OBIT: Charles Peters, 1914, of interest in Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Keith Petenbrink.

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Peters, Charles

UNDERTAKER IN A QUANDARY, Tressler and Walker were Given the Remains of Man; 
dared not Bury nor Ship away. A highly commendable act in exemplification of 
friendship was that of Wm. Hersh and Ulysses Miller who on Saturday afternoon 
laid away to rest in the Union Cemetery, Charles Peters, whose career shows the 
sad mutations of fortune. Mr. Peters was struck by a train westward bound on the 
Western Maryland railroad about one mile east of town on Thursday afternoon and 
was immediately killed. His remains were given over to Undertaker Tressler and 
there being no relatives or friends to claim the body, in accordance with a 
recent act, the body was about to be shipped to the Anatomical Society in 
Philadelphia, but just at this point, Express Agent Williams refused to accept 
the body unless it were either embalmed or enclosed in a metallic casket. Mr. J. 
W. Peck, of the County Poor board was interviewed in regard to the matter, but 
he revised that the law provided that where destitute persons died without 
friends who would claim the body, that such remains were to be shipped to 
Philadelphia, the place above named. Mr. Peck further said that this society 
pays for the expense of transportation of the bodies received by it. A heavy 
fine is attached to anyone burying an unclaimed body. It costs the county $20 to 
bury one human being. There has been about an average of five wanderers and 
destitute persons buried by the county authorities every month, but in the 
future such bodies must be shipped to the Anatomical Society in Philadelphia. In 
this quandary Undertaker Tressler retained the body until Saturday when Messrs 
Hersh and Miller agreed to take charge of the remains and they themselves dug 
the grave in the Union Cemetery and met the other necessary expenses. The life 
of Peters had a bit of financial romance in it. He came of a well to do family 
in Baltimore, about all of whom have preceded him to the bourne [?] of life. 
Several decades ago, it is said, when perhaps thirty years of age, Peters came 
to Somerset County with $40,000 to his credit, believed to have been bequeathed 
to him by relatives. He established himself in the mercantile business at 
Salisbury, marring a Miss Heffley. But his fortune began to dwindle and years 
ago he became destitute and lived a part of the time at the county home and with 
those who were charitably disposed.

Meyersdale Commercial, Dec. 24, 1914