William Henry Harrison Lohr

The Somerset Herald

January 27, 1886 Edition

Death On The Rail

Another accident occurred near Rowena station, on the Somerset & Cambria Railroad about nine o'clock Tuesday evening of last week. Mr. Harrison H Lohr and Jacob Koontz, two well-known farmers of Quemahoning township, with a sled load of women and children, were returning from church and while crossing the railroad track at the above mentioned point a north bound engine struck the sled square in the middle, curring in two and throwing half of it on each side of the road. The occupants of the sled all escaped with but slight injuries except Mr. Lohr, who was picked up by the balance of the party in an unconscious condition. His throat had an ugly gash in it and one side of his head was caved in. He died from the effect of his injuries the following day. It is said that the engineer did not give tne[sic] usual signal at the crossing where the accident occurred, and that in consequence none of the parties on the sled heard its approach or were aware of the imminent danger they were in until the engine was upon them.
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The Somerset Herald

February 17, 1886 Edition

Death of W. H. H. Lohr

The subject of this notice came to his death suddenly and unexpectedly. On Thursday Night, January 19th, while returning from a protracted meeting service at the Otterbein church of the United Brethren in Christ, and while in the act of crossing the S & C Railroad near his home, his sled was struck by a locomotive and he received his death wound. There were five other persons on the sled besides himself, all escaping by jumping but Mr. Lohr and a young man who was injured but not seriously. Mr. Lohr lingered in an unconscious state until Thursday noon of the 21st when his spirit passed away.

Before he left the church that evening, he remarked to several persons, that he had not intended coming to church that evening but now he was glad he had come, for there was such a good meeting, and he had enjoyed it so much; in less than an hour after he left the church he received the death blow. Mr. Lohr was a member of the church of the United Brethren in Christ for some time, but like some others he had at one time became somewhat remiss in his religious duties, but since the death of his children several years ago, he became quite a changed man, and was faithful in his attendance upon the public means of grace. He was especially a warm friend of the Sabbath-school never absent from it when he could help it. For the last none months of his life he read the Bible and Sabbath-school literature almost constantly when he had any leisure time, and was preparing himself to teach the Bible-class in his Sabbath-school next summer. But God has ordered it otherwise and we bow to His will, knowing that He does all things well. Mr. Lohr at the time of his death was 47 years, 9 months and seven days of age. A large concourse of friends attended his remains to the cemetery at Stoyestown where under the direction of his comrades of the G. A. R his body was kaid besides those of his children, to rest until the morning of the resurrection. Funeral services were held in the Lutheran church in Stoyestown, conducted by the writer, assisted by Rev. N. B. Critchfield of the Baptist, and Rev. Plotts of the Evangelical church.

(Contributed by Mark Floyd)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 28 2017, 2:17:59 UTC