OBIT: Frank X. HEIRGEST, 1899, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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FIRST VICTIM OF SMALL-POX.
Frank X. Heirgest Died of the Disease Last Evening at 4.50 O'clock.

  The first victim of the mild plague of small-pox with which the 
health authorities of this city have been contending for several months 
succumbed to the dread disease last evening.  Frank X. Heirgest died at 
his home, 1607 Eighth avenue, at 4.50 o'clock, and the cause of death 
was small-pox.  Up until last Monday it was supposed that he and 
several other members of  the family were afflicted with chicken-pox 
and a contagious disease sign was placed on the house.  On Monday, 
however, this sign was taken down and the small-pox placard put up.  As 
the family had all the facilities for observing the quarantine 
regulations the board of health decided it would be best not to send 
the patients to the city hospital at the Cresswell farm.
  The deceased was the son of George and Annie Heirgest, and was born 
in Altoona, March 13, 1875.  Besides his parents he is survived by one 
sister, Annie, and two brothers, John and George, all at home.  Frank 
was an employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad company and was an 
industrious and thoroughly reliable young man.  He was engaged to be 
married and the wedding was to have taken place within the present 
month.  He was a member of St. Mary's German Catholic church.
  The remains will be buried in St. Mary's cemetery at 10.30 a.m. to-
day.  The funeral, of course, will be strictly private.
  Health Officer Miller says that the Heirgest family have strictly 
observed the regulations in every detail, but the residents of the 
locality say that if the health rules have been observed these same 
regulations are not very strict, for it is alleged that members of the 
afflicted family have been seen repeatedly on the street.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Friday, July 21, 1899

Hiergeist, on St. Mary's tombstones.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/cemeteries/stmary-g-l.txt