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WHALEN, Tom died 1927

WHALEN

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/11/2019 at 16:34:00

Pioneer Recluse Taken by Death - Tom Whalen, Old Settler, Found Dead in Home at Granite Creek

Tom Whalen, well known all over Bonner county as a miner, rancher and recluse, was found dead on the floor of his cabin on Granite creek by Mrs. Ben Jensen who had gone to his house to see what was the matter with him as he had not been seen for several days and was thought to be sick. She also brought up his mail to him.

When she opened the front door she noticed everything seemed to be in its place and she then called but receiving no answer went to the door of his bedroom. When she opened it, she saw his body lying on the floor face down. She went home and called her husband who with some more of the neighbors, went to the house to investigate the death and had the forest ranger telephone to the authorities in Sandpoint.

A little over a week previous Whalen had had a fight on the dock near his place and the dock was covered with blood which led to the belief there had been foul play in his death.

Coroner Moon, Prosecuting Attorney Sidney Smith and Deputy Sheriff Gus Stone accompanied by Dr. F.G. Wendie and A.F. Eckert took a tugboat and went to Granite Creek. They thoroughly investigated the place and came to the conclusion death was due to heart failure. He had been dead several days when his body was found.

From the position of the body the officers came to the conclusion he had got out of bed about 11:46 and had tumbled over dead, his cheek striking the table, knocking the lamp chimney and the alarm clock off onto the floor. The alarm clock stopped at 11:46.

Whalen's parents were born in Ireland, but he was born at Waukon, Iowa. He came to Bonner county about 30 years ago and located on Granite creek, where he had a ranch and a mine. At one time he was offered quite a sum of money for his mine but he refused it as the purchasers wanted 51 per cent which he thought would give them control to freeze him out of the rest.

He was a great lover of dogs and had several and when they died he buried them in a cemetery he had fixed up on his ranch and it was his custom to keep the graves of his dog friends supplied with flowers.

He is survived by two brothers and a sister. One brother and sister live at Waukon, Iowa, and the other brother, James, at Julietta. James came to Sandpoint and took the body back to the place where he was born, Waukon, Iowa, for burial.

Whalen was 63 years of age at the time of his death but hale and hearty and able to do a full day's work for a man.

~Northern Idaho News, Sandpoint, ID; Tuesday, July 19, 1927


 

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