OBIT: Peter P. LASHER, 1919, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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Peter P. Lasher, War Veteran, Dies
Last Surviving Veteran of Old Portage Railroad and One of Oldest Pennsy 
Retired Employees Dead at Age of 83.

  Peter P. Lasher, a veteran of the Civil war and a retired employee of 
the Pennsylvania railroad, died at 5:40 o'clock last evening at the 
home of his son, David B. Lasher of 524 Second avenue, of diseases 
incident to old age. He was 83 years.
  Mr. Lasher was born in Bavaria, Germany on Sept. 27, 1837, the son of 
Joseph W. and Mary Elizabeth Lasher, both deceased, and came to this 
county with his parents when but three months old.  The trip across the 
Atlantic required the family six months to complete.
  The family first located in Huntingdon and later at Canoe Creek and 
[he] was a resident of Altoona for fifty-three years.
  He was a veteran of the Civil war, and served as a private in Company 
I, 137th regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 3rd brigade, 1st division, 
1st corps Army of the Potomac.  He participated in the engagements at 
South Mountain, Antietam, guard duty at Dam No. 4, Potomac river, 
pursued Stuart's cavalry in Pennsylvania, did guard duty at Aquia 
creek, Va., and guarded the landing and railroad leading to Frederick 
City, Va.  He also participated in the battle of Chancellorsville.
  He was honorably discharged at Harrisburg on May 18, 1863.
  He started his Pennsy employment as a fireman on the Old Portage 
railroad and fired the small engines, nicknamed "coffee grinders."  He 
worked on the road for seven years, from the age of 16 to 23 years.  He 
was one of the last surviving employees of the old road.
  In the fall of 1864 he secured a position as brakeman on the 
Pittsburgh division and in the following spring was appointed a 
fireman, being thus employed until 1869 when he became an engineer.  He 
left the Pittsburgh division in 1873, and entered the Pennsy shops in 
Altoona, going to the Twelfth street wheel foundry where he was located 
for twenty-three years. Later he was a watchman on the Twelfth street 
bridge gate and retired from that position twelve years ago.  He was 
one of the company's oldest employees and served forty-five years.
  His wife preceded him to the grave thirty-seven years ago.  The 
following children survive:  Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Watchter of McVeytown. 
David B., Mrs. Marie Anna Logan, Joseph W., all of Altoona, Charles A. 
of Juniata, and thirty-five grandchildren and eleven great 
grandchildren.  He was the last of a family of eight boys.
  He was a former member of the S. C. Potts post, No. 62, G.A.R., and a 
member of the Pennsy Veterans association and the St. Mary's Catholic 
church.
  The funeral will be held from the residence of the son, David B. of 
524 Second avenue, on Thursday morning, the cortege leaving the house 
at 8:30 with requiem mass at St. Mary's Catholic church at 9 o'clock.  
Interment will be made in St. Mary's cemetery.  Relatives and friends 
are asked to please omit flowers.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, July 29, 1919

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