OBIT:  d'Invilliers, C. S.; 1910; Cresson, Cambria Cnty., PA

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Cambria Freeman
Ebensburg, Pa.
Friday, 7 Jan 1910
Volume 44, Number 1


D'Invilliers Is Dead at Cresson 
Chief Engineer of Construction of PRR Succumbs to Pneumonia

Cresson, Jan. 6 -- C. S. d'Invilliers, Chief Engineer of Construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company's lines in western Pennsylvania, Burgess of Cresson, Vice President of the Cresson First 
National Bank and the instigator of many improvements in and about Cresson, died of pneumonia at 
his home near the Pennsylvania depot Sunday afternoon.  He took his bed only last Monday night.  
The progress of the disease was rapid, but he was conscious up until the moment of his death, 
thanking one of his daughters, a Sister at Mt. St. Aloysius Academy, for prayers offered a few 
minutes before he expired.  He was fifty-five years of age.  The remains were taken in a private car 
to Philadelphia for interment following services at 9 o'clock Tuesday in St. Francis Xavier's Catholic 
Church at this place.

C. S. d'Invilliers, whose parents were French, was born at Philadelphia, where he spent his early life 
and graduated at Polytechnic Institute of Pennsylvania.  His career with the PRR began in 1870 when 
he was made an assistant engineer, having in charge the construction of the low grade division of the 
Pennsylvania & Allegheny Railroad from Pittsburg to Buffalo. Four years later he was placed in charge 
of construction work on the Pittsburg Division, with headquarters in Pittsburg.  Then he was put in 
charge of the Philadelphia Division for a year.  Mr. d'Invilliers was one of the famous Collins 
Expedition that went to Brazil for the purpose of building the Maderia and Mamore Railroad.  On this 
expedition, Mr. d'Invilliers first was principal assistant to the chief engineer and later was made chief.

When the deceased returned to America in 1879 he again entered the service of the PRR and was 
placed in charge of the construction of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad from Frederick Road to 
Ellicott City. Later he was transferred to the western part of the State, looking after the building of 
the Conemaugh Division.  He was then placed in charge of all the lines in western Pennsylvania.

The deceased had lived in Cresson about seven years, moving here from Altoona.  He had been 
Burgess of the town for two years. He helped organize the Cresson Fire Company and was Bishop 
Garvey's chief advisor in the erection of the orphanage at the Summit and the new Catholic Church 
here.

Mr. d'Invilliers was married to Miss Mary Devitt of Philadelphia, who survives him.  Six children also 
survive:  Mrs. George W. Butts of Altoona; Marie, who is Sister Camille in the Sisters of Mercy, 
located at Mt. St. Aloysius Academy, Cresson; Camille [as appears in newspaper], student at the 
University of Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, Adelaide and Joseph, at home.