THOMAS, Herman 1847-1907

THOMAS, JULIUS, JASPERS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/13/2012 at 22:45:35

Herman Thomas Dies Suddenly

Deceased Was Resident of Wellsburg for 30 Years

Death Unexpected

For the Past Year Deceased Lived at Kesley Where He was Postmaster

News reached here Wednesday morning that Herman Thomas had died very suddenly at his home in Kesley. His death was entirely unexpected and came as a shock to his many friends and relatives here. Mr. Thomas was postmaster at Kesley and was in his usual good health when he entered the office in the morning. A few moments later he complained of dizziness to someone who had just entered and soon after a niece who was visiting at the home came in, by which time he had grown much worse and asked that Mrs. Thomas be sent for. By the time she had arrived he had become unconscious and was helped into a chair and carried to the house where he expired a few minutes later. Dr. Rulfh who had been summoned from Aplington arrived and after an examination pronounced the case as that of Cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. Thomas was about 60 years of age and for nearly thirty years prior to his locating at Kesley about a year ago, was a resident of Wellsburg. Funeral services conducted by Rev. Theilken will be held at the Reformed church in Wellsburg Saturday, the interment taking place at the Christian Reformed cemetery, two and one-half miles west of town.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 26 September 1907

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Herman Thomas was born Oct. 9, 1847 at Oldersum, O. F. Germany and died at his home in Kesley Iowa Sept. 25, 1907, aged 59 years 11 months and 16 days.

The deceased emigrated to America when a young man and for several years followed a business career at Freeport and Forreston, Ill. Coming to Iowa he located in Colfax township, Grundy County where he was later married to Gretje Julius. Two years later the family moved to Wellsburg where Mrs. Thomas died about seventeen years ago. It was there that Mr. Thomas continued to reside until 1906 when he entered the hardware business at Kesley Iowa and in June of that year was married to Mrs. Harm Jaspers.

Besides his bereaved wife he leaves to mourn his loss two sons, Mient and Martin; Anna, Mrs. H. Schneiderman of Holland, Iowa, Mrs. Geo. Greise of Dumont, Minn. and Bertha, a step-daughter who is married and lives in New Jersey.

Mr. Thomas was well educated, served as a sargent in the Franco Prussian war, being wounded at the battle of Mars Le Four and was thoroughly versed in the history of the Fatherland.

Industrious but generous, he valued a friend above money and honor above gain and departed this life with the well earned respect of all who knew him.

Funeral services were held at the Christian Reformed church two and one-half miles west of Wellsburg at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Rev. Theilken of Wellsburg officiating where the interment took place.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 3 October 1907