John Lazarchik lived in Bradenville, PA, though he was also very well-known in nearby Latrobe, where he worked. He was a bar tender at the Commercial Hotel until May of 1909, when the court ruled that brewing companies could be allowed to place their agents in Derry Township and the city of Derry itself. After the ruling, John gave his notice and left his job at the hotel. His new line of work was as the Bradenville agent for the Pittsburg Brewing Company. Like a number of people in the area of Eastern European descent, his religion was Greek Orthodoxy, even though he wasn't of Greek descent. He had seven children, five boys and two girls.

John was riding in the delivery wagon with my great-great-grandpap Hugo Wellek on the eve of the Orthodox Christmas as the two men were making deliveries to their Russian customers for the upcoming celebration. They left the brewery in the early evening and made stops in Loyalhanna before continuing on to their Bradenville customers. After delivering all but a bit over thirty kegs, they made a quick stop at John's house before setting out on what they thought was their return journey. Instead both men were killed at a railroad crossing, a particularly deadly crossing that had already claimed a number of other lives. Because it was raining and the roof of their wagon had been put up, they couldn't hear or see the oncoming train. Amazingly, the two horses pulling the wagon were totally unharmed, and the remaining kegs of beer, which rolled in all directions, were all unbroken, but John and Hugo were not so blessed. Their wagon was completely demolished by the terrific force of the train, and both men were thrown out of the driver's seat. John, who was flung farther than my great-great-grandpap, was killed instantly after being flung 150 feet and having his head crushed upon landing. Hugo survived for about 35 minutes.

Besides his widow and seven children, ranging in age from thirteen to just a baby, John also left behind his mother Mary Gordon, and two brothers, Mike (who worked for the Atlantic Supply Company) and Mickey (a resident of Loyalhanna). He was 47 years old.

Note: Burial info will be updated once I find out where in Bradenville he is buried.

Birthdate and name corrected based on genealogical birth documents.

Source: Cirkevná matrika, 1788-1947 Rímsko-katolícka cirkev. Farský úrad Vechec (Vranov nad Topl'ou)