THOMA, Stephen R 1870/1871 - 1909

THOMA, JACKSON, SPAULDING, BURNES, FULTON, VINTON, MULLIGAN, GOODMAN, ASHLEMAN

Posted By: Richard K. Thompson (email)
Date: 4/1/2012 at 11:58:59

The Fairfield Daily Journal
March 9, 1909
Pg. 3 Col. 2

SUCCUMBED TO PNEUMONIA

Stephen R. THOMA Died Here Last Night After Short Illness

Stephen THOMA died last night at 11 oclock at his home on West Broadway after only a few days illness of pneumonia. He was a young man who was well known and highly respected.

He was a valued employee at Iowa Malleable Iron Workers (sic.) having held the important position of iron mixer with that firm for several years. A few days ago he was taken ill with an attack of pneumonia, and from the very first it was seen that he had small chances to win in the battle with the disease.

He is survived by his wife and two little daughters upon whome the blow of his death has fallen with crushing force. Mrs. THOMA is prostrated by the suddeness of the blow.

Stephen R. THOMA was born May 22, 1871 (sic. May 6, 1870 on his headstone inscription) on a farm about seven miles from this city and had made home in Jefferson county all his life with the exceptions of a few months which he spent in Spokane Washington.

On May 22, 1898 he was married to Miss Rosa JACKSON in this city. To them were born two children Elizabeth and Cathrine (sic. Marie Elizabeth and Catherine Anafay; neither of whom married) who with their mother are so suddenly bereft of a husband and fathers protecting care.

In the spring of .... (sic. date not legible in microfilm image of this obituary), immediately after the close of the Sunday revival meetings Mr. THOMA and his wife united with the First Methodist church of which they have since been faithful members. Mr. THOMA was a prominent member of the Fairfield Fellowship club and also of Forest City lodge No. 37 Knights of Pythias of this city.

For a number of years Mr. THOMA was associated with Louis THOMA and W. W. ISREAL in the drug business here and is well known all over the county. Mr. THOMA and his family moved to Spokane, Washington about four years ago where they spent several months returning to this city to make their home. He had been employed at the Mallable (sic) Iron Works for the past three years and was well liked among his fellow employes.

Beside his family he is survived by his mother, one brother, William and four sisters, Mrs. Francis FULTON of this city, Mrs. Thoma MULLIGAN of Lincoln, Nebraska; Mrs. Anna GOODMAN of Winfield and Mrs. S. J. ASHLEMAN of Batavia.

The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 oclock, at the Methodist church. Rev. C. L. Tennant will conduct the last services. The members of Forest City lodge No. 37 K. O. P. will have charge of the services at the cemetery. It is quite probable that the fellow employes at the Mallable (sic.) Iron Works will attend the funeral in a body.

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The Fairfield Daily Journal
March 10, 1909
Pg. 2 Col. 4

THOMAS FUNERAL LARGELY ATTENDED

One of the largest funeral services which has been held in this city for several years was that of Stephen R. THOMA which was held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Methodist church, Rev. C. L. Tennant officiating. When the funeral cortege left the home on West Broadway a long line of Knights of Pythias followed by the employes of the Iowa Malleable Iron Works acted as an escort to the funeral party. There were ninty-eight (sic.) fellow workers in the Malleable in line and they were led by Manager W. C. SPAULDING and Foreman J. W. BURNES. The long line of workmen had known Mr. THOMA intimately for three years and mourn his death as that of a personal friend.

The large church building was filled with friends at the service. The floral tributes were numerous and many were magnifcant (sic.) works of art. These were contributed by the Knights of Pythias, The Malleable Iron Workers, church friends, the Fairfield Fellowship Club, the druggists of the city, school children and friends. The casket was covered with beautiful flowers; silent tributes of love and esteem for him who has been called away from this earth.

At the cemetery the members of Forest City lodge No. 37 Knights of Pythias took charge of the services and according to the beautiful rictualistic (sic.) service of the order consigned their brother remains to the earth.

The bereaved wife and little daughters, the sorrowing mother and other relatives of the young man have the sympathies of hosts of friends at this time.

* Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note:
Buried in Evergreen cemetery, Fairfield, Iowa. 2nd.119.

The headstone inscription uses May 6, 1870 for the DOB. The obituary uses May 22, 1871. There are no official birth records in Jefferson county to use to reconcile these differences, however Stephen is found in the 1870 Federal Census (taken July, 1870) as one month old.

Stephen's wife, Rosa, subsequently remarried on June 7, 1910 to Edward W. VINTON. It isn't known if Rosa's two daughters were formally adopted by Edward, but both are buried in the VINTON family plot (2nd.007) with their obituaries and headstones both using the VINTON surname. One daughter, Marie Elizabeth (THOMA) VINTON died in 1916 at the age of 16 years from an illness of several months duration. Her sister, Catherine Anafay (THOMA) VINTON was born in 1903 and died in 1985 (she never married).