LLYSWEN MAN LOST HIS LIFE IN WAR ZONE Michael Hanley, aged about 24, of Llyswen, a former motorman on the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway company, was killed in action in France on Oct. 8, according to word received in this city yesterday. Positive confirmation, however, is lacking, but the word received leaves but little doubt as to the death of the young man. For several years he worked for the Logan Valley and before joining the army, was a motorman on the Eighth Avenue line, he being very well known to the patrons of the road on that line. Of a jovial nature, he quickly made friends and they were numerous. He was drafted by the Tyrone board, almost a year ago, and passed an excellent physical examination, being sent to camp almost immediately. Within a short time he was rushed to France, and thence to the fighting line, and it was during the terrific drives of the American army early in October, that this young man from Llyswen made the supreme sacrifice. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday Morning, November 19, 1918 JNO. W. ROBINSON, LOCAL SOLDIER, THOUGHT DEAD Parents of Young Man, Who Enlisted in Colonel Kemp's Regiment, Learn That Son Is Missing in Action. Corporal John W. Robison, of Company I, 110th regiment, has been reported as missing in action by the war department, according to a telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Robison, 100 Twelfth street, last night. He is reported as missing on September 8 but a letter received from him by his parents Nov. 1 dated Oct. 4 stated that he was in good health. Immediately upon receipt of the telegram last night, the father communicated with the war department, stating that the letter written on Oct. 4, almost a month after he was reported missing in action, announced that the boy was in excellent health, and with his company. Mr. Robison is of the opinion that there has been a mixup in official information. John W. Robison, who is 26 years of age, enlisted in Company G, of the old Third Regiment on May 3, 1917, while Colonel George E. Kemp was staging a recruiting campaign here. Shortly after being sent to camp, he was attached to Company I, of the 110th regiment and went to France with that troop, arriving on the other side on June 28. According to letters received during October, he had been in numerous big engagements and had escaped injury. Before enlisting Corporal Robison was employed as a teamster. He is unmarried. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Thursday Morning, November 21, 1918 LITTLE JOHNNIE TILLARD SAW PLAY 50 YEARS AGO Fifty years ago Tuesday, John N. Tillard, a mere boy, wended his way to Tenth avenue, to witness his first stage performance. He was highly elated, and at that time Tenth avenue was the business street of the town, and all big establishments were on that thoroughfare. After having a little difficulty, which included threats of arrest for something another boy did, "Newt" finally went to the box office and paid the price of admission, and entered the theatre to witness the production, "Ten Nights in a Barroom." On Tuesday, John N. Tillard, now the chief of police of this city, visited the Mishler theatre, and saw the same play, scenes and all, that he witnessed in the Tenth avenue theatre, and it was highly pleasing to him. He well remembered every scene of the play and the majority of the words, the only thing different being the cast of characters. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Thursday Morning, November 21, 1918 You can read John N. Tillard's Pen Pictures of Friends and Reminiscent Sketches here - http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/blair/1picts/tillardpen/tillardpen.htm Judy Banja Blair County PA USGenWeb Archives http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/blair/