OBIT: Mrs. Robert WALLS, 1891, Frankstown, Blair County, PA

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HOLLIDAYSBURG HAPPENINGS.

  A very distressing case of sickness and death occurred in an 
unfortunate family, residing southeast of Mentzer's mill, in Frankstown 
township.  The wife of Robert Walls, after an illness of ten days or 
two weeks with typhoid fever, died on Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock.  
Besides the helpless husband, the family were crowded into a small, 
one-room cabin, comprised eight children, the oldest of whom, a girl, 
is aged 13 years, and the youngest 10 months.  During the wife's 
illness the husband, who supported himself and family by wood chopping 
and day's labor, could do no work as he was obliged to be in constant 
attendance on the suffering woman.  Owing to the nature of the disease 
and a superstitious notion concerning it, no one would venture inside 
the house to render any assistance.  The family was in the most abject 
poverty, the little ones having scarcely clothing sufficient to hide 
their nakedness.  After death the mother lay in the rude bed in which 
she died, with the babe at her side, until the next morning.  The cook 
stove was near the bed and from the heat decomposition soon took place.  
This was the condition of affairs when Mr. William Smith, a near 
neighbor, his son and other neighbors came to the rescue.  The procured 
clothing, provisions and other necessaries for the suffering little 
ones.  The remains received proper attention, a coffin was procured, 
and the burial took place yesterday afternoon.  The attention of the 
authorities was called to this case some days ago and Director of the 
Poor A. J. McKee did what he could to alleviate the wants and 
distresses of this unfortunate and suffering family.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, January 27, 1891

Possibly:
1880 Frankstown Township, Blair County census -
Robt. Walls, 49, fence builder  
Amanda Jo Walls, 33  
Charles B. Walls, 3 
But death date does not accord with:
Blair County Genealogical Society, Archie Claar Cemetery Inscriptions, 
Vol. 3 - Geeseytown: Walls, Amanda J., w/o Robert, 8/12/1847-9/5/1894