OBIT: Thomas McCAULEY, 1880, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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DEATH OF THOMAS McCAULEY.
End of a Busy Life - An Old Resident of Altoona Passes Away After 
Intense Suffering.  The Funeral Obsequies To-day.

  Mr. Thomas McCauley died at four o'clock yesterday morning at his 
residence, Twenty-fifth street and the Plank Road, in the Sixth ward, 
after intense suffering from cancer on the lower lip.  Deceased was 
born of humble parentage on the 14th day of November, 1824, within two 
miles of Newry, Blair county, and at the time of his death was aged 55 
years, 5 months and 12 days.  When a boy he was apprenticed to the 
trade of house carpentering with Mr. Daniel K. Ramey, of Hollidaysburg, 
and was married to Miss Ann Ramey, a sister of the gentleman named, and 
of David K. and Solomon Ramey, of this city, on the 24th of February, 
1848.  During the period of his apprenticeship he assisted in building 
the old Blair county court house, which was torn down a few years ago 
to make room for the present magnificent Temple of Justice.  In the 
month of June, 1852, he took up his residence in Altoona, and until the 
year 1858 was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the 
capacity of assistant foreman in the carpenter shop, of which Mr. 
Thomas Burchinell, Sr., was foreman.  In 1853-54 he was the foreman in 
charge of the building of the Logan House.  In 1859 he removed to 
Tipton, this county, and for a period of two years was engaged in the 
planing mill business as a partner of Mr. Burchinell.  Returning to 
Altoona he built a steam planing mill at the eastern limit of the town, 
which was afterward burned down.  It was immediately rebuilt, and 
during the war had a large contract for the manufacture of government 
wagons for army use when it again took fire and was totally destroyed, 
a number of the army wagons being burned with it.  It was rebuilt for 
the third time for a firm known as the Reed's, and afterward passed 
into the possession of Mr. D. K. Ramey.  Although considerable 
improvements have been made thereto, the old building still stands at 
the corner of Green avenue and Eighth street, in the First ward, and is 
now operated by Mr. Louis Plack.  Mr. McCauley afterward engaged 
extensively in the saw mill and lumber business in the vicinity of 
Sandy Ridge, Centre county, and later became associated with Mr. D. K. 
Ramey in the same business at Sterling and Osceola, in Clearfield 
county.  Subsequent to the panic of 1873, when so many business houses 
were tottering and tumbling to pieces, Mr. McCauley's extensive 
interests became seriously embarrassed, yet his indomitable pluck and 
energy were safely carrying him through all his troubles when he was 
stricken down with a cancerous affection.  His disease made its first 
appearance in June, 1878, and latterly has been of the most malignant 
type.  As before stated he was first attacked on the lower lip, chin 
and part of the neck until nearly all have been eaten away.  From his 
terrible sufferings he could obtain no relief, although the best 
medical skill was brought into requisition to check the ravages of the 
crab-like and livid tumor.  Twice he visited the State of Ohio, seeking 
relief from the malady, yet without avail.  Since last December he has 
been confined to his bed the greater portion of the time, and for the 
past two months constantly.  From his boyhood up Mr. McCauley was 
possessed of unlimited energy and enterprise, and was a good citizen 
and kind neighbor.  From the time that he first made Altoona his home 
he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church until the organization 
of the Second church, since which time he has been a faithful and 
consistent member of the latter, and always gave liberally of his means 
for the advancement of Christian measures and charitable objects.  He 
was ever interested in the growth and prosperity of Altoona, and was a 
member and treasurer of the first, second and third Borough Councils.  
In politics he was a Republican.  He was a stockholder of the Altoona 
Iron Company, whose works will remain closed to-day out of respect for 
his memory.  His wife and four children - three sons and a daughter - 
are left to mourn their loss.  At two o'clock this afternoon funeral 
services will be conducted at his late residence by Rev. S. W. 
Duffield, after which the remains will be conveyed to Fairview cemetery 
for interment.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday, April 26, 1880