OBIT: Joseph V. HAMPSHER, 1922, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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VETERAN OF WORLD WAR MEETS INSTANT DEATH
JOSEPH V. HAMPSHER [photo]
ALTOONA LINEMAN IS ELECTROCUTED
Joseph V. Hampsher, Employed by Penn Central, Comes in Contact with 
High Voltage Wire at Nant-y-Glo

  Joseph V. Hampsher, aged 34, of 878 Seventeenth street, employed as a 
lineman for the Penn Central Light and Power company, was electrocuted 
at 4.35 o'clock yesterday afternoon at Nant-y-Glo, Cambria county, when 
he came in contact with a live wire while working with a Penn Central 
line gang. Death was instantaneous, 2,300 electric volts having passed 
through his body.
  Mr. Hampsher left this city on Tuesday morning with the party of Penn 
Central linemen for Nant-y-Glo where they were to spend two days in 
making repairs to the electric lines in the vicinity of that town. Just 
in what manner the victim received the fatal shock is not known other 
than he touched a wire which carried a 2,300 volt charge. Strenuous 
efforts were made to revive him for some time after the accident by his 
fellow workmen but to no avail, a physician upon arrival pronouncing 
life extinct, stating that death was in all probability instant.
  Mr. Hampsher had been in the employ of the Penn Central for over nine 
years, serving them at one time for a seven-year period and this last 
time he had been in their employ for a little over two years. He was 
considered by the Penn Central people as one of their most efficient 
and capable employes. He first entered their employ in 1908, learning 
the lineman trade after which he remained in their employ until 1914.
  On April 12, 1914, he enlisted in the United States army, being made 
a member of Company F, Thirteenth infantry. He served for three years 
on reserve duty in the Philippines. When the country became engaged in 
the World war, his regiment was withdrawn from the Philippine Islands 
and brought back to this country, being stationed at Fort Slocum, N.Y., 
for quite some time. In August, 1918, his company was sent overseas. 
They were not engaged in active warfare, going across the waters just a 
short time previous to the signing of the armistice. He was honorably 
discharged from Camp Merritts during the spring of 1920, and at the 
time of his receiving his discharge he was classed as a sergeant.
  Joseph V. Hampsher was born at Waterstreet, Huntingdon county, on 
Feb. 18, 1888, the son of Calvin and Rebecca Hampsher. He received his 
early schooling in the vicinity of his birthplace. When a young man he 
came to this city, going into the employ of the Penn Central.
  He was united in marriage in this city on Dec. 10, 1920, to Mrs. 
Clara Kelley, who survives with the parents of Alexandria and the 
following sisters:  Mrs. Fred Moore of Huntingdon, Mrs. W. M. Keith of 
Alexandria, Mrs. Mary Furst of this city and Miss Sadie J. Hampsher of 
Alexandria. The following step-children also survive:  Harry Corbin of 
Dickerson Run, Fayette county; Mrs. Clarence Yon of Akron, O., and 
Joseph Corbin, at home.
  The victim's mother is confined at the present time in the Blair 
Memorial hospital, Huntingdon, on account of serious illness. News of 
the accident was told to her this forenoon and according to the reports 
received by local relatives from the hospital authorities, she was 
holding up well under the shock of the tragedy. The wife is suffering 
from the shock, being forced to take her bed this morning and is now 
under the care of the family physician.
  The remains, after being viewed by Coroner W. M. Swab of Cambria 
county, were turned over to a Nant-y-Glo undertaker to be prepared for 
burial. The body will be brought to this city, being expected to arrive 
here late this afternoon. Funeral Director Otto G. Gilden will take 
charge of the body upon its arrival here. It will be taken to the late 
home at 878 Seventeenth street this evening.
  The deceased was of the Methodist faith, attending a local 
congregation of that denomination for the past several years. He was a 
member of the Charles R. Rowan Post, No. 228, American Legion, the Odd 
Fellows and the Moose lodge of Indiana, Pa.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, September 21, 1922

MILITARY FUNERAL FOR J. V. HAMPSHER

  Members of the Charles R. Rowan post, No. 228, American Legion, will 
conduct a full military funeral on Sunday afternoon for their late 
comrade, Joseph V. Hampsher, a veteran of the World war and a lineman 
for the Penn Central who was electrocuted on Wednesday while working on 
Nant-y-Glo, Cambria county.
  The obsequies of the former soldier will be held Sunday afternoon 
from his late residence, 878 Seventeenth street, and the members of the 
local Legion post will turn out in full, wearing their uniforms. Rev. 
Charles C. Cole, pastor of the Juniata Fifteenth Street Methodist 
church, and chaplain of the local Legion, will conduct the services 
which will be held at 2.30 o'clock. Paul R. Kuhn will be in charge of 
the Legion delegation at the funeral.
  At the house the regular military service will be conducted and 
following this, the body will be conveyed on a gun caisson to Rose Hill 
cemetery for interment. At the graveside, the firing squad of the 
Legion will fire volleys over the grave of their deceased comrade and 
taps will be blown. Members of the Legion will act as pallbearers.
  Mr. Hampsher was well known throughout this city and was held in high 
esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. His untimely 
death came as a shock to these people.
  J. Emory Shute and J. Foster Cole, local Penn Central officials, went 
to the scene of where the electrocution took place yesterday morning 
and conducted an investigation into the death of Mr. Hampsher who was 
one of their most efficient and capable linemen.
  According to the facts gleaned from the workmen who were on the scene 
when the accident occurred, Mr. Hampsher was working alone on a pole, 
making an electric connection with a service line into a mine near 
Nant-y-Glo. In some manner unknown he came in contact with two live 
wires, both of his arms touching the highly charged lines.
  His screams attracted his fellow workmen, engaged nearby in their 
duties and extreme efforts were put forth to get the power shut off but 
death had ensued before the lines could be cut and the body let down. 
The body of the lineman was badly burned about both arms and several 
body burns also resulted from the terrible shock he received from the 
2,300 voltage wires. Mr. Hampsher had been employed by the Penn Central 
for over nine years as a lineman.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday, September 22, 1922