OBIT: Emil T. CHERRY, 1921, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ NOTED PHYSICIAN DIES AT HOSPITAL Dr. Emil T. Cherry, one of Altoona's best known physicians and native citizens, died yesterday afternoon at 2.15 o'clock at the Altoona hospital following an operation for gall stones which was performed at the institution a week ago. For a time the patient seemed to rally but on Thursday night his condition took a critical turn. Dr. Cherry was born in this city on Jan. 13, 1863, the son of John W. and Henrietta Cherry, both deceased, and he resided in the city all his life. He was educated in the city schools and later entered the Indiana Medical college at Indianapolis, Ind., from which he graduated in 1878 [sic]. He returned to this city and took up the practice of his profession which he continued up to the time of his critical illness. He was one of the leading practitioners of the city and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his patients and his brother physicians. Dr. Cherry was in ill health for some time and a year ago had a siege of sickness, recovering just prior to his birthday anniversary, when he welcomed his brothers, Dr. J. Roy Cherry of Williamsport, and Oscar A. Cherry of this city at his home for a reunion, the three brothers meeting at each others home every year on the occasional of their natal anniversary. Dr. Cherry was a member of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States and served as a surgeon in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was commissioned a first lieutenant in the old 5th regiment, July 12, 1888, by Governor Robert E. Pattison, and for thirteen years was assistant surgeon in the National Guard. He saw service in the strike zones at Punxsutawney and Homestead. He was a member of the Baptist church and was prominently connected with various medical and other societies. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Marie Eddy Cherry, one daughter, Mrs. C. N. Rhodes of Tyrone, and two brothers and one sister, Mrs. Anna Cherry Leisenring of Flushing, L.I., Oscar A. Cherry of Philadelphia and J. Roy Cherry of Williamsport. Funeral services will be conducted at the home, 712 Seventeenth street, on Monday morning at 10 o'clock in charge of Rev. H. Howard Stiles, D.D. Interment will be made in Grandview cemetery, Tyrone. Services and interment will be private. (Please omit flowers.) Altoona Mirror, Saturday, January 8, 1921 Note: Emil (47, physician in general practice) and Marie (46, born OH; both parents born OH) Cherry appear in the 1910 Altoona Ward 6, Blair County census, married 6 years, no children. Emil T. (57) and Mary R. (55) Cherry appear in the 1920 Altoona Ward 6, Blair County census. Lucetta Cherry (b. 3/1890, aged 10) is enumerated as a niece with the John Herr family in the 1900 Altoona Ward 2, Altoona, Blair county census. Emil L. [sic] Cherry is listed as being interred 1/14/1921, Section 92, Lot 1951 (C. E. Rhodes lot), at Grandview Cemetery, Tyrone (Grandview, Tyrone, PA, BCGS, 2003, page 64. The obituary makes no mention of a former wife, as indicated in the following biography: EMIL T. CHERRY, M. D., who stands foremost among the many able physicians and skillful surgeons in active practice at Altoona, was born in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., January 13, 1863, and is a son of John W. and Henrietta (Brotherton) Cherry. John W. Cherry, father of Dr. Cherry, was born in Logan Township, about 1840, where his parents, Anthony and Susanna (Kantner) Cherry, had been early settlers and became people of ample means. A number of their sons turned to agricultural pursuits but John W. learned the trade of cabinetmaking and conducted a shop and was one of the oldest undertakers at Altoona for many years. He married Henrietta Brotherton, a daughter of John and Mary Brotherton, and they had the following children born to them: Blair, Annie, Laura M., Jennie, Emil T., Ella, Oscar and Roy. Annie married J. S. Leisenring, vice president of the Second National Bank of Altoona and a prominent attorney. Laura M., now deceased, was the wife of Dr. Charles B. Elliott. Emil T. Cherry attended school in Logan Township and later the Altoona High School, after which he studied dentistry with the late Dr. John W. Isenberg. After two years of study of dental surgery, the young man decided to turn his attention to materia medica, and then placed himself as a student under the direction of his brother-in-law, Dr. C. B. Elliott. When fully prepared, he entered the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, and there was graduated in 1884. He practiced for two years in that city and also served in the college dispensary for a time, after which he returned to his native state and for two years was established at Madera, in Clearfield County, following which he came to Altoona. This beautiful mountain city has been his field of effort ever since. He has been identified with many movements looking to the improvement of general health conditions and has often contributed large portions of his valuable time to these public- spirited efforts. His professional connection is with the medical organizations of county, state and country, while he is fraternally affiliated with several beneficiary bodies. Dr. Cherry was married April 30, 1889, to Miss Lucetta T. Isett, a daughter of John D. and Margaret S. Isett, of Huntingdon County, Pa., and they have one daughter, Lucetta M., who is the wife of Charles M. Rhoades. Dr. Cherry's residence and office are situated at No. 1623 Eighth Avenue, Altoona. Sell, Jesse C., Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911, pp. 624-627.