Iron County MOGenWeb® Project
Obituaries - T
Thomas record (Found on a small sheet of paper)
My Grandfather Edward Thomas was born in Buckingham County, Virginia in July 1751, and died in Iron County, Missouri 1847 and was buried 2 miles west of Graniteville, Iron County. Served 7 years as soldier in War of Revolution in Virginia, under General Washington.
Moses Thomas my father was born in Albermarle County, Virginia January 16,1807 and immigrated to Missouri - with his fathers family in 1821 and settled in Washington, now Iron County And died in Ironton, Missouri January 10,1888 and is buried in old home in Belleview, Missouri along side of my Mother Susan Thomas who died in September 1847. John N. Thomas was born in Belleview, Washington now Iron County August 3, 1845.
Iron County Register, Ironton, Missouri, May 11, 1882, Page 1.
The Late William Thomas
Mr. WILLIAM THOMAS died at his home in Belleview, Iron County, Missouri, on March 10th, 1882, aged sixty-eight years. He had the Typhoid Fever in August last, but had partially recovered from it when he took the chills, which continued to affect him until a few days before his death. He was very patient during his illness; and was often heard to remark that he would never get well.
Mr. Thomas was born Albamarle County, Virginia, March 22d, 1813; came with his parents to this state in 1820, and made his home in Belleview, at which place he remained until his death.
He was a kind, good neighbor, an affectionate husband, and an indulgent father. --J.W.S.
Iron County Register, Ironton, Missouri, October 23, 1884, Page 5. Iron Mountain
[TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I’m not going to transcribe the article in it’s entirety since a good portion graphically describes the state of the body after being blown up by dynamite. Omitting that section, I will include the rest of the obituary as written.]
...He held a position in the employ of the company as foreman in one of the mining cuts, and, at the time the accident happened, was preparing a heavy blast. Having charged the hole heavily with dynamite, he was packing the tamping around the fuse, when a premature explosion took place, discharging the whole load through his body, killing him instantly…
…It was indeed one of the most pitiable and heart-rendering sights ever witnessed. A heavy silver watch belonging to deceased was completely destroyed. No two pieces were together when picked up. The side of the case next to the shot was even partially melted by the powerful friction of the blast. The tamping stick was shattered to shreds, and the knife used in cutting the fuse was torn to pieces. Strange to say, a bunch of keys belonging to the Masonic and Odd-Fellows hall, was picked up fully intact, nor damaged in the least. A Frenchman by the name of Julius Addoir, had the cap of one knee knocked off by a flying rock, at the same time, and received other slight injuries. Several men were standing around at the time, but were fortunate enough to escape beyond a severe shock. As soon as a coffin could be procured the remains of the unfortunate man were gathered up and taken home, where they were placed in charge of many sorrowing friends, surrounded by the grief stricken wife and crying children. Mrs. Thomas was not at home when the sad misfortune occurred; but was visiting a friend near by when the startling intelligence of her husband’s death was conveyed to her. No one can imagine the feelings of one under such circumstances. The loss of our nearest and dearest friend is sad enough at best; but when he has to be taken away so suddenly, and under such circumstances as these no mind can conceive, and no heart can realize the awful despair of the bereaved. While such things are awful to contemplate, it is best to be reconciled to fate, and learn to put our trust in Him who ordereth all things well to them that love and fear Him.
Mr. Thomas was born in Ripley county, Arkansas, on the 7th day of January, 1851. He lived with his parents until he was 12 years old, when he came to this place with his aunt, Mrs. R.E. Garrett, in 1863. He made her house his home most of the time until he married. He married Miss N.J. Downey March 2d, 1871, with whom he lived happily until the time of his death. He joined the Christian church, and was a consistent member for seven years. He was also a member of the A. F. & A. M., also of the I. O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W. Lodges respectively. He held a benefit certificate in the latter for $2,000, which will be paid in a few days.
In all these orders he demeaned himself with gentlemanly propriety, and fraternal friendship. He was a man whose conduct was above reproach, and whose integrity was unquestionable. He was a kind and devoted husband, a loving and indulgent father, a noble man and a useful citizen; and leaves many relatives and a host of friends to mourn his unfortunate and untimely demise.
He was followed to his grave by a large concourse of friends and brethren, and was buried wit al the honors that could be conferred upon him by the brethren of the three Lodges of which he was a member.
Brother Thomas is gone; and that hand we all delighted to clasp in fraternal friendship is cold in death. May he rest in peace, and his sleep be sweet in Jesus. Let us look higher and be encouraged by the hope that we may again be permitted to meet him on that evergreen shore, where “sickness, sorrow, pain and death are felt and feared no more.”
Iron County Register, Ironton, Missouri, January 28, 1886, Page 5.
DIED--Very suddenly on Friday morning, January 22d, BENJAMIN THOMPSON, a miner--it is generally supposed from mine or lead sickness contracted at St. Joe Lead Mines.
A wife and three children mourn the loss of the departed husband and father. They have the sympathy of the whole community in their unexpected affliction.
Iron County Register, Ironton, Missouri, June 2, 1892, Page 5.
Died, at her residence in the West End of Iron county, May 15th, Mrs. DIANA THOMPSON, aged 90 years.
Her maiden name was Howard; was born and raised in Montgomery county, Virginia; was married to Mr. Thompson in 1822, who removed to Iron county in 1844; was the mother of ten children, only four of whom survive her. She was a strong, health woman, well fitted to be a pioneer's wife, and her aged companion can testify that nothing, not even the maternal instinct so strongly developed in her, ever drew her away from being a devoted wife to the husband of her youth. Her last illness lasted ten days, during which she was unconscious, and apparently passed away without much suffering. Her sorrowing husband is 93 years old. May he find consolation in God, who is the only true source of happiness.
[There is a Samuel Thompson, aged 93 years, born in Floyd County, VA, who died June 2, 1892.]
Iron County Register, Ironton, Missouri, May 5, 1881, Page 5.
On Big Creek, Iron county, Mo., April 29th, 1881, CATHERINE, wife of Newton Timms, of child-bed fever, aged 25 years.
Iron County Register, Ironton, Missouri, July 3, 1884, Page 1.
In Memoriam.
Margaret Tong, the subject of this brief memoir, was the daughter of John and Jane Hill, who were natives of England, and came to America when their daughter Margaret was about six years of age. She was born in England, November 17th, 1823, and was married to William Tong, of Fredericktown, Mo., August 10th, 1843. She died in Ironton, Mo., June 22d, 1884.
Mrs. Tong had the advantage of good parentage. To this statement, all who knew her parents would bear most favorable testimony. Hence her early training fitted her for the various duties of after-life. She was, withal, a lady of good natural mind; with a readiness of adaptation. She filled her place in the home-circle and in the social relations well: everybody spoke well of this excellent woman.
Her religion was not spasmodic, but scriptural; and, therefore, uniform. She united with the Methodist Church in early life, and maintained her membership in the same until translated to the church triumphant. She sought earnestly to “bring up her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord:” consecrating them early to him in holy baptism.
Mrs. Tong has left eight surviving children--all of them now of mature age; and, with one exception, all were present when what was mortal of their loved and loving mother was so tenderly laid down in the quiet grave. To these, now doubly bereft, both worlds, this and the one to come, must appear more interesting than ever before. This, because they are henceforth to contend with its fateful realities without Father’s or mother’s counsel and aid: and that, because they have, more than ever, motives high as heaven and lasting as eternity to follow the wholesome example of the pious dead.
We might in truth have said much more in praise of our Sister Tong; but will only add the following appropriate lines form one of Charles Wesley’s hymns:
"Let the world bewall their dead,
Fondly of their loss complain;
Sister! Friend! By Jesus freed,
Death to thee, to us, is gain:
Thou art entered into joy;
Let the unbelievers mourn;
We in songs our lives employ
Till we all to God return."
J.C. Berryman.
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