of her dying stepfather.  After his 
funeral she took part in some domestic work and caught a severe cold.  
She returned to Mr. Smith's residence, where her cold developed into 
disease of the bowels.  Medical aid was procured, but her disease was 
of such an obstinate nature as to defy the skill of her physician.  She 
did not take her bed until Saturday night, when her pains ceased and 
she rested pretty well until Sunday morning.  She was assisted to a 
chair, but shortly after remarked that everything was getting dark, and 
felt that death was near.  She was assisted to bed, and made her dying 
requests.  After defraying her funeral expenses, the remainder of her 
money should be given to those who had so kindly ministered to her in 
her illness.  She continued to talk with all while her strength lasted, 
and when tongue refused utterance she answered by motions of her head.  
At 12 o'clock death closed the scene.  Her funeral took place on Monday 
at 3 o'clock P.M., services being conducted briefly but very pointedly 
by Rev. G. W. Brumbaugh.  Interment in Smith's graveyard.  Miss Boyer 
was a faithful member of the Dunker Church for many years.  She was one 
of the very few who, when bidding adieu to this world, left no foes to 
reflect, but many friends to lament and sorrow for the loss of her 
pleasant company.        L. S.
  (Huntingdon papers please notice of publish.)

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, March 10, 1880

A SECOND FUNERAL.
Disinterment and Reinterment of Miss Sarah Boyer's Body.

  Last week the TRIBUNE printed the obituary of Miss Sarah Boyer, who 
died at the residence of Mr. George Smith, near Williamsburg, and her 
interment in the graveyard near by.  It appears that the Huntingdon 
county relatives were not satisfied with the disposition of the 
remains, and on Monday came up to Mr. Smith's cemetery and disinterred 
the body.  This act was on account of a misunderstanding between the 
relative living in Huntingdon county and the friends with whom she was 
when she died.  Immediately after her death Mr. Joseph Bechtal started 
over the mountain to learn of the Huntingdon county relatives what 
arrangements should be made.  While crossing the mountain he met a 
step-brother of Miss Boyer, and they made arrangements that each should 
go home, and Mr. Gearhart, the step-brother, should send a man over 
that evening or very early the next morning to let them know what 
conclusion the relatives had come to in regard to her burial.  
Arrangements were made to inter at or near the Dunker church, below 
James Creek station, in Huntingdon county, according to Miss Boyer's 
wishes in her lifetime.  The messenger started, but was detained by the 
step-mother of the deceased, and when no one came, according to 
arrangements between Messrs. Bechtal and Gearhart, as a matter of 
course funeral preparations were made for interment in Smith's 
cemetery.  A messenger was again sent to notify the Huntingdon friends 
of these preparations, but very few of them arrived - the most of them 
had gone to James Creek Church before mentioned.  This caused 
dissatisfaction among them, and on Saturday last her uncle Anthony 
Forcia, accompanied by three others, came to Mr. Smith's, and demanded 
Miss Boyer's body, money and clothes.  On being told that such a thing 
did not look well, Mr. Forcia said in his county a man had to pay for 
all feed and provisions he received on any funeral occasion.  The 
remains were taken by them to the Dunker Church, where another sermon 
was preached, after which it was interred alongside her step-father in 
the Brumbaugh cemetery.  The event caused a great deal of talk on 
Clover Creek.  Some attribute the fault of this double burial to the 
relatives; others say it was not.  But let it be as it may, it cannot 
be changed.  Miss Boyer's remains, it is to be hoped, have found a 
permanent resting-place, to await the sound of the archangel's trump 
calling to judgment.  In this connection, the statement made in her 
obituary, that after the payment of funeral expenses, "the rest of her 
money should be given to those who cared for her during her illness, 
was incorrect.  She made no such disposition of her wealth.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, March 18, 1880