OBIT: Bradley Hartman HOKE, 1945, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

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

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BRADLEY HARTMAN HOKE

Death Ends Useful Career of Beloved Physician
Dr. Bradley H. Hoke Reached Journey's End in Cumberland Hospital

  Dr. Bradley Hartman Hoke, widely known physician and beloved citizen of 
Meyersdale, passed away Wednesday evening at 7:10 in the Memorial Hospital, 
Cumberland, Md., where he had been a patient for about 20 days.  His death was 
caused by uremia.
  Although Dr. Hoke had curtailed his practice of medicine on account of failing 
health several years ago, he was again quite active during the war period, 
having assumed the office practice of his son, Dr. B. H. Hoke, Jr., of 
Salisbury, while the latter is serving in the Army Medical Corps., and also 
increased his home practice due to the local doctor shortage.  Several times 
since the first of the year, however, he suffered severe illness, necessitating 
a surgical operation about six months ago, and several sojourns in the hospital 
for treatments.  His last stay in the hospital was prolonged, but his condition 
was showing improvement and his son Robert, expected to bring his father home on 
Wednesday. However, a change for the worse came Wednesday morning and he passed 
away suddenly in the evening.

Gave Up Bookkeeping to Become Doctor of Medicine

  Dr. Hoke was born Dec. 8, 1871, in Frederick, Md., the son of Samuel and Sarah 
(Hartman) Hoke, and was aged 73 years, 8 months and 14 days at his death.  His 
early years were spent on his father's farm near Frederick, and he attended the 
district school.  Later he went to the Frederick Academy, where he decided he 
wanted to be a bookkeeper.  He then enrolled in Eaton & Burnett's Business 
College, Baltimore, receiving the school's diploma in 1892 at the age of 21.  
Returning to Frederick he got employment as a bookkeeper with a local business 
house.  In June, 1893, he married Alice Margaret LaMar.  His father had always 
wanted him to become a doctor, and finally, after he was the father of two sons, 
he took up the study of medicine in 1897, in the Hahnemann Medical College, 
Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1901 at the age of 31.

Medic in World War I

  He practiced his profession in his native county for about seven years, then 
went to Coalport, Clearfield Co., Pa., where he remained until the United States 
entered the first World War, when he enlisted in the Army Medical Corps as a 
first lieutenant.  He served at Camp Severe, S.C., Camp Laurel, Md., Camp 
Eustis, Va., and Camp Upton, N.Y., where he was mustered out, after having been 
promoted to the rank of captain.
  Following the patriotic example of their father, Dr. Hoke's two oldest sons, 
just barely of military age, followed him into military service, the oldest, 
Edward LaMar giving up a scholarship in St. John's Military Academy, to go with 
the A.E.F., 38th Division, as a musician.  Bradley H. Jr., enlisted in the Navy.  
At the same time their sister, Sarah Elizabeth, went to Washington to work for 
Uncle Sam in the Bureau of Aircraft production.
  Dr. and Mrs. Hoke were blessed with five children, the two in addition to the 
above mentioned being Dr. Samuel Erle Hoke, who is head of the medical division 
of the American Viscose Corporation, at Meadville, Pa., and Robert I. Hoke, 
proprietor of the Salisbury Electric Company.  The oldest son, Edward LaMar, is 
a professor at Edison, O., and Elizabeth is head of the disbursement department 
of the Internal Revenue Division in Washington.

In Meyersdale Since 1919

  In April, 1919, Dr. Hoke bought out the practice of Dr. Edward Hemminger in 
Meyersdale and continued to make Meyersdale his home for the rest of his life.  
He and his wife took an active part in church and community affairs.  Mrs. Hoke 
passed away about three years ago.  Dr. Hoke was a member of Amity Evangelical 
and Reformed Church, was a member of Charles E. Kelly, American Legion Post, and 
of the Somerset County Medical Association, which he served as secretary for the 
past fifteen years.  He also belonged to the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
  Always a lover of growing things, Dr. Hoke started the planting of evergreens 
on a strip of ground just north of Salisbury borough, which developed into the 
Elk Lick Nursery, of which he remained co-owner.  Dr. Hoke was generous in 
donating trees to public places.

Friendly Personality

  Dr. Hoke's friendly personality, his quiet good humor, and his interest in 
many things made for him a wide circle of friends in the Meyersdale and 
Salisbury communities and elsewhere.
  Besides his children he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Mattie Dunick, York, 
Pa., and Mrs. Wilmer Plummer, Hanover, Pa., and by 10 grandchildren and one 
great-grandchild.  Three grandsons are in the Armed Forces at the present time.
  Funeral services will be conducted at his home on Main Street at 10:30 
Saturday morning, Rev. Ira S. Monn of the Salisbury Reformed Church officiating.  
Interment will be made in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, Md., where his pastor, 
Rev. Nelson C. Brown of the Meyersdale Reformed Church, will officiate.  Funeral 
arrangements are in charge of Stanley Thomas of Salisbury.

Meyersdale Republican, August 23, 1945