Thompson, Holden (1859-1916)

THOMPSON, CRAGWICK, TYLER, SOGARD

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/11/2015 at 10:59:06

Taken from a scrapbook compiled by Lois Elaine Anderson Thompson that is located at the Ellsworth Library, Ellsworth, Iowa

The entire community was noticeably shocked last Saturday when the news reached here of the death of Holden Thompson, one of the most influential citizens of this city. Mr. Thompson had been a chronic sufferer for a number of years and just lately his condition began to grow much worse, and he was taken to the sanitarium at Nevada, where he was found to be suffering from ulcer of the stomach. An operation was performed in hope of relieving the afflicted man, but his condition was too weak to withstand the ordeal and he passed to his reward on the last day of September.

Thus another pioneer of this vicinity is taken from the ranks and from the place which can never be filled as the deceased had filled it. Mr. Thompson was a good man in every respect, a citizen high in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow townsmen, and a loving and tender husband and father. He has been a citizen of this place for thirteen years, and in that time has held most of the offices of any consequence in the gift of the local voters. He has served as secretary of the school board, was a member of the council at one time, justice of the peace up to the time of his death, and had held various other township offices very creditably. He was always progressive and working for the best interests of his town and ever willing to do his share in any enterprise for the betterment of local conditions. During his connection with the local telephone company, many changes were made which completely modernized the plant, and thru his efforts the service has been much improved.

He was a charter member of the United Lutheran church of this city, and was always active in working for the best interests of that organization. He has held various offices in the church and was always a prominent figure in the Sunday school and its work. He was a regular attendant at the services of his church, and never failed the opportunity to do his part in any of the benevolent enterprises of the church. His departure will leave a vacancy in the life of the church that will not soon be filled, and the memory of his undying faith and tireless labors will linger in the hearts of his associates like the perfume of fragrant flowers.

Holden Thompson was born in Lee county, Illinois, May 3, 1859, and died at Nevada, Iowa on September 30, 1916, aged 57 years, 4 months and 27 days. In 1874 or at the age of fifteen, he moved with his parents to Iowa, and settled on a farm, one mile south of the present site of the town of Ellsworth. He lived here until he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Cragwick, moving after his marriage to a farm three miles east of Ellsworth. Here they lived until in January 1903, when they moved to this city, where they have since made their home. He was baptized according to the usages of the Lutheran church by Rev. A.C. Prues and confirmed at Lee, Illinois, by Rev. J. Takle, and has been a member of the Lutheran church of this city since its organization, being one of the prominent men in the early history of the local congregation.

He leaves to mourn his sad departure, his wife, three children, Henry of Ryder, N.D., Amos, of Minneapolis, and Mrs. E.B. Tyler of Ellsworth. One child, Sylvina, died in infancy. One brother, John Thompson, of Ellsworth, and a sister, Mrs. Simon Sogard, also of this city survive him.

In the death of this beloved man the sorrowing relatives have the profound sympathy of the entire community. He was a man well liked by all who had any business dealing with him, and was widely and favorably known throughout this section of the state.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon from the Lutheran church, with Rev. K.O Lundeberg, the local pastor, and Rev. K.O. Eittriem, of Jewell, officiating. The remains will be laid to rest in the cemetery three miles east and mile south of Ellsworth.

Floral offerings in great profusion were in evidence as small tokens of the great esteem in which the deceased was held by his relatives, friends and business associates. A beautiful floral design, "Gates Ajar," was given by the business men of the city. The pallbearers were K.O. Elwick, L.E. Tyler, Engel Narland, Peter Bly, J.E. Peterson and A. Reynolds, all former friends and business associates of the deceased man.