OBIT: John S. FLUKE, 1881, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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Decease of John S. Fluke.

  Mr. John S. Fluke died yesterday evening at his home on Fifteenth 
street near Eighth avenue.  The announcement of the funeral will appear 
in the afternoon papers. 
  John S. Fluke was born in North Woodberry township, Bedford county, 
on June 29, 1807.  His father was of Irish and his mother of French 
descent, but both were natives of Bedford county.  His father was a 
farmer by occupation and young John worked on the farm until he reached 
the age of 20 years.  The son's education was very limited, free 
schools being unheard-of in those days.  About this time he emigrated 
to the "West," going as far as Brownsville, Fayette county.  He there 
hired on a flatboat and worked his way to New Orleans.  Soon after 
arriving there he was taken down with typhoid fever and laid up for 
several weeks.  After this little experience he became heartily tired 
of traveling, and at the first opportunity offered wended his way back 
to the old homestead and went to work again on the farm and worked 
there until about the year 1831.  In that year he was married to Miss 
Kazia McFadden, late of Lancaster county but at that time a resident of 
Bedford county.  He then leased his father's farm and continued working 
it for about eighteen years.  He then removed with his family to 
Hollidaysburg and entered into boating on the Pennsylvania canal.  He 
continued at this occupation for about three years and afterward 
procured a position on the Portage railroad, as foreman on the section 
running from Hollidaysburg to No. 10, and continued at this until the 
Portage was superseded by the Pennsylvania railroad.  Then John 
procured a situation as foreman on the Johnstown section of the 
railroad.  After this section was completed he obtained employment on 
the road as a brakeman on a freight train.  In 1870 he moved with his 
family to Altoona and obtained a situation in the upper paint shop of 
the company, and worked there until October, 1880, when a severe 
illness incapacitated him from further work.  In August of that year he 
became a member of the Silver Grey Club.  In his religious 
predilections he was a Presbyterian and in politics a Democrat.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday, January 24, 1881
 
CITY AND COUNTRY.
Things Briefly Told.

  John S. Fluke's funeral will be on Wednesday afternoon, to proceed to 
Hollidaysburg on the 2:30 train and return on the 6:30 P.M. train.  The 
friends of the family are invited to attend.  Funeral services will be 
held at the house at 1 o'clock.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, January 25, 1881