OBIT: James KERLIN, 1891, Altoona, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Jessica Orr
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_________________________________________ 

Local Brevities.

  At twenty minutes of 10 o'clock last night, James Kerlin, a respected 
resident of Altoona, died at his home, 1213 Fourth avenue, after a 
lingering illness.  The funeral announcement will appear to-morrow 
morning.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday, March 30, 1891

JAMES KERLIN.
Death of an Old Citizen Late Sunday Evening.

  Yesterday morning the TRIBUNE contained a brief announcement of the 
death, at half-past 9 o'clock Sunday night, of James Kerlin, of 1213 
Fourth avenue.  For the past six years Mr. Kerlin had been an invalid, 
in 1886 having been confined to his bed four months from congestion of 
the lungs.  He never fully recovered from this, and had made his home 
with his daughter, Miss Lizzie Kerlin, since he became an invalid.  For 
some months past he had been gradually failing from general debility 
incident to old age, but his sickness did not cause alarm among his 
relatives and friends until ten days ago, when he suddenly became worse 
and continued to sink rapidly until death ensued at the time above 
stated.  Though at the time of his demise he was not a church member, 
and had not been for a number of years, he was a thorough Christian.  
His sufferings throughout his long illness, which dated from New Year's 
Day, were borne with the patient, Christian fortitude that 
characterizes the true believer, and when the final summons came he was 
amply prepared to answer.  Though the end had been anticipated for some 
time, his death was a great shock to his immediate relatives, and 
nothing but expressions of sorrow were heard from his large circle of 
friends and acquaintances.
  Deceased was born in Juniata county May 29th, 1825, and on the day of 
his death was aged 65 years, 9 months and twenty-nine days.  On January 
25, 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Work, at East 
Waterford, Juniata county.  From East Waterford he moved to Patterson, 
the same county, where he was employed by the company as a blacksmith 
in the shops at that place.  In 1869 he was transferred to this city, 
and in 1874 brought his family here, and ever since he had been a 
resident.  He was one of the oldest employes of the company, having 
been in its service for thirty-three years continuously.  When the road 
was building he superintended the grading of several miles of the track 
between Johnstown and Pittsburgh, and was tool dresser for the workmen 
between Huntingdon and Harrisburg when the road was being built between 
those two points.  He was ever a faithful employe and during his long 
term of service had the highest respect of his fellow workmen, and his 
faithfulness to duty gained him the confidence and respect of his 
employers.  On May 25, 1884, Mrs. Kerlin died, since which time he made 
his home with his daughter Lizzie, who devoted every energy to nurse 
her father back to health during his protracted illness, but despite 
her efforts and skillful medical attention, nothing could be done to 
prolong his life.  He leaves to mourn their loss three children, Miss 
Lizzie and Cloyd Kerlin, and Mrs. John H. Westley, all of this city.  
Besides there, four brothers and three sisters survive.  They are, O. 
M. Kerlin, William Kerlin, Mrs. Elizabeth Yeager and Mrs. Hiram 
McDonald, all of whom reside in Juniata county; Samuel Kerlin, of 
Cumberland county; Mrs. Isaac Varner of Peoria, Illinois, and John 
Kerlin of this city.
  The funeral will take place from the late residence to-morrow 
afternoon.  Services will be conducted at the house at 2 o'clock by 
Rev. H. R. Bender, D.D., of the Eighth Avenue Methodist Episcopal 
church and at the conclusion the cortege will proceed to Oak Ridge 
cemetery where the interment will be made.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, March 31, 1891