OBIT: George R. EVERSON, 1889, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sharon Miller & JRB Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ DEATH RECORD. The funeral of George R. Everson will take place on Wednesday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, from his late residence, No. 1221 Eighth avenue. Services at the house. Interment in Fairview cemetery. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, August 13, 1889, page 1 After a Long and Painful Illness Mr. George R. Everson Died at His Residence, No. 1221 Eighth Avenue, at 10 o'clock Yesterday Morning At 10 o'clock yesterday morning the spirit of George R. Everson departed from its tenement of clay and quietly and peacefully Death claimed all that was mortal of this aged man, who for many months past had been ill at his residence, 1221 Eighth avenue. He had been a sufferer from a complication of diseases for three years and for the last nine months had been confined to his room, and for the greater part of this time to his bed. His death was the closing of a life which had passed the seventieth milestone - the span allotted by the Psalmist to man, and during all the years which he lived he had, whenever able, done all possible for the cause of the Master. And so, when the shadows of death settled down about him, he was ready to respond to that summons, which to those who have lived the life of a Christian, means but the changing from mortality to immortality. George R. Everson was born in Philadelphia, June 30, 1810. His father, who was also born in that city, was of German descent, while his mother, who was born in New Jersey, was of Scotch descent. His father was engaged for a number of years in the confectionary business as a wholesale merchant, and with him the deceased worked until he was 17 years of age. He then apprenticed himself to learn the cabinet making trade, and when he had attained the age of 21, he, with a companion, left Philadelphia, settling in Carlisle, Cumberland county, where he obtained employment at his trade, remaining in that town for several years. On April 28, 1831, at Carlisle, he was married to Miss Sarah B. Rodabaugh, and shortly after his marriage removed to Philadelphia where for several years he worked at his trade. Afterward removing to Lancaster Mr. Everson secured employment under James Cameron, contractor on the Harrisburg and Lancaster railroad, in whose employ he remained several years, finally removing to Harrisburg where he engaged in the contracting and building business for himself. For four years he continued at work and at the end of that time began work for Halman & Simons, remaining with them four or five years. At the expiration of this period he obtained a situation in the shops of the Harrisburg and Lancaster railroad, which shops were afterward leased by the Pennsylvania Railroad company. Under this latter company he was assistant foreman in the pattern shops, and made the first pattern that was made for this great corporation. After the shops in Altoona were completed Mr. Everson removed to this city, and here worked under Foremen Borden and Abrahims, remaining in the continuous employ of the company until August 1, 1879, when the infirmities of age caused him to cease active work. In politics, Mr. Everson was a republican. In the early years of his life he was a democrat, but in 1846 left that party and cast his political lot with the whig party. He took an active interest in the nomination and election of General Zachary Taylor to the presidency, being one of his electors from this state. In 1856 Mr. Everson joined the republican party and was chairman of the first republican meeting ever held in Altoona. For forty years he was active in politics yet never held a position higher than judge of elections in his own ward. In religion, the deceased was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Years ago he was an exhorter in the church of that denomination in Carlisle, and on his removal to Altoona was one of the originators of the First Methodist church and its first Sunday school superintendent. He was afterward one of the organizers of the Eighth Avenue church and was a member of it when he died. The loss of his hearing in the latter years of his life kept him from taking any active part in the church services. He was an earnest advocate of temperance and did much good work in advancing that cause. Mr. Everson was one of the first gentlemen to suggest the establishing of a public cemetery in Altoona, and his suggestion was followed by the formation of Fairview Cemetery association, and he was chairman of the first meeting called for that purpose. Subsequently he was elected vice president. To Mr. and Mrs. Everson nine children were born, and of these three are dead: George, a member of the Eighth regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves, who was killed at the battle of South Mountain, and whose remains are interred, with those of other soldier comrades, beneath the shadow of the soldiers' monument in Fairview cemetery. The other children who have preceded the father to the tomb were William and Albert Everson. The names of those living are: Sarah Aun, wife of William Holder; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of James Powell; Josephine, wife of Charles A. Skelly; Emma, wife of W. S. Miller, all residing in Altoona, Thomas A. Everson, of Steelville, Mo., master mechanic of the St. Louis and San Francisco shops at that place, and Charles, also residing in Steelville. His aged wife also survives. The arrangements for the funeral has not yet been completed. Mr. Everson was a member of the “Silver Gray Social club," having joined November 24, 1879. This organization, which was formed in 1875 by a number of elderly gentlemen of Altoona, and which once enjoyed a large membership, has now but few of its original members left. As a mark of respect to his memory the members will attend the funeral in a body. Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday, August 12, 1889, page 1