OBIT: James H. CRAMER, 1893, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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James H. Cramer Dying.

  James H. Cramer, the well-known train dispatcher, residing at 1204 
Eighth avenue, is not expected to live.  He is suffering from a severe 
attack of pneumonia, accompanied by heart failure.  At the hour of 
going to press his condition was such that the doctors in attendance 
had no hope of recovery.  In fact they believe he cannot live more than 
twenty-four hours.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday Evening, April 21, 1893

JAMES H. CRAMER,
A Generous, Noble-Hearted Man, Goes to His Reward.

  Trainmaster James H. Cramer, a pioneer and one of the best known 
railroad men along the Pennsylvania line, died at his home at 4:30 
o'clock yesterday afternoon.  He took cold last Monday and it rapidly 
developed into pneumonia, which caused his death.
  Mr. Cramer was born on January 21, 1829, at New Alexander, 
Westmoreland county, and was, therefore, just 64 years and 3 months 
old.  He was married to Miss Elizabeth Ferry on September 12, 1850.  He 
served as a police [sic] during the construction of the Gallitzin 
tunnel in 1854.  during the latter part of 1854 he was appointed 
baggagemaster on the Hollidaysburg branch railroad, under Conductor 
Adam Walters, who was killed shortly afterward.  Mr. Cramer succeeded 
Mr. Walters as conductor, which position he held until he was elected 
county treasurer in 1861.  At the expiration of his term of office, in 
1863, he went to the army.  At the close of the war, in 1865, he 
returned to Blair county, opening a store in Hollidaysburg.  This he 
kept until 1873, when he moved to Tyrone and accepted a position as 
dispatcher for the Pennsylvania railroad company at that point.  In 
1875 he was appointed trainmaster of the middle division of the 
Pennsylvania railroad, which position he held until the time of his 
death.  
  Besides his wife, he leaves to mourn their great loss, four daughters 
- one daughter and two sons having died in childhood.  The surviving 
children are Miss Lucy K. Cramer, at home; Juniata, wife of John 
Mackey; Rena, wife of Carl Lockie, all of this city, and Bertha, wife 
of John Z. Kinch, of Philadelphia.  He also leaves five brothers and 
three sisters - William S., Altoona; George B., Philadelphia; W. D., D. 
F., and T. D., all of Mifflin; Mrs. James McCahan, Harrisburg; Mrs. 
Paul McCahan and Mrs. James White, both of Hollidaysburg.
  Mr. Cramer was a member of the Masonic fraternity but was not 
affiliated with any lodge at the time of his death.  He was a member, 
also, of the Canal Boatmen's association and of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Relief fund.  Funeral services will be conducted at the house, 
1204 Eighth avenue at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, the cortege leaving 
at 4:30 for Fairview cemetery where interment will be made.
  Mr. Cramer had the happy faculty of making friends and there was 
probably no more popular man in this community.  Genial, pleasant and 
sociable, with ready wit and a keen sense of humor, his presence in any 
company was bright and cheery.  He was full of anecdotes and 
reminiscences of his early railroad days and could tell them 
entertainingly.  He had a wide acquaintance among railroad men, 
particularly those on the Middle, Altoona, and Pittsburg divisions.  
Above all he was particularly devoted to his wife and children, and 
until this great sorrow his home was a happy one.  Mr. Cramer was one 
of the staunchest friends of the Evening Mirror during the railroad 
riots in 1877.  His death will be sincerely regretted by the entire 
community.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Saturday Evening, April 22, 1893

LOCAL ITEMS IN BRIEF.

  The funeral of James H. Cramer was largely attended yesterday 
afternoon.  The pall bearers were Messrs. Elmer White, of 
Hollidaysburg; Blair, Lemuel, Richard, George and Ira Cramer, of 
Mifflin, all nephews of the deceased.  Messrs. William Jackson, Robert 
Steel, Henry Keller, of Altoona; O. A. Traugh, Thomas Lewis and 
Christopher McFarland, of Hollidaysburg, were the honorary pall 
bearers.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Monday Evening, April 24, 1893