TEALE, THOMAS

TEALE, GRAHAM, WHARTON, VAN DERVORT

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 7/29/2002 at 22:11:08

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, March l5, l923

THOMAS TEALE, son of FREDERICK and DIANA C. TEALE, was born in Greenwich, Kentshire, England, January l0th, l842. In l843 he came with his parents to the U.S., living a short time in Orleans County, New York, moving from there to Wisconsin, where they lived until l847, then they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they lived until the fall of l855, when they moved to David County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood and received as liberal an education as the pioneer days afforded. In l86l, his patriotism was stirred by President Lincoln's first call for three-year volunteers. He enlisted in Co. E, l5th Ill. Infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Shilo by musketball in the right hip, and after hospital treatment was sent home on furlough. He soon re-joined his regiment and continued in the service until August, l863, when he was discharged for disability and returned to the family home in Illinois. In l865, MR. TEALE came to Decatur County and settled on a farm in Fayette Township. In l867, he married LUCINDA GRAHAM; to this union were born four children, CHARLES, FRED E., BERT and ORRA, all of whom are still living and were present at their father's death. In l877, the death messenger robbed MR. TEALE of his wife. In l878, he married MRS. EDITH WHARTON, who was wife and companion until June, l9l0, when death again entered the home and took away the loved one.

In l883 and l885, MR. TEALE made business trips to England, his native land. In l885, he was elected as Representative to the General Assembly of Iowa, and re-elected in l887, serving two terms in the legislative halls, with credit to himself and honor to his county. MR. TEALE has had a varied and successful business experience. In l879 he erected the first business house in Lamoni and was engaged in merchandising until l888, when he moved to Leon, and became a member of the firm of Young & Teale, (*can't read - there is a very large torn area of the paper) and others he bought the Farmers and Traders Bank in Leon. In l9l3 he was elected President of the Farmers & Traders State Bank, which position he retained to the close of his long and useful life.

He was also President of the Iowa State Bank at Mount Ayr, and stockholder and Director in the Farmers State Bank of Lamoni, and the C.S. Stearns State Bank, Garden Grove. In l9ll he married MRS. HANNAH VAN DERVORT, with whom he had been acquainted from his boyhood days.

MR. TEALE and his wife have been regular attendants of the Presbyterian Church since coming to Leon. He was chairman of the church building and finance committee when the new church and manse were built in l9l7, and has served as Chairman of the Board of Church Trustees for many years. His high ideals and wise counsel were always appreciated and will be greatly missed.

As a devoted husband, an indulgent, yet firm father, a loyal friend, an upright and progressive citizen and a Christian gentleman, his death will be a loss felt by all, and it may be well said the world is better from his having lived and contributed his part to its many interests.

His devoted wife, four sons, three brothers, grandchildren and many other relatives and friends will feel deeply their loss in his passing to his reward eternal in the Heavens, where a crown of righteousness awaits his coming. Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church, Sunday afternoon, March llth, conducted by Rev. E.A. Place, the church being filled with sorrowing relatives and friends, and many beautiful floral offerings were received. Interment was in the Leon Cemetery.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
July 24, 2002

Obituary ~ Thomas Teale
January 10, 1842 ~ March 07, 1923

The Annals of Iowa
Iowa State Historical Society
Volume 16, No. 2, 1923, Pages 152-53.

Notable Deaths.

Thomas Teale was born in Greenwich, England, January 10, 1842, and died in Leon, Iowa, March 7, 1923. Burial was in Leon Cemetery. His parents, Frederick and Diana C. Teale, immigrated to the United States with their family in 1843, lived first in Orleans County, New York, later in Wisconsin, in Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1855 removed to Jo Daviess County, Illinois. Thomas attended local schools and secured a good common school education. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, was wounded at Shiloh, was sent home on furlough, rejoined his company later, but in August, 1803, was given a disability discharge. In 1865 he removed to a farm in Fayette Township, Decatur County, Iowa. From 1879 to 1888 he was engaged in the mercantile business in Lamoni. In 1885 be was elected representative and re-elected in 1887, and served in tbe Twenty-first and Twenty-second general assemblies. In 1888 he removed to Leon and became a member of tbe firm of Young & Teale, merchants. In 1894 he entered the banking business, was president of tbe Farmers and Traders State Bank of Leon from 1913 for several years, of the Iowa State Bank of Mount Ayr, and was interested in other banks in tbat vicinity.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2015