OBIT: Peter ALBRIGHT, 1930, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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PETER ALBRIGHT

Taps Sounded For Veteran Albright
Famous Fifer of the Civil War Bivouaced[sic] with Grand Army of the Dead

  On a beautiful spring-like March day, almost mild and pleasant as a morning in 
May, taps were sounded for Peter Albright, famous fifer of the Fifty-fourth 
Pennsylvania Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, of Civil War renown, the last, save 
one, (Dr. H. C. McKinley) member of M. C. Lowry Post, No. 214, Pennsylvania 
Division, Grand Army of the Republic.
  Veteran Albright died at the home of his son, William F. Albright, at the 
south end of Salisbury Street, at 8:05 a.m., March 21st.  He was born August 7, 
1844, and lived in Meyersdale and vicinity nearly all of his more than four 
score years of life.  He was aged at the time of his death 85 years, 7 months 
and 14 days.
  Mr. Albright was twice married.  His first wife was Sarah Hasselroth, who died 
young.  After her death he married Mary Susan Grine, who also preceded him to 
the grave.  He had one child by his first marriage and nine by the second.
  He is survived by six sons, three daughters, 41 grandchildren and 34 
greatgrandchildren.  His surviving children are:
  Henry Albright, of Connellsville; Mrs. Peter Rowe, of Johnstown; Mrs. William 
Jones and Mrs. Howard Harding, of Detroit, Mich.; James Albright, of Point 
Marion, Pa.; Sylvester Albright, of Turtle Creek; John, Melvin and William 
Albright, of Meyersdale.  He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Fanny Brooks, 
of Meyersdale.

Answered His Country's Call

  At the age of 17 Peter Albright was one of the many Somerset County boys who 
answered the call of Abraham Lincoln for volunteers to help put down the 
rebellion.  He enlisted in Company C, 54th Pa. Vol. Inf., in the fall of 1861 
and served with the regiment in the Army of the Potomac until after the 
surrender of Gen. Lee at Appamattox, Va., May 9, 1865.  He was under fire in 
many battles, including Appamattox, but was mustered out safe and sound after 
nearly four years' continuous service.
  Mr. Albright served throughout the war as a musician, being an expert fifer.  
Company C, 54th Regiment, recruited by Capt. Enoch Yutzy, was mustered in with 
130 men, 30 of whom, including Fifer Albright, were transferred to Co. D, but 
the two companies were together most of the time during the war.  Of the 130 men 
originally enlisted in Company C, only three or four are yet living.  One of 
them is John J. Livengood, aged 93, of Salisbury, who attended the funeral of 
his late comrade last Monday morning.  The only other Civil War veteran able to 
attend Mr. Albright's funeral was Peter J. Livengood, aged 84, of Salisbury, 
brother of John J.

A Man Amongst Men

  After the war Mr. Albright returned to his native town to make his home and 
worked in the mines adjacent to Meyersdale for 42 years.  He was a courageous, 
determined man, skilled in the art of self-defense, and in his younger years was 
reputed to be able to "lick his weight in wildcats."  During the stormy days 
when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was being constructed through Somerset 
County and there were many rough characters employed as "navvies" on the 
railroad, and it was customary for men to settle their arguments with their 
fists, Peter Albright was the victor in many a bloody conflict.  But for all 
that, he was a kind-hearted, good-natured man, always willing to do a good turn 
for a friend or neighbor, or any one in trouble.
  He was intensely patriotic and on all patriotic occasions he was on hand with 
his fife to help furnish the music.  He played the death march at many a 
comrade's funeral, and up to a few years ago always turned out at military 
funerals, and on Memorial Day, to furnish martial music.  He was the inspiration 
of many a Meyersdale boy to learn to play the fife and to be ready to serve his 
country.

Anecdote of His Boyhood

  The characteristic resourcefulness of Peter Albright. as a boy and man, is 
aptly illustrated by the following anecdote told by the late John M. Olinger in 
his History of Meyersdale published in The Republican in 1911, and since 
republished in pamphlet form.  In his historical sketch, Mr. Olinger says:
  "In my early days there were very few store shoes and boots.  Many families 
had them made by their shoemakers and several men in the business lived in town.  
The late Samuel Foust was my father's shoemaker.  In the fall, as a general 
rule, the shoemakers were so rushed with work that it took from 4 to 6 weeks 
before a customer could get his shoes; he was supposed to take his turn.  Peter 
Albright, now living in town, when a boy lived with my parents and went to 
school in the winter.  My father promised him a pair of boots - the first he 
ever had - and when he had his measure taken he did not get them so soon as he 
wanted them.  He went to Mr. Foust about every day for his boots.  Mr. Foust 
took for an excuse that he could not make them until the people butchered as he 
was just about out of bristles which were necessary to adjust to the waxed 
threads.  Mr. Albright was about 10 years old then.  He concluded he would 
overcome that difficulty.  At dinner time he ate just a little - finished his 
meal in a few minutes - and went out.  And soon the pigs in the pen commenced to 
squeal and I, wishing to finish eating, was a little slow to investigate.  But 
cutting my meal short, I ran to the stable and met Peter coming out with a bunch 
of bristles in one hand and a big pair of pincers in the other.  When I asked 
him what was the matter with the pigs, he answered that Mr. Foust could not make 
his boots until he got bristles and now I have them.  He showed me how high the 
big pig jumped when he jerked a pincer full of bristles out of his back.
  "The joke was too good on Mr. Foust.  I did not say anything about it, but in 
a few days the boy had his boots."
  In his later years, Mr. Albright was a faithful member of the Reformed Church 
and died with a prayer on his lips.  He had been ailing for several months, and 
realizing that he could not overcome the infirmities of age, he was resigned to 
his fate and welcomed death.

Buried With Military Honors

  His funeral Monday morning, March 24th, was all that he could have wished had 
he had the privilege of arranging all the details himself. The home of his son, 
William, where he died, and where the funeral services took place, was filled 
with mourning relatives and friends, and many more who were present could not 
gain entrance.  His bier was banked with beautiful floral tributes and draped 
with the flag in whose defense he served for nearly four years.  An armed and 
uniformed member of McKinley Camp, Sons of Union Veterans, stood guard, over the 
veteran's body, while the funeral service was conducted by the pastor of the 
deceased, Rev. B. A. Black.
  After the scripture reading, a very attractive young granddaughter of the 
deceased veteran, daughter of Henry Albright of Connellsville, sang, "Abide with 
Me" very beautifully, and after the closing prayer brought the services at the 
house to a close by singing "Nearer, my God, to Thee."
  The flag-draped casket containing the remains was then conveyed to Union 
Cemetery where interment was made under auspices of McKinley Camp, Sons of 
Veterans, with the solemn ritual of that patriotic organization, which supplied 
a uniformed escort and firing squad under command of Capt. Leonard Engle.  The 
burial service was read by Commander Frank C. Robertson and Chaplain W. H. 
Habel.  Fifer Charles F. Cook of Hinchman Camp, Sons of Veterans, Somerset, was 
present with his fife and played a dirge for his old friend as his body was 
borne to the grave.  Young Paul Robertson, member of the Sons of Veterans Boys' 
Fife and Drum Corps, softly played a stanza of "Nearer, my God, to Thee" on the 
fife during one period of the ceremony.  C. W. Baldwin stationed at some 
distance from the grave sounded "taps" on the bugle and Alex H. Johnson rolled 
the muffled drum after the body was consigned to the tomb and left resting on 
"Fame's Eternal Camping Ground."
  W. C. Price had charge of the burial arrangements.

Meyersdale Republican, March 27, 1930