"Thomas W. Hurd, 4th mayor of Altoona and widely known as a Civil war veteran and retired Pennsylvania Railroad employee, died at 5:25 last evening of infirmities due to his advanced age, at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John McKerihan, near Martinsburg. Ex-mayor Hurd was almost 91 years of age.
With the exception of deafness, which had troubled him for two years past, Mr. Hurd retained all his faculties, and had an especially remarkable memory. He was in very good health until about four weeks ago, since which time his decline has been rapid. He was crippled by a fall several years ago and later walked with the aid of a crutch.
Mr. Hurd was born at Milesburg, Center county, Sept. 8, 1824, his boyhood being spent at Salona. His father was a well-known school teacher. He was married to Miss McCutcheon on Feb. 11, 1847, by Rev. Thompson Mitchell, pastor of the Hollidaysburg Methodist church. The family moved to Hollidaysburg in 1844, where he served an apprenticeship as a shoemaker. Later he resided in Bedford and moved to Altoona in 1868, living here until a few years ago, when he went to make his home with his daughter, near Martinsburg.
In 1862, Mr. Hurd enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, serving under Captain Francis M. Bell, and participating in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville where he was severely wounded in action. Upon the expiration of his service with this regiment, he reenlisted in the commissary department for the rest of the war.
Upon coming to Altoona he found employment in the boiler shop, under foreman Joseph Nixon, and, after his term as mayor, worked in the wheel shop, under foreman W.T. Miller, until the Pennsy's pension system went into effect, in 1900, he being one of the first men retired by the company.
Mr. Hurd, an ardent Democrat, was elected mayor in February, 1878, being the fourth mayor of the city. He defeated William Howard, Republican, and served two years, Mr. Howard then defeating him for reelection by nine votes. During his term as mayor, one of his notable accomplishments was his effective handling of a lawless element that had held the city in terror for a number of years at a time when there was little or no police force and little means of combating the rough element.
Deeply religious by nature, Mr. Hurd was an active Methodist all his life, and, in the old days, was noted a a powerful class leader and lay preacher. He was a charter member of the Eighth Avenue church, later belonged to the Simpson church and, after going to Martinsburg, joined the congregation there. He was a member of Post 408, Grand Army of Republic, and of Logan lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Hurd died several years ago, and but two children survive, Thomas W. Hurd Jr., of this city, and Mrs. John McKerihan, at whose home he died.
A short funeral service will be held at the home of his daughter in Martinsburg on Saturday morning, after which the body will be taken to Hollidaysburg, where public services will be held in the Methodist church at 2 p.m. Saturday. Interment in Lutheran cemetery."
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Excerpted from Altoona Mirror, 8 April 1915
Thomas is the son of Stephen Heard (b. 1773; d. 1831) and Sarah [Burke] Heard (b. ~1780; d. 1852). After returning home from the Civil War with injuries received at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Thomas changed the spelling of his surname to "Hurd".
Thomas and his wife Susannah had 6 children who survived birth. The 3 listed below got married and had children; the other 3 died in childhood, inculding:
..James Henry (b. ~1847; d. ~1865)
..Robert McCutcheon (b. 1849; d. ~1855)
..Franklin Dosh "John" (b. Sep. 2, 1858; d. Oct. 24, 1860)
Thomas had a twin brother, James, who died in Puebla, Mexico during the Mexican War. Throughout life, Thomas remained close to his younger sister, Margaret.
With the exception of deafness, which had troubled him for two years past, Mr. Hurd retained all his faculties, and had an especially remarkable memory. He was in very good health until about four weeks ago, since which time his decline has been rapid. He was crippled by a fall several years ago and later walked with the aid of a crutch.
Mr. Hurd was born at Milesburg, Center county, Sept. 8, 1824, his boyhood being spent at Salona. His father was a well-known school teacher. He was married to Miss McCutcheon on Feb. 11, 1847, by Rev. Thompson Mitchell, pastor of the Hollidaysburg Methodist church. The family moved to Hollidaysburg in 1844, where he served an apprenticeship as a shoemaker. Later he resided in Bedford and moved to Altoona in 1868, living here until a few years ago, when he went to make his home with his daughter, near Martinsburg.
In 1862, Mr. Hurd enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, serving under Captain Francis M. Bell, and participating in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville where he was severely wounded in action. Upon the expiration of his service with this regiment, he reenlisted in the commissary department for the rest of the war.
Upon coming to Altoona he found employment in the boiler shop, under foreman Joseph Nixon, and, after his term as mayor, worked in the wheel shop, under foreman W.T. Miller, until the Pennsy's pension system went into effect, in 1900, he being one of the first men retired by the company.
Mr. Hurd, an ardent Democrat, was elected mayor in February, 1878, being the fourth mayor of the city. He defeated William Howard, Republican, and served two years, Mr. Howard then defeating him for reelection by nine votes. During his term as mayor, one of his notable accomplishments was his effective handling of a lawless element that had held the city in terror for a number of years at a time when there was little or no police force and little means of combating the rough element.
Deeply religious by nature, Mr. Hurd was an active Methodist all his life, and, in the old days, was noted a a powerful class leader and lay preacher. He was a charter member of the Eighth Avenue church, later belonged to the Simpson church and, after going to Martinsburg, joined the congregation there. He was a member of Post 408, Grand Army of Republic, and of Logan lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Hurd died several years ago, and but two children survive, Thomas W. Hurd Jr., of this city, and Mrs. John McKerihan, at whose home he died.
A short funeral service will be held at the home of his daughter in Martinsburg on Saturday morning, after which the body will be taken to Hollidaysburg, where public services will be held in the Methodist church at 2 p.m. Saturday. Interment in Lutheran cemetery."
****************************************************
Excerpted from Altoona Mirror, 8 April 1915
Thomas is the son of Stephen Heard (b. 1773; d. 1831) and Sarah [Burke] Heard (b. ~1780; d. 1852). After returning home from the Civil War with injuries received at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Thomas changed the spelling of his surname to "Hurd".
Thomas and his wife Susannah had 6 children who survived birth. The 3 listed below got married and had children; the other 3 died in childhood, inculding:
..James Henry (b. ~1847; d. ~1865)
..Robert McCutcheon (b. 1849; d. ~1855)
..Franklin Dosh "John" (b. Sep. 2, 1858; d. Oct. 24, 1860)
Thomas had a twin brother, James, who died in Puebla, Mexico during the Mexican War. Throughout life, Thomas remained close to his younger sister, Margaret.
"Thomas W. Hurd, 4th mayor of Altoona and widely known as a Civil war veteran and retired Pennsylvania Railroad employee, died at 5:25 last evening of infirmities due to his advanced age, at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John McKerihan, near Martinsburg. Ex-mayor Hurd was almost 91 years of age.
With the exception of deafness, which had troubled him for two years past, Mr. Hurd retained all his faculties, and had an especially remarkable memory. He was in very good health until about four weeks ago, since which time his decline has been rapid. He was crippled by a fall several years ago and later walked with the aid of a crutch.
Mr. Hurd was born at Milesburg, Center county, Sept. 8, 1824, his boyhood being spent at Salona. His father was a well-known school teacher. He was married to Miss McCutcheon on Feb. 11, 1847, by Rev. Thompson Mitchell, pastor of the Hollidaysburg Methodist church. The family moved to Hollidaysburg in 1844, where he served an apprenticeship as a shoemaker. Later he resided in Bedford and moved to Altoona in 1868, living here until a few years ago, when he went to make his home with his daughter, near Martinsburg.
In 1862, Mr. Hurd enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, serving under Captain Francis M. Bell, and participating in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville where he was severely wounded in action. Upon the expiration of his service with this regiment, he reenlisted in the commissary department for the rest of the war.
Upon coming to Altoona he found employment in the boiler shop, under foreman Joseph Nixon, and, after his term as mayor, worked in the wheel shop, under foreman W.T. Miller, until the Pennsy's pension system went into effect, in 1900, he being one of the first men retired by the company.
Mr. Hurd, an ardent Democrat, was elected mayor in February, 1878, being the fourth mayor of the city. He defeated William Howard, Republican, and served two years, Mr. Howard then defeating him for reelection by nine votes. During his term as mayor, one of his notable accomplishments was his effective handling of a lawless element that had held the city in terror for a number of years at a time when there was little or no police force and little means of combating the rough element.
Deeply religious by nature, Mr. Hurd was an active Methodist all his life, and, in the old days, was noted a a powerful class leader and lay preacher. He was a charter member of the Eighth Avenue church, later belonged to the Simpson church and, after going to Martinsburg, joined the congregation there. He was a member of Post 408, Grand Army of Republic, and of Logan lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Hurd died several years ago, and but two children survive, Thomas W. Hurd Jr., of this city, and Mrs. John McKerihan, at whose home he died.
A short funeral service will be held at the home of his daughter in Martinsburg on Saturday morning, after which the body will be taken to Hollidaysburg, where public services will be held in the Methodist church at 2 p.m. Saturday. Interment in Lutheran cemetery."
****************************************************
Excerpted from Altoona Mirror, 8 April 1915
Thomas is the son of Stephen Heard (b. 1773; d. 1831) and Sarah [Burke] Heard (b. ~1780; d. 1852). After returning home from the Civil War with injuries received at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Thomas changed the spelling of his surname to "Hurd".
Thomas and his wife Susannah had 6 children who survived birth. The 3 listed below got married and had children; the other 3 died in childhood, inculding:
..James Henry (b. ~1847; d. ~1865)
..Robert McCutcheon (b. 1849; d. ~1855)
..Franklin Dosh "John" (b. Sep. 2, 1858; d. Oct. 24, 1860)
Thomas had a twin brother, James, who died in Puebla, Mexico during the Mexican War. Throughout life, Thomas remained close to his younger sister, Margaret.
With the exception of deafness, which had troubled him for two years past, Mr. Hurd retained all his faculties, and had an especially remarkable memory. He was in very good health until about four weeks ago, since which time his decline has been rapid. He was crippled by a fall several years ago and later walked with the aid of a crutch.
Mr. Hurd was born at Milesburg, Center county, Sept. 8, 1824, his boyhood being spent at Salona. His father was a well-known school teacher. He was married to Miss McCutcheon on Feb. 11, 1847, by Rev. Thompson Mitchell, pastor of the Hollidaysburg Methodist church. The family moved to Hollidaysburg in 1844, where he served an apprenticeship as a shoemaker. Later he resided in Bedford and moved to Altoona in 1868, living here until a few years ago, when he went to make his home with his daughter, near Martinsburg.
In 1862, Mr. Hurd enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, serving under Captain Francis M. Bell, and participating in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville where he was severely wounded in action. Upon the expiration of his service with this regiment, he reenlisted in the commissary department for the rest of the war.
Upon coming to Altoona he found employment in the boiler shop, under foreman Joseph Nixon, and, after his term as mayor, worked in the wheel shop, under foreman W.T. Miller, until the Pennsy's pension system went into effect, in 1900, he being one of the first men retired by the company.
Mr. Hurd, an ardent Democrat, was elected mayor in February, 1878, being the fourth mayor of the city. He defeated William Howard, Republican, and served two years, Mr. Howard then defeating him for reelection by nine votes. During his term as mayor, one of his notable accomplishments was his effective handling of a lawless element that had held the city in terror for a number of years at a time when there was little or no police force and little means of combating the rough element.
Deeply religious by nature, Mr. Hurd was an active Methodist all his life, and, in the old days, was noted a a powerful class leader and lay preacher. He was a charter member of the Eighth Avenue church, later belonged to the Simpson church and, after going to Martinsburg, joined the congregation there. He was a member of Post 408, Grand Army of Republic, and of Logan lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Hurd died several years ago, and but two children survive, Thomas W. Hurd Jr., of this city, and Mrs. John McKerihan, at whose home he died.
A short funeral service will be held at the home of his daughter in Martinsburg on Saturday morning, after which the body will be taken to Hollidaysburg, where public services will be held in the Methodist church at 2 p.m. Saturday. Interment in Lutheran cemetery."
****************************************************
Excerpted from Altoona Mirror, 8 April 1915
Thomas is the son of Stephen Heard (b. 1773; d. 1831) and Sarah [Burke] Heard (b. ~1780; d. 1852). After returning home from the Civil War with injuries received at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Thomas changed the spelling of his surname to "Hurd".
Thomas and his wife Susannah had 6 children who survived birth. The 3 listed below got married and had children; the other 3 died in childhood, inculding:
..James Henry (b. ~1847; d. ~1865)
..Robert McCutcheon (b. 1849; d. ~1855)
..Franklin Dosh "John" (b. Sep. 2, 1858; d. Oct. 24, 1860)
Thomas had a twin brother, James, who died in Puebla, Mexico during the Mexican War. Throughout life, Thomas remained close to his younger sister, Margaret.
