Married November 28th 1895

in Albion, Orleans County, New York.

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The Buffalo Express

Buffalo, Erie County, New York.

Thursday, June 5, 1919

Pathetic scenes at services for the McAllister family.

Holley Catholic church crowded when six caskets are wheeled into the aisle.

(Special to The Buffalo Express)

Holley. June 4 — Six new graves, halfway up the grass slope of Holy Cross cemetery, just outside this village, mark the closing chapter of Holley's greatest tragedy, in which Mr. and Mrs. John McAllister and their three children and Mr. McAllister's sister, Letetia Erwin, lost their lives, by being struck by a trolley car at a crossing here last Sunday night.

This village never saw Just such a funeral as that which was held here today. Even tonight, sympathising citizens went to the cemetery, where a profusion of flowers banked under five stately yew trees give mute testimony of the respect that all Holley held for the McAllister family.

The funeral was held from the Saint Mary's Catholic church shortly after 9 o'clock this morning. The church was crowded when the Rev. Father Richard Burke ascended the altar to celebrate an ordinary requiem mass. At the McAllister home, 600 yards away, six white caskets stood end to end along one wall of the two McAllister parlors.

Twelve bearers carried the six caskets by turn to the hearses. The bearers were John Murphy, William Sweeney, Michael Tobin, Patrick O'Donnell, Michael Noons, Edward Ennis, John Lynch, Frank Mack, Robert Hogan, Daniel McVey, Simon McVey and John Hutchinson, all of Holley and vicinity. Francis McAllister, 21 years old and his brother John, eighteen years old, sole survivors of the family, were the only immediate mourners.

When the funeral cortege reached the church, the caskets were wheeled up the center aisle, nearly occupying the entire length from the rear door of the church to the chancel rail. Following the mass and the blessing, Father Burke delivered a short sermon. He explained that he felt that this was an extraordinary occasion.

"If there is any feeling that more than any other excites the human breast.", said Father Burke, "it is that which comes to a person when confronted with such a spectacle as this. Such tragedies almost seem to stagger our faith, but still we live on in the consciousness that it is Gods will that has been done."

As the caskets, followed by the two surviving sons, were slowly moved away from the chancel rail, there was scarcely a dry eye in the church. At the cemetery, the caskets were placed side by side in the family plot, under a canopy, and Father Burke read the burial prayers. He spoke briefly again and the old friends an neighbors withdrew, leaving the two brothers alone with their dead. Later the brothers were taken back to their home, where they are to stay for the present.

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