OBIT: James Watson KEPHART, 1918, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA

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JAS. W. KEPHART KILLED DURING FIGHT, SEPT. 23
Popular Hollidaysburg Druggist Makes Supreme Sacrifice On 
Battlefield in France - Wife Survives

  Private James Watson Kephart, one of the best known and most popular 
young men in Hollidaysburg, was killed in action on Sept. 23, according 
to a telegram received last night by his wife, from Acting Adjutant 
General Harris, of the war department.  The report to the war 
department is official, according to the message.
  Private Kephart, who before leaving with a contingent of draftees, 
was manager of State Senator Plymouth W. Snyder's drug store, 
Hollidaysburg, was a graduate of the county seat High school, and of 
the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.

LEFT EARLY IN YEAR

  The young man left with draftees early this year and after brief 
preliminary training at a southern camp was sent to France to complete 
this work, being sent to the front within a short time.  Despite his 
training as a pharmacist, Dr. Kephart preferred to enter the infantry 
in which branch of the service he fought on the western front for 
several times.
  No information, other than the date, was contained in the message, 
but it is thought that he met death during the marvelous drive that 
General Pershing led against the Huns in the drive that flatted out the 
St. Mihiel salient.

BORN IN HOLLIDAYSBURG

  Private James Watson Kephart was born at Hollidaysburg about 27 years 
ago, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Kephart.  His father was killed on 
Jan. 21, 1895, when the Hollidaysburg Iron and Nail factory blew up.
  When a mere boy, he worked in a soda fountain and gradually learned 
the business and after graduating from the Hollidaysburg High school, 
worked his way through the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, being 
graduated there in 1916.  He returned to his home, and entered the drug 
store of Senator Snyder as manager, which occupation he followed until 
called to the army.

MARRIED SHORT TIME

  Just a short time previous to his leaving for the service, the young 
man was married to a niece of Mrs. John Katzmaier and when her husband 
left for the army, she removed to the Katzmaier home at Ant Hills.
  The young soldier, who lived at 1405 Allegheny street, Hollidaysburg, 
and he is survived by his mother and a brother, John, residing in 
Johnstown.

Altoona Times, Friday Morning, October 11, 1918