OBIT: John S. HOOVER, 1903, of Altoona, Blair County, PA

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ENGINEER KILLED.

John S. Hoover, Well-Known Resident of the City and a Passenger 
Engineer on the Pittsburg Division, Met Sudden Death.

  Mr. John S. Hoover, a prominent resident of the Fourth ward, living 
at 1424 Seventh avenue, a well-known passenger engineer on the 
Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania railroad, was almost instantly 
killed near Braddock at 5.15 yesterday morning.
  When he met his death, Mr. Hoover was hauling the first section of 
train No. 7, which leaves the city at 2.25 a.m., and, while passing 
signal bridge No. 18, just east of Braddock, he was struck on the head 
by one of the supports and had his skull crushed in.  He died while 
being taken to the West Penn hospital.
  When the train was running into Braddock, Fireman M. L. Monohan 
noticed that something was wrong with the engineer.  He went to the 
other side of the cab and found Mr. Hoover with his head and arm 
hanging out of the window and apparently dead.  The fireman then 
stopped the train just as it reached the station at Braddock.
  When the accident occurred Engineer Hoover was evidently leaning far 
out of the cab, as the signal bridges are far enough away from the 
tracks to permit a few along the side of the train.  He had the 
reputation of being one of the fastest and most careful runners on the 
Pittsburg division.
  The deceased was born in Morrison's cove and was aged 50 years.  He 
was for many years a baggage master on the Martinsburg branch.  He 
entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad company thirty years 
ago as a fireman.  He had been an engineer for over twenty years.  He 
was generally regarded as an able engineer and for a number of years 
has been hauling passenger trains.  He had lived in Altoona for twenty-
three years.  He was wedded to Margaret Elizabeth Rough, formerly of 
McKee's Gap, at Newport, Ky., about thirty years since. His wife 
survives, as does also one son, Homer, of Cresson.  His aged father is 
living at Henrietta, and these brothers and sisters are left to mourn 
their loss: Howard, of Altoona; Harry, of Chicago; Mrs. T. H. 
Nicewonger, and Mrs. E. C. Irwin, of Altoona; Mrs. W. E. Finney, of 
Oregon; Mrs. Burke Wagner and Misses Mary and Annetta, of Henrietta, 
and Miss Clara, of Jamestown, O.
  Deceased was one of the leading members of the Eighth Avenue 
Methodist Episcopal church and was for years prominent in church work.  
He was one of the leaders of the Pennsylvania Railroad Young Men's 
Christian association work in the city and some years ago served as 
president of the association.
  The remains were brought to the city last night on eastern express 
and removed to his late home, where funeral services will be held at 
2.30 tomorrow afternoon, to be conducted by the Rev. George Murray 
Klepfer, pastor of the Eighth Avenue Methodist Episcopal church.  
Interment will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery.

Altoona Times, Tuesday, July 14, 1903