OBIT: Elias KEYES, 1891, Tyrone, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ TYRONE TOPICS. We are called upon to record one of those unexplainable accidents, sudden in its nature, wherein one of our prominent citizens has been called to his long home. Yesterday at 11.50 a.m. Elias Keyes flagman and switchman of the shifting crew, main Tyrone yard, while in the discharge of his duties, lost his life. Moonshine local was on its east-bound trip, engine No. 279, Daniel Wolfkill engineer, with some thirty-four cars for the branch roads and one car for the warehouse siding. In the effort to distribute, Mr. Keyes acted voluntarily as switchman, and was caught by the car which was being shifted to the warehouse siding. Mr. Keyes was always willing to lend assistance to his fellow workmen and to this volunteer service can be attributed his sudden taking away. His anxiety to protect or see to the safety of an old lady who was walking the track immediately ahead of the train may have attracted his attention. After being struck by the car and dragged some distance he was able to crawl from underneath the car, but soon became unconscious and was lifted by willing hands and placed upon a stretcher and taken to the surgical room at the station. But life had become extinct on the way. Coroner Michael Poet was notified of the accident and arrived at 2.30 on local accommodation and shortly after summoned the following jury of inquest: Dr. C. M. Ewing, foreman; Captain D. R. Miller, George W. Hull, James Ellenberger, John Oakwood and D. T. Caldwell, who being duly sworn, and after examining the body, and William Carey, brakeman, Albert Myers, switchman, and Calvin Sheely, fireman, all of Altoona, and part of the crew of the "Moonshine" local, rendered the following verdict: "Death was caused by being caught and crushed by a car while in the discharge of his duty as flagman in the Tyrone yard, and no blame is attached to anyone, and it is the belief of the jury that for the time being the deceased, owing to other injuries received while a soldier in the army, had lost presence of mind. The remains were taken in charge by a committee of post No. 172, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a member, who will have charge of the funeral service. Mr. Keyes leaves to mourn their great loss his wife and eight children and three sisters and four brothers. He was united in marriage to Miss Laura Lavina Calderwood, daughter of Benjamin J. Calderwood, of Ironsville, by Rev. John H. Clarke, D.D., September 10, 1868. He was born in Clearfield county May 3, 1844, and during the war of the rebellion became a member of company D, Fifty-third regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, in which regiment he served from September 19, 1861, to January 10, 1862, when he was discharged on account of disability. On January 2, 1864, he re- enlisted in company D, Fourth battalion Ohio veteran volunteers, and remained in the service until June, 1865. During his service he received a bullet wound in his head which gave him great trouble and for which he was pensioned. Mr. Keyes was one of our leading and popular citizens. Aside from his membership in the Grand Army he was also a member of the Friendship hook and ladder company and a member of the Pennsylvania Railroad Relief association. The funeral service will be held on Friday, hour not yet named. Interment in Tyrone cemetery. Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, January 29, 1891 TYRONE TOPICS. The funeral service of Elias Keyes, who was killed in the main yard of the Pennsylvania railroad at this place on Wednesday at noon, took place in the First Presbyterian church, on Logan and Clearfield street, at 2.30 p.m., conducted by Rev. J. R. Davies, and was largely attended. Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, January 31, 1891 1880 Tyrone, Blair County census - Elias Keys, 38 Laura Keys, 32 James Keys, 10 Edgar Keys, 5 Joseph Keys, 3