Thomas R. Todd 1822-1909

TODD, LANE, PARSONS, EARLY, BANNISTER, ROUCH, WALKER

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 12/6/2024 at 06:53:09

The Wapello Republican, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, March 18, 1909
Page 1

Thomas R. Todd, an aged resident of Wapello, died Tuesday afternoon, March 16, 1909, at the age of 86 years, 4 months, and 3 days, of old age and conditions incident thereto. He was born Nov. 13, 1822, in Madison county, Kentucky, ten miles from Richmond, where his early life was spent. In the year 1848 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Lane. They resided at Crookville, Ky., for two years, removing to Roscoe, Mo., in the spring of 1850. This was a region of dense forest at that time. He took up a claim of forty acres and built for himself and bride a frame house. The next spring he opened up a black smith and cabinet shop. Here he continued to reside until 1862 when he moved to Orterville. The region where he resided was infested with guerrillas and he had a narrow escape from death during on of the raids of the notorious Quantrill.

His faithful wife died in 1870, while he was rending at Roscoe, Mo. Eight children were born to them, two Catharine and John Wesley, dying in early life. Another son, William Wallace, went west twenty-five or thirty years ago, with a purpose of joining the regular army. He has not been heard from since and whether living or dead is not known and probably none of the family will ever know. Five daughters are living, as follows: Madora Parsons, Fishtail, Mon.; Zephorah Early, Perue, Ind.; Flora Bannister, O'Dell, Ill.; Elizabeth Rouch, Wapello, Iowa; and Elixa Walker, of this place, with whom he made his home at the time of his death.

Mr Todd was a kindly, genial man, a lover of the woods and streams, with something of a pioneer spirit which possessed him to the last. He will be missed in the home. He wanted to go and was ready. He had been failing in health for several years, and especially during the last year. He had lived more than the allotted four score years and was therefore simply living on "borrowed time." The funeral was held this afternoon at 2 p. m at the home, conducted by Rev. A. K. Hill and Charles Blanchard of the Christian church, of which he became a member while residing in Roscoe, Mo., forty years ago. Interment in the Wapello cemetery.