Thomas Pownall 1830-1908

POWNALL, MOORE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 1/22/2019 at 10:44:00

13 February 1908 - West Branch Times

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Thos. Pownall, an aged and respected citizen of the vicinity of Centerdale, died at the home of his son, I. D. Pownall, on Saturday morning of last week.

Mr. Pownall has been in poor health for a number of years and of late has been confined to bed. He has been for many years a sufferer from asthma. He leaves several sons and one daughter to mourn his loss.

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Thomas H. Pownall, son of Levi and Sarah Pownall, was born at Christiana, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1830.

The underground railroad had a station at his father's home and he was early taught to help the down-trodden colored race on to freedom. For this cause he enlisted in the civil war.

He was married to Priscilla Moore, March 16, 1853. To this union was born Walter M., George S., Levi T., Hannah H., Elmer E., Lincoln, Charles E., I Darlignton, Harold E., Willard G. Lincoln and Willard died in infancy and Elmer at the age of 31, Feb. 23, 1892.

He was converted in the Methodist church in 1858, and united with that church a few years later. And at the time of his death was a member of the Centerdale United Congregational church.

He moved to Iowa in the spring of 1866, to be near his wife's parents, and bought a farm near Centerdale.

His wife preceded him to the better land March 4, 1897. The last eleven years since her death he has spent in the homes of his children. He had been a sufferer from a complication of diseases, principally asthma, the greater part of his life. And death came as a relief to his suffering, when he passed quietly away without a struggle, in the morning of Feb. 8, 1908, aged 77 years and nine months. All of his children were around him at the last except Levi, Marysville, Wash., and Charles and Harold, in Pasadena, Cal.

He was expecially interested in the church at Centerdale. It was largely because of his liberal donation that the church was built two years ago. Not being satisfied till it was completed by having a bell, he purchased one last fall. It was fitting that the first tolling should be for him and that the first funeral from the church should be his. Let these stand as his monument, ever calling to the things that are higher.