OBIT: Elbridge Coolbroth KYLE, 1932, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library. Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ ELBRIDGE C. KYLE Elbridge Coolbroth Kyle, son of the late Edgar and Ellen (Statler) Kyle, was born in Stoyestown, January 13, 1871; died in his home on Broadway, Meyersdale, October 16, 1932, aged 61 years, 9 months and 3 days. Most of his boyhood was spent in his native town. He came to Meyersdale 45 years ago with his parents and was a resident of this place most of the time ever since. During his young manhood he spent several years in Baltimore as a hotel clerk and learned the hotel business thoroughly. Later he returned to Meyersdale and became proprietor of the Colonial Hotel, which under his management for many years was one of the best hotels in Western Pennsylvania. In 1912 he retired from the hotel business. He disposed of his hotel property, first by lease and afterward by sale, but had to take it back again. It has been under different managements during the last two decades, but has never flourished as it did under his personal management. The hotel building still belonged to him at the time of his death and is now leased to the Grenoble Hotel Corporation. Mr. Kyle was unquestionably one of the very ablest businessmen Somerset County ever produced. He had varied interests, every one of which that he took an active part in managing, profited thereby. During his latter years he devoted much of his time and energy to the management of the Sand Spring Water Company, whose property was greatly expanded and improved under his direction. He was also a director of the Second National Bank which he aided greatly in building up to its present high standing. When the County Home and Hospital management was in such a deplorable condition some years ago that the State Board of Charities forced the resignation of two of the regularly elected Directors of the Poor, Mr. Kyle, on recommendation of many citizens of the county, was drafted by the Somerset County Court, along with John O. Ream, of Berlin, to fill the vacancies. Both were subsequently re-elected for a continuance in office, in which they remained long enough to reorganize and build up the institution until it ranked among the best in the State. On January 21, 1914, Mr. Kyle was united in marriage to Mrs. Elsie (Strayer) Reagan. Their marriage proved a very happy one. In January 1915, he united with Amity Reformed Church and became and remained one of its most loyal and liberal supporters. He took an active part in all welfare movements in Meyersdale and was always willing to serve in any good cause for the uplift or relief of suffering humanity. In politics he was a staunch Republican. He gave his aged parents the tenderest of care as members of his household until they passed away. He was also very helpful to his sisters and other relatives and many persons who had no claims on him by ties of blood. His father and mother, two sisters and his only brother, Bowman Kyle, preceded him to the spirit world. He is survived by his wife and three sisters, Mrs. Lucy Ritter of Boswell, Mrs. Marion Cover of Connellsville and Mrs. Edna Miller of Meyersdale. At about the age of 50, Mr. Kyle's health began to fail. He had serious arterial trouble. Medical specialists as much as ten years ago said he could count on but a few more months of life, and advised him to set his house in order as death was imminent. He set his house in order, but did not give up the struggle for life. Through his indomitable spirit and will he stood off the grim reaper, year after year, and feverishly devoted his energies to his business activities. He was at his office and around town attending to business affairs as late as last Thursday evening, although looking quite ill. On Thursday night he went to bed and did not again leave his home, but from his sickbed until the last day of his life, continued to give the men under his employ instructions as to the work they were to do. When news of his death spread Sunday afternoon, many hearts were saddened, for by his death the community has lost one of its best loved citizens and benefactors, and practically everyone who knew him a friend. The funeral services at his home at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon were largely attended by sorrowing friends, and the floral tributes were many and most beautiful. The funeral service was conducted by his pastor, Rev. B. A. Black, D.D., whose discourse was most befitting and comforting as well as eloquent. R. Reich & Son, assisted by Charles Reich, of Blairsville, Pa., had charge of the funeral arrangements which were very beautifully arranged and carried out, concluding with interment in the Union Cemetery. The honorary pall-bearers were Norman E. Miller, S. B. Philson, G. W. Collins, J. H. Bowman, Dr. Bruce Lichty, John O. Ream, Frank R. Coder and W. S. Livengood. The acting pall-bearers were John S. Weakland, W. H. Baldwin, W. H. Holzshu, R. H. Bowman, Fred L. Wilmoth and Charles E. Bird. The text of Dr. Black's funeral discourse was from II Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought a good fight." Both text and discourse were so well fitted to the occasion and the tribute paid to Mr. Kyle so deserving that Dr. Black's remarks are reproduced herewith, in part, as follows: It seems to me that this is a most appropriate text to think of in connection with the life and death of our dear friend and brother, Elbridge Kyle. I do not mean to say that he was perfect. And if he could speak now, he would protest strongly against any claim to virtue or perfection of an unusual character. He had many faults and sins, as we all have. But because of his faith in Jesus Christ we believe that God has graciously forgiven him all the errors and sins of his life. And if we are Christians, as we profess to be, we too will throw the mantle of charity over his faults and sins. Furthermore he was such an outstanding man and had so many good qualities of heart and mind, that they far, far overshadow his faults and sins. He waged a long, brave battle with death. He lived daily and hourly in the knowledge that the slender thread that bound him to this earth might snap. For a dozen years or more he had been a semi-invalid. Specialists whom he consulted at the beginning of his illness gave him only 8 months to live. They advised him to give up all business care and responsibility and spend the greater part of his time in bed. But such a sentence was impossible of fulfillment in the life of a man of such abounding energy and dauntless spirit. He resolved that if he had to die, he would die in the harness. And that he did literally, for on the very day of his death, he gave his men directions for the work to be done the day following. It would be an injustice to neglect to mention the loving care and attention given to him during all these years of semi-invalidism by his devoted wife. There can be no doubt that Mrs. Kyle's skilled nursing and self-sacrificing devotion to the one she regarded as the best man in the world were strong factors that helped to prolong the useful life of her husband. He had great faith in her skill and ability, and believed that she could do for him, what even the professional nurse and the skilled physician could not do. He fought a long brave fight against death, but finally had to surrender, as we all must sooner or later. Some one who knew him well said, "He never started anything he did not finish." Whatever he undertook was done promptly and thoroughly. He had a well ordered mind, and all his work was done in a methodical and systematic manner. He planned his work and his coming and going with clock-like regularity. A man who lives and works like that will be able to get much more done than one who is controlled by the circumstances of the hour. He demanded so much of himself and was so methodical and orderly in his own life that he naturally expected much of his associates. When they did not meet his expectations of course he was disappointed and often disheartened. And sometimes his disappointment was mistaken for harshness. One who holds himself up to rigid standards of efficiency will naturally expect much from others. But no one who knew Elbridge Kyle intimately would say that he was harsh. What may have seemed like harshness to the uninformed was but part of the strict discipline he imposed upon himself. His tenderness of heart was manifested in his love for children. Having no children of his own, he lavished his affections on the children of his neighbors and friends. Having the means to live in comfort himself, he shared his blessings generously with those less fortunate. Many of the needy and distressed of this community will ever think of him with heartfelt gratitude. Only those who were intimately associated with him knew of the extent of his benefactions. Wherever there was need or sickness or distress he gave himself with unsparing devotion. Many people of this community remember how he worked day and night during the Flu epidemic of 1918 to minister to the sick and help save life. Meyersdale had no more public spirited citizen than Elbridge Kyle. He was superintendent of the Water Company, a director of Second National Bank, a leading spirit in securing public works to furnish employment for our people, served for a number of years as director of the County Home and Hospital, was interested in the fraternal organizations, the schools, the churches, and every worthy community enterprise. He was a member of Amity Reformed Church for almost 18 years. Soon after he united with the church he was elected to the consistory, and has served the church in an official capacity almost continuously since he united with it. At the time of his death he was a deacon and a trustee. He gave himself to the service of the church with the same fidelity and devotion that he gave to everything with which he was identified. He was one of the most liberal supporters of the church and one of her wisest counselors. His wisdom and sound judgment in the conduct of its affairs were a great help to all. It is hard to understand why God should call home at this critical time, one whose life was so useful, and whom we so sorely need. It must be that God has higher and greater responsibilities to place upon him, and he is ready for those responsibilities now. Servant of God, well done. Thy glorious warfare's past: The battle's fought, the race is won, And thou art crowned at last. Meyersdale Republican, October 20, 1932