Sovereign, Thomas Clark 1829 - 1900

SOVEREIGN, MITCHELL, PHILBRICK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:26

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer June 15, 1900, LP, C5

T. C. Sovereign Dead
The citizens of Crcsco were startled on Tuesday morning to learn that T. C. Sovereign, living about three miles south-west of town, had been found dead in his barn early in the morning, where he had gone about 5 o’clock to attend to his milking. When found he was lying unconscious and was at once carried to the house and medical assistance summoned but life was already extinct. The cause of his death was undoubtedly heart disease which had troubled him considerably. The funeral will occur from the house at 3 p. m. to-day.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer June 19, 1900, LP, C5,6

In Memory of T. C. Sovereign.
Thomas Clark Sovereign was born at Simcoe, Ontario, September 23, 1829 and was the second son of Richard S. and Elizabeth E. Sovereign. In the family there were six children, three snus and three daughters only two of whom survive him: George P. Sov-ereign of St. Cloud Minn. and Joshua Sovereign of Woodland, California.
In 1845 the family immigrated to the United States and settled on a farm near Elgin, Ill., where on Oct. 23, 1850, Mr. Sovereign was married to Miss Ruby Mitchell and shortly afterwards removed to Cassville Wis., and later to Weston, Mo., where on Aug. 13, 1857, his wife died leaving two children, Emeline L. and James R, both of whom are living. Immediately following the death of his wife he returned to Elgin III., where he placed his son in the keeping of his parents and his daughter in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stephens.
In the spring of 1859, in company with others he began the long arduous journey overland from Illinois to California and during the succeeding five years his career was full of stirring events characteristic of pioneer life. His remarkable physical strength, in-domitable will and matchless courage soon gave him rank and distinction in the many struggles of those times against the savage Indian tribes of the far West. His bravery and power of endurance was the admiration of all his associates and soon commanded the attention of government officers. He was first employed as a special messenger and carried orders, dispatches, and express over the most dangerous desert and mountain regions of California, Arizona and New Mexico. During the most exciting periods of the war of the Rebellion he was given charge of government stock and supply trains and was otherwise employed as a scout and guide in the transportation the regular and voluntary soldiers from San Pedro, Cal. To the Rio Grande river. Later he was assigned to a position in the United States mint as a compliment for efficient service, he being required to withdraw from the transport service owing to bronchial affections{sic} contracted by inhaling the alkali dust during his long journeys over the deserts. But the climate of California did not conduce to his speedy recovery and acting on the advice of his physician he boarded a ship sailed to New York returned to Illinois in the latter part of the winter of 1864. He entirely regained his health and in a few weeks purchased a large collection of choice horses and with his brother, George P., several other relatives and friends started on his second overland trip across the plains to California. But one morning during the last days of June of that year the expedition was brought to a sudden termination at Box Elder Springs, Wyoming, near Ft. Laramie where the company was surprised and attacked by Sioux Indians. Their horses were nearly all seized and Mr. Sovereign was seriously wounded. He was removed to Ft. Laramie where under the treatment of army surgeons he recovered and returned as far as Ft. Kearney, Neb., and after aiding army officers with information concerning Indian movements, he came to New Oregon I. and on May 9, 1865 was married to Mrs. Harriet Mitchell, widow of Riley Mitchell and has since resided on the farm occupied by her at the time of their marriage. Mrs. Mitchell at the time of their marriage was the mother of five children only three of whom are now living: Mrs. Philbrick residing in Hancock County, Iowa, Myron O. and William R. Mitchell who are local residents. To the union with Mrs. Mitchell five children were born, Ruby H. Darius M. Carrie, Rosa, and Warren C. all of whom are living.
The thirty-five years of his residence here was spent in the closest possible application to farm life and was characterized by energy, enterprise and frugality equalled by few and excelled by none within the wide range of his acquaintance. His life was one of incessant activity up to the honr{sic} of his departure.
During the past year he had shown symptoms of organic heart trouble and on Tuesday morning, June 12, without warning and without suffering suddenly passed away while engaged in his usual morning work in the seventy-first year of his age. He leaves a beloved wife seven children and a host of friends to mourn his death.

New Oregon Cemetery
 

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