OBIT: Daniel A. CONFER, 1913, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Brakeman Killed by Train Carrying His Father and Mother Daniel G. [sic] Confer, Jr., Run Down By Passenger Train at Buttermilk Hollow Daniel G. Confer, Jr., a young man of 101 Willow avenue, while making his third trip as a Pittsburgh division freight brakeman, was run down and instantly killed by a passenger train, which was carrying his father and mother to Pittsburgh. yesterday morning. The accident occurred at Buttermilk Hollow, near Conemaugh, and the parents of the unfortunate young man, ignorant of the fact that the train upon which they were riding had brought death to their boy, rode into Pittsburgh, where the station muster broke the sad news to them. The accident occurred about 7:30 o'clock. Confer had entered the railroad service as a brakeman on April 14, and leaving this city on Saturday made his first run through to Pitcairn. He was returning with his train, when it was flagged at Buttermilk Hollow. The young brakeman was riding near the middle of the train, and swinging himself down, he started to walk toward the caboose. He incautiously stepped to the adjoining passenger track, directly in the path of No. 37, Iron City Express. A moment before, the freight train started, and the brakeman was hurled with terrific force, by the passenger engine, against his own train. Members I of his crew found him lying along the tracks, his body mangled and life extinct. The engine crew of the passenger train did not know of the accident. The body was taken to Johnstown, and the Pittsburgh division offices in this city notified. At the Confer home, it was learned that the parents of the unfortunate brakeman had gone to Pittsburgh. It was learned that they were passengers on Train 87. When the train stopped at East Liberty, the conductor was ordered to direct the parents to the station master's office. That official informed the father that his boy had been injured, and a moment later informed him that the boy was dead. When the mother learned that she was riding on the train that killed her boy, she collapsed, and medical attention had to be procured. The parents returned to Altoona on the first train available. The body was brought to this city yesterday afternoon, and taken to the Confer home. Daniel George Confer, Jr., was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel G. Confer, Sr. He was born in this city on April 5, 1891, and resided here all his life. Two years ago he completed his course at the Central Grammar school. On April 4, 1913, he went to work in the maintenance of way department, but only worked a week until he resigned, (Continued on Page 9, 5th Col.) BRAKEMAN KILLED BY TRAIN CARRYING FATHER AND MOTHER (Continued from Page 1.) and on April 14 went to work on the Pittsburgh division as a brakeman. He is survived by his parents, and the following brothers and sisters: Frank, Arthur, Anna and Grace, all at home. He attended the Fourth Lutheran church, and was a member of the P. R. R. relief. The funeral arrangements will be announced later. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Monday, April 21, 1913, pages 1, 9 FUNERAL NOTICE. The funeral services of John [sic] A. Confer, the young man who was killed on the railroad Saturday night, will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o' clock at the home, 101 Willow avenue. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, April 22, 1913, page 7 BCGS, Greenwood Cemetery, page 31: CONFER, Daniel A., 1895-1913, Section A Funeral Notices. The funeral of Daniel A. Confer, the young brakeman who met death Sunday morning on the railroad at Conemaugh, will take place Wednesday afternoon, services to be conducted at his late home, 101 Willow avenue, at 2:30 o'clock. Interment will be made in Greenwood cemetery. Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, April 22, 1913, page 16 Find A Grave Daniel A. Confer Birth - 1895 Death - 1913 Burial - Greenwood Cemetery, Altoona, Pa., Plot A Father - David Grant Confer Mother - Ida Florence Miller Confer 1910 United States Federal Census Name: Daniel A Confer Age in 1910: 15 Birth Year: abt 1895 Birthplace: Pennsylvania Home in 1910: Altoona Ward 7, Blair, Pennsylvania Street: Willow Avenue Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Son Marital status: Single Father's name: David G Confer Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania Mother's name: Ida F Confer Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania Native Tongue: English Occupation: Office Boy Sewing Industry: Machine Office Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner Attended School: Yes Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Out of Work: N Number of weeks out of work: 52 David G Confer 45 Ida F Confer 42 Daniel A Confer 15 Frank H Confer 12 Arthur C Confer 10 Anna A Confer 7 Grace M Confer 1