OBIT: Daniel DAHL, 1931, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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DANIEL DAHL

  Daniel Dahl, a well known and highly respected citizen of Meyersdale, suddenly 
passed away at his home on Olinger Street, last Thursday night, his death being 
caused by a stroke of apoplexy.
  Mr. Dahl lived alone, but frequently some of his grandchildren stayed with 
him.  On this evening two of the Raymond boys were with their grandfather until 
after ten o'clock, when he sent them home and retired for the night.  Apparently 
a short time after that he got up, turned on the lights, and was then overcome 
by the stroke and fell headlong down the stairs.   His next door neighbor, Mrs. 
Richard Kemp, noticed the lights in the house about eleven o'clock, and upon 
looking through the window, could see his prostrate figure on the steps.  Mr. 
and Mrs. Kemp then aroused the Raymonds, who live across the street, and with 
the help of Mike Zipfel, who at some previous time roomed in Mr. Dahl's home, 
and still possessed a latch key, they entered and found that the old gentleman 
had expired, probably when he fell.
  He had been in fairly good health for some time, and the very day of his death 
was seen about town in his usual cheerful and genial mood.  Consequently, his 
sudden demise was a shock to his relatives and friends.
  Daniel Dahl was born in Strasburg, Germany, in 1859, and died August 27, 1931, 
at the age of 72 years, 3 months.  He came to this country with his father at 
the age of 12, after the death of his mother during a typhoid epidemic following 
the siege of the city of Strasburg in 1871.  They came to Baltimore and then to 
Cumberland, where in 1881 he married Catherine Rohman.   Daniel and his wife 
then came to Northampton Township, to the Joseph Earl farm, where they lived for 
two years, then moved back to Cumberland.  In 1888 they moved to Meyersdale and 
made their permanent home.  His occupation varied as the years went by.  He 
started as a trackman on the railroad, worked at the coke ovens at Shaw Mines, 
was a miner, went into the baking business for a few years, and conducted a 
restaurant.  He prospered, but a number of years ago went on the notes of 
friends and lost most of the capital he had accumulated.  In recent years he 
retired from active business, but remained a worker, for some time, assisting 
his son, Will, in his bakery, and more recently helping his sons, John and 
Charles, in conducting their pool room.
  About 12 years ago his wife passed away after the couple had spent many happy 
and congenial years together.  The following children were born to them:  Will 
L., John J., Ida (Mrs. Fred Raymond), and Charles, all living in Meyersdale, 
Casper, who died at the age of 4, Alfred, residing in North Yakima, Wash., and 
Clarence J. of Wilkinsburg.  After the death of his wife, Mr. Dahl broke up his 
home and lived in the homes of his children in Meyersdale until about five years 
ago, when he built himself a cozy cottage on Olinger Street, where he lived 
until his death.
  Besides the children above named, he is survived by eighteen grandchildren and 
four great-grandchildren, by two sisters, Mrs. Kate Stickel, Mill Run, Pa., and 
Mrs. Phinia Cole, Leisenring, Pa., and also by one brother, Philip Dahl, living 
in California.
  To give time for his son Alfred to make the trip from the state of Washington, 
the funeral was not held until Tuesday morning at nine o'clock, when high mass 
was conducted by Rev. Father Brady in Sts. Philip and James Church.  Joe F. 
Reich was in charge of the funeral.  There was a large gathering of sorrowing 
relatives and friends at the church.  The respect and esteem in which he was 
held was indicated by the great profusion of floral tributes which surrounded 
his coffin.
  An especially beautiful tribute paid to the departed one was the singing of a 
benediction by twelve young seminarians of the Capuchin Order of Monks who are 
in retreat at a country place owned by that order near Salisbury.  These young 
men sang at the Sunday evening services at Sts. Philip and James Church, after 
which they repaired to Mr. Dahl's home, where the body lay in state, and gave a 
beautiful rendition of the benedictiion from the Gregorian Chant.

Meyersdale Republican, September 3, 1931