OBIT: Ezra DEAL, 1930, native of Somerset County, PA 
  
  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
  Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.
  
  Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
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  EZRA DEAL
  
  Ezra Deal Dies Very Suddenly
  
  Succumbs to Heart Attack in Easy Chair in His Home at LaVale, Md.
  
    Ezra Deal, one of the most prominent businessmen of Cumberland, Md., died 
  suddenly at his home in LaVale last Sunday afternoon.  After eating his Sunday 
  dinner he was spending the afternoon quietly in his home.  About the middle of 
  the afternoon he went to the basement to attend to the furnace of his heating 
  plant.  Returning to the living room he took a newspaper and settled himself in 
  an easy chair to read, and seemed to fall into a dose.  His wife noticed that he 
  did not seem to be resting comfortably, got a pillow to place under his head, 
  but on trying to raise his head, she discovered that life had departed from his 
  body.  The Cumberland Daily News gave the following account of his death:
  
  Heart Trouble
  
    Mr. Deal was dead when Dr. H. V. Deming, who lives nearby, arrived at the 
  home.  Dr. Deming gave heart trouble as the cause of death.  Mr. Deal had been 
  slightly indisposed in recent days, but did not appear to be ill, members of his 
  family said.  He attended the morning service at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and 
  had eaten a hearty dinner before going to his arm-chair for a short nap.
    Mrs. Deal, who was in the next room, heard peculiar noises, as though her 
  husband was strangling.  She ran to him, and found him attempting to speak and 
  making feeble efforts to rise.  Mrs. Deal summoned Dr. Deming, but Mr. Deal 
  expired within a few moments, before the physician arrived.
  
  Planned Trip to Florida
  
    Mr. Deal had planned to leave for Florida on Monday with his wife and 
  daughter, Mrs. Frederick Bretz, of Philadelphia.  Mrs. Bretz arrived at 7 
  o'clock Sunday evening unaware of her father's sudden death.
    Besides his widow, who was Miss Alice Smith, he is survived by one son, George 
  L. Deal, at home; a daughter, Mrs. Bretz, four brothers, Calvin E. and Daniel 
  Deal, of Cumberland; Levi Deal, of Grove City, Pa., and Simon Deal, of Elkins, 
  W.Va., and by six sisters, Mrs. E. E. Conrad, Mrs. J. M. Cook and Miss Agnes 
  Deal, of Meyersdale; Mrs. W. H. Reiber, of Confluence; Mrs. E. J. Boyles, of 
  Wilkinsburg, and Mrs. D. P. Ford, of Cumberland.
  
  Engaged in Many Enterprises
  
    Mr. Deal was a deacon and an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of 
  Cumberland.  He was the founder of the Deal Brothers Milling Company and was one 
  of the leading real estate dealers in Cumberland.  He was part owner of the 
  Ford-Deal Apartments, Glenn Street, and owned a number of houses and other real 
  estate in and near the city.  Mr. Deal maintained offices at 202 Glenn Street 
  and was identified with a number of local realtors, including the Deal, Hitchins 
  & Deal Company and several other firms.  His varied business interests made him 
  one of the best known citizens of Cumberland and he was held in the highest 
  esteem, being a man of unquestionable integrity and fine business acumen.
  
  Successful Businessman
  
    Ezra Deal started his business career in Cumberland nearly forty years ago.  
  His most prominent connection was with the Deal Brothers Milling Company.  He 
  also was connected years ago with the Deal Bros. Coal Company, of Buckhannon, 
  W.Va., and a member of the Deal & Deal Lumber Co., of Cumberland.
    He was born, September 17, 1857, on a farm in Somerset County, Pa., at the 
  place now known as Deal Station, on the Western Maryland Railway.  He came from 
  an old Pennsylvania family, his grandfather, Jacob Deal, having also been born 
  in Somerset County where the Deals long ranked with the most substantial element 
  in industry and citizenship.  Jacob Deal was a farmer and sawmill owner.
    Erza Deal was a son of Edwin Deal, for many years one of the best known 
  farmers, millwrights and millers of Somerset County.  His mother was Miss Nancy 
  Lepley, before her marriage.  The father lived to the age of 87 years, the 
  mother died at the age of 76 years.
    Erza Deal was reared at Deal Station.  He was educated in the public schools, 
  following which he assisted his father on the farm and at the mills, later 
  becoming interested in a milling business at Cook's Mills in Bedford County, 
  Pa., as a member of the firm of Deal Bros.  In 1896 while still operating the 
  Cook's Mills plant, he and his brother, Daniel, established another in 
  Cumberland, later the Deal Bros. Milling Company, Inc., the incorporation being 
  effected in January, 1919, with Erza Deal as its first president.
    In 1894, Ezra Deal was married to Miss Alice Smith, of Cumberland, daughter of 
  Robert Smith, who was for many years chief engineer of the Cumberland Electric 
  Light Company. 
    Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the home, with Rev. Dr. H. 
  T. Bowersox, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, officiating.  Interment was 
  in Rose Hill Cemetery.  
    The pallbearers were:  Honorary - Austin A. Wilson, William L. Sperry, Charles 
  E. Metz, Jr., Harry A. Pitzer, David F. Kuykendall, Alexander R. Buchanan, 
  Patrick Conray and Thomas B. Lashley; Active - Owen E. Hitchins, W. M. Hammon, 
  Merwin R. Hast, George W. Martin, Clarence W. Brotemarkle, Benjamin R. North, 
  Russell Saum and Harvey L. Rizer.
    The funeral was largely attended and the floral tributes were beautiful and 
  many.
  
  Meyersdale Republican, January 16, 1930