OBITS: CUNNINGHAM Family, Blair County, PA

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  CUNNINGHAM, John Blair, 1890
  CUNNINGHAM, John B., 1903

John Blair Cunningham

RUN OVER AND FROZEN
Blair Cunningham Meets His Death on the Branch Railroad.

  John Blair Cunningham, who made his home with his father, Mr. J. B. 
Cunningham, at West Chestnut avenue and Twenty-fourth street, was down town 
Wednesday afternoon and, as was his custom, imbibed rather freely of 
intoxicating drinks.  He was seen by Chief Wier early in the evening, but as he 
was not staggering very much and was disturbing no one, was allowed to go on 
without being arrested.  
  At a later hour he boarded the train for Hollidaysburg, but having no money or 
ticket, when Stiffler Station was reached he got off, and this is the last that 
is known of him with any degree of certainty until he was found lying beside the 
track, about 300 yards this side of Stiffler Station, yesterday morning, with 
both legs cut off, his head terribly injured, dead and frozen stiff.  
  The body was found yesterday morning as described by conductor Sheller's crew, 
and by them was picked up and placed on the train of Conductor Confer, brought 
to this city and taken to the rooms of Undertaker Arthur.
  Coroner Poet was notified and impaneling a jury, an inquest was held, when the 
facts were brought out substantially as noted above, and the jury rendered a 
verdict that the deceased had come to his death by being run over by a train of 
cars on the Branch road.
  It is supposed that after getting off the train at Stiffler Station he came 
back towards the point where his body was found, and either fell upon the track 
and was unable to get up, or attempted to get upon a succeeding train, and so 
came to his death.  
  Some years ago, when he was but a boy, he was run over by a car on the Branch 
road and lost one of his legs, and by the accident Wednesday night this leg as 
well as the other was run over again, but closer to the body. 
  Undertaker Arthur prepared the remains for burial, after which it was removed 
to his parents home from where the funeral will take place Saturday afternoon at 
2 o'clock.  Interment in Fairview cemetery.  He was 28 years, 11 months and 16 
days of age.

Altoona Mirror, Friday Evening, December 26, 1890
________ 

John B. Cunningham 

  At 5.05 o'clock yesterday morning John B. Cunningham died at his home, 2813 
Spruce Ave., of a complication of diseases with which he had been ailing for 
some time.  Deceased was born in Blair county, April 26, 1826, and had resided 
in Altoona for a number of years.  Until a few years ago he followed the 
business of a contractor.  He was a veteran of the civil war, having served in 
company K, Twelfth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer cavalry.  He was a member of 
the Second Presbyterian church and post 62 Grand Army of the Republic.  He is 
survived by these children:  Mrs. Ella Davis, Mrs. Carrie Brubaker, and William 
Cunningham, of Allegheny, and these sisters: Mrs. Kate Detwiler, of Coalport. 
Mrs. Emily Burkholder and Mrs. Mary Burket of this city. 
  The funeral will take place at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, services to be 
conducted at the house.  Interment in Fairview cemetery.

Morning Tribune, Saturday January 17, 1903