OBIT: John D. FIFE, 1899, formerly of Blair County, PA

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J. D. FIFE

  On Tuesday night J. D. Fife, a former resident of Altoona, was killed 
at Fort Smith, Ark., where he was employed in the railroad yard.  How 
the accident occurred is not known.  The deceased, who was unmarried, 
was a native of Canada and was aged 34 years on the 1st of October 
last.  He was employed as a brakeman on the Pennsylvania railroad for 
about six years, and during that time lived in Altoona.  His mother, 
Mrs. Janet Fife, resides at Baker's Mines.  Four sisters and one 
brother also survive, being: Mrs. A. J. Bradley, Mrs. Howard Walter, 
Mrs. Harry Gray, of Altoona; Miss Irene Fife, of Cleveland, and James 
Fife, of Dunlo.  The body will be brought to this city either Friday 
night or Saturday and taken to the home of his sister, Mrs. A. J. 
Bradley, 1908 Eleventh avenue, and the funeral will likely take place 
on Sunday.

Morning Tribune, Thursday, December 28, 1899

1880 Logan Township, Blair County census -
John Fife, 39  
Jennette Fife, 40  
William Fife, 16  
John D. Fife, 14  
Mary J. Fife, 11  
Myra J. Fife, 9  
Eva Jane Fife, 7  
Lena M. Fife, 5  
Catharine Fife, 3  
Agnes B. Fife, 10M  
Mary A. Dignum, 19  

LAID TO REST.
Body of J. D. File Buried in Fairview Yesterday.

  Reference was made in the Tribune of Wednesday morning last of the 
fatal accident of which J. D. Fife, a former resident, was the victim.  
His body was brought to this city and laid to rest in Fairview cemetery 
yesterday, the funeral services being held at the home of his sister, 
Mrs. Andrew J. Bradley, 1908 Eleventh avenue.  The remains were 
accompanied from Fort Worth, Arkansas, by R. D. Harris, a member of the 
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.  The Fort Worth Evening Express, in 
referring to the accident, says:
  "Fife was 34 years of age, unmarried and accounted a first class 
railroad man.  He had been with the 'Frisco for two years past.  He was 
popular with the men among whom he worked and made many friends outside 
of railroad circles.  His mother, Mrs. James Fife, lives at Baker's 
Mines, Pa.  He has a sister in Cleveland, Ohio, and other relatives 
scattered throughout the country.
  In one of Fife's pockets was found a receipt issued by the Wells, 
Fargo & Co. for a package he had sent his mother on Christmas day.  
Fife was home last summer and spent several weeks with his mother who 
is very old and of whom he thought a great deal.  She was advised by 
wire Tuesday night of the accident and it is feared that the news will 
result in her prostration.
  "The accident was caused by a misplaced switch.  Train No. 35 was 
being made up on track No. 2 in the Frisco yards and two cars of coal 
standing on track No. 1 were wanted for this particular train.  Switch 
engine 130 backed through No. 1 with one car, intending to pick up the 
coal and return to No. 2.  There is a cut-off between tracks 1 and 2, 
and as the engine and car approached the cut-off Fife was hanging on 
the end of the car farthest from the engine, one foot on the stirrup, 
the other on the oil box, and his lantern was on his knee.  No. 1 is 
the main line and the cut-off is supposed to be closed at all times 
when not required to shift cars to track No. 2, but on this occasion it 
was open and no lights were displayed to indicate the fact.  Naturally 
when the switch engine backed the car it turned on reaching the cut-off 
and Fife was crushed before he could realize his danger.  His left leg 
was mashed, his back broken and he was fearfully lacerated about the 
hips.  The company surgeon was called, but before any aid arrived he 
was dead, having lived only twenty-five minutes after the accident, 
which occurred at 11.20.  All this took place in the East yards, on 
North cut-off switch between tracks 1 and 2."

Morning Tribune, Monday, January 1, 1900