Thomas Scully 1814-1897

SCULLY, PURINE, FOSTER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 9/17/2018 at 14:55:28

23 September 1897 - West Branch Times

DIED --Thomas Scully was born in Delaware Sept. 13, 1814 and departed this life Sept. 20 1897 aged 83 years and 7 days. Mr. Scully was left an orphan at the age of four years, when with foster parents he lived in Pa., until near 20 years of age, when he moved to Ohio living in that state until 1871, when he moved to Cedar county to the farm where he made his home until his death. He leaves a wife and two sons and a host of friends to mourn their loss. Funeral services were held by Rev. J. W. Hadley at the M.E. church near his late home, and interment in the Honey Grove cemetery. A very large number of friends and neighbors were present thus testifying to his worth as a neighbor and friend.

14 October 1897 - West Branch Times

Thomas Scully was born in New Castle County Delaware on Sept. 13th, 1814.

He lived with his parents until he was four years of age, when his mother died. He was then given into the care of Wm. Jackson and wife who were an estimable Hicksite Friend family living near Westchester, Pa. Here he remained attending a select school and performing the various labors that fell to the lot of a healthy and vigorous boy on an average Pennsylvania farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he began as an apprentice to learn the trade of a tanner with John Moergham, at Westchester, Pa. After completing his trade he left Pa. in 1834 and in company with another young man they journeyed afoot across the Alleghany mountains, to Union Town Stark Co. Ohio. Here he secured a situation as foreman in what was at that time considered a large tannery conducted by Samuel Wood. On Feb. 22th, 1842, he was married to Lavina Purine. From this union one son was born. Mrs. Scully died Oct. 8th, 1866. After Samuel Woods deceased the business passed into the hands of his son, John B. Wood, by whom Mr. Scully was still retained as foreman and manager which position he filled with credit for sixteen years.

During the excitement preceding the breaking out of the Mexican war the Governor of Ohio who was personally acquainted with Mr. Scully offered him a Major's commission in the army which he was compelled to decline on account of the long continued sickness of his wife. About the year 1860 he purchased the tannery in which he had been so long employed, and successfully conducted the business for eleven years. On Aug. 24th, 1869 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza G. Foster at Uniontown Ohio. One son was born to them, on June 5th, 1871. On account of long continued exposure to the dampness of the tannery Mr. Scully became afflicted with rheumatism to such an extent that he considered it feasibly to dispose of his tannery business and engage in some other work. This was done and in the spring of 1871 he moved his family to the present homestead in Cedar Co Ia. where he engaged in farming. In the fall of 1873 he moved to West Liberty and engaged in the business of grain buying.

In 1875 he returned to his farm and there lived until his decease on Sept. 20th, 1897 being 83 yrs. and 7 days of age. He leaves a wife and his two sons and a host of friends to mourn his loss.

Thomas Scully was in many respect much more than an ordinary character. His schooling was limited to a few winters in a select school, district schools at that time being unknown. His environment and his natural tendencies, gave to him a discipline that caused him to imbibe a love for practical knowledge that remained with him through life. He was a great reader, and a good reasoner. His fund of knowledge concerning the worlds greatest men in their various fields of action was almost inexhaustible. The ancient Greeks and Romans especially those engaged in the art of war or in the government of the various countries interested him intensely. He could entertain one for hours upon almost any of the great heroes of those nations. No conspicuous character of either ancient or modern times, but of which he was fully cognizant. History in all its bearings was intensely interesting to him and being so he could make it of absorbing interest to others. He was also much interested in Sacred history, and during his earlier life read all the books that were at hand or could be procured upon that subject. "Josephus" was his special delight and he never tired of conversing upon and analyzing his writings.

His knowledge of the history of our own country and her great men was wonderful. During his life he came in contact with many of the prominent characters who have since passed away. He met and worked along with John Brown he too being a tanner, the latter working for Mr. Scully at one time in his tannary at Uniontown. With Garfield and McKinley he was acquainted from their early boyhood. After Garfield became president of Hiram college Mr. Scully sent his son Alexander there to school.

While here, the war began, and young Scully, along with many other students from Hiram enlisted in a regiment organized by their beloved president. Mr. Scully has watched the career of President McKinley from his boyhoods years through an intensely eventful life to the highest seat in the nation. While Mr. McKinley was yet a young man and previous to his entering the study of law he was very fond of the many sports of hunting and fishing and he often called of Mr. Scully to accompany him.

He retained all his faculties to this death, always a great reader, he gave the latter years of his life to the study of the perplexing affairs of our country, and was well versed in every important question under consideration. He cast his first presidential vote for Martin VanBuren in 1836 and having early absorbed the principles of Jeffersonian democracy he adhered to that party through life, voting for sixteen presidents and never missing a vote. Mr. Scully was a good husband and father, a loyal citizen and an honest man. Active and energetic through life, he attained his more than fourscore years, rounding out a life that was a blessing to the world and an honor to him and his family. To know him was to make of him a friend, and of those they were legion. But he has passed over the river, there to enter upon a life eternal. He will be missed and mourned for, but the blessed memory of such a noble life will be the greatest comfort to the saddened hearts he has left behind.