OBIT: Ludwig KIEFER, 1918, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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LUDWIG KIEFER IS CALLED BY DEATH
Ex-City Official and Retired Shop Foreman Succumbs to Pneumonia Last 
Night

  Ludwig Kiefer, ex-city official, retired Pennsylvania Railroad 
company shop foreman and one of the city's most influential citizens, 
died at his home, 1434 Thirteenth avenue, at 11 o'clock last night, of 
pneumonia.  He had been in poor health for the past couple of years and 
on January 2 his condition became such that he was compelled to take 
his bed.  On Monday he was taken with pneumonia and gradually grew 
worse until he passed into the great beyond, after a long life of 
usefulness in this community.  The news of his demise will be received 
with regret by his extensive acquaintanceship in the city.
  Ludwig Kiefer was born in Baden, Germany, on August 11, 1833 and in 
1850, when just a young man, he came to America and settled in York, 
where he remained for a short time and then removed to Carlisle.  He 
came to Altoona in 1861 and entered the service of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad company as a machinist.  He was a first class mechanic and 
this was soon recognized by his superiors and brought him promotion.  
He was later made foreman of the vice shop of the Altoona machine shops 
and this position he held for a period of thirty-eight years.  He was 
retired from the service at the age of 70 years on September 1, 1903, 
after having completed forty-two years of service.  His retirement was 
an event in which the entire shop force participated at his home 
together with various foreman and hundreds of friends.  Since then he 
had lived a retired life.
  Mr. Kiefer was in his earlier days a man that was greatly interested 
in the civic affairs of the city.  He was prominent in building and 
loan association and though [sic] his advice many shopmen now own their 
own homes and have prospered.  He was influential with his force of 
workers in the shops as well as with hundreds of others and by them was 
respected and esteemed.  He took an interest in the upbuilding of the 
city, was a member of the board of water commissioners that built the 
Kittanning Point reservoir and superintended its construction on the 
part of the city.  He never aspired to political office but was chosen 
by the people of the Third ward to represent them in common council 
during the years of 1883 and 1884.
  He was quiet, unassuming and a home-loving man, one devoted to his 
family.  He was esteemed and respected by all who shared his 
acquaintance, and among the older residents that were friends with him 
he was an advisor to many.  He set many young men on their journey 
through life by securing for them the opportunity to learn the 
machinist's trade.
  He was a member of the First Presbyterian church and had no other 
affiliation with the exception of the years during his active shop 
career when he was a member of the Foremen's association of the machine 
shop. He was united in marriage on January 25, 1856, at Carlisle, to 
Miss Mary Spangenberg, who preceded him to the grave in 1887.  He is 
survived by these children: W. H., of Florence, N.J.; Dr. H. E., of 
Quincy, Ill.; L. F., C. J., Mrs. Arthur E, Winter and Mrs. Thaddeus 
Wetzler, all of this city.  The funeral will be private and will take 
place Saturday afternoon, services to be conducted at the house at 2 
o'clock.  Interment in Fairview cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 1, 1918, page 10