Birchard, Thomas Clinton – 1855-1881

BIRCHARD, FISHER

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 1/28/2023 at 13:19:52

Died at Atlantic, Cass Co., Iowa, Oct. 11, 1881, Thomas C. Birchard, aged 25 years, 11 months and 10 days.
Thomas Clinton Birchard, son of Joseph and Susan H. Birchard, was born Nov. 2, 1855, in the county of Victoria, Canada West, and died at Atlantic, Iowa, Oct. 11, 1881, of injuries received while in the discharge of his duties as brakeman of the C.R.I. & P.R.R. He came to the United States at the age of 4 years and has lived in Kellogg for about 18 years. He was married to Miss Harriet Isabel Fisher, March 16, 1879, who is left to mourn for him. He lived an hour and fifteen minutes after being injured and knowing he could not live, he asked his fellow brakeman to pray for him, and he also prayed for himself. We trust that prayer was heard, and that he is now at rest with the blessed in heaven.
While his life was ebbing away he sent farewells to wife, father, mother, brothers, sisters, and to all his friends. He died calmly and without pain. He was a young man of pleasing manners and fine appearance, and was highly respected. His death was untimely. Like the flower cut down in the morning, while its beauty and bloom were full upon it, so he has passed away from earth in the glory and strength of his young manhood. May he have found a home in the palace of God is the wish and hope of our hearts, and may the bereaved an stricken ones meet him in the home over there.
The funeral services were held in the M.E. church at Kellogg, on the 12 inst., at 11 a.m., and were conducted by the writer, assisted by Rev. Dyer, of the Christian church, and Rev. Baker, of the Congregational church. A large audience of mourning and sympathizing friends were present at the services; after which he body was borne in sad procession to the cemetery, where it was interred with appropriate ceremonies. The bereaved family have the prayers of Christians and the sympathy of all in this terrible trial. B.F. Shane
Source: The Newton (IA) Journal; Thursday, October 20, 1881, page 3