Thomas F. Mardis (1908)

CLARK, MARDIS, TIDRICK

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 2/19/2010 at 14:08:06

The Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 9, 1908
Page 1

A Prominent Citizen Gone

By the death of T. F. Mardis, Winterset has lost one of her most prominent and useful citizens. The sad event occurred at the family home at about 8:00 o’clock Friday morning. Mr. Mardis had been sick but a few weeks from a recurrence of a trouble from his stomach to which he had been subject. It did not yield to treatment as it had in the past and finally the heart became affected which caused his death.

T. F. Mardis came to Winterset in 1873 to engage in his business as contractor and builder, and ever since which time he has been one of the most prominent figures in the development of our city. There are perhaps not more than six or eight business buildings standing on the square today that he didn’t have a part in the building of, besides a score or more off the square that he built entire. He has always been most public spirited and active in everything which went towards the building up of the town. He was genial, big hearted and companionable. He made many and lasting friends. There could be nobody more keenly missed than Tom Mardis.

He served three years during the civil war as a member of the 18th Iowa infantry, and it has been his habit to never miss a reunion of his old regiment, or in fact, that of any other regiment when it was possible for him to attend. Tom has always been foremost in any undertaking looking towards the honoring or entertainment of the old soldier and their rapidly thinning ranks will grievously miss him.

Thomas F. Mardis was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1837. He lived for a time in Ohio, removing to Clark county, Iowa, in 1859 and in 1873 came to Winterset where he has ever since lived. In 1860 he married Miss H. A. Clark, who was born in Illinois. From this union were born four children, J. C., Mrs. Hattie Tidrick, Fredrick and Anna, all of whom were with him during his last hours. The funeral occurred from the house yesterday at 2:30 p.m. The sermon was preached by his pastor, Rev. J. S. Corkey. The Masonic order, of which he was a prominent member, conducted the services and Pitzer Post G.A.R. attended in a body. There were also present from Des Moines many prominent Shriners and Knights Templar.
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The Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 9, 1908
Page 2

Local Tips

An inexcusable blunder occurs on the first page of this issue in the article “A Prominent Citizen Gone” in which it is said that T. F. Mardis died Friday morning when it should read Tuesday morning. Such mistakes are most annoying, and they will occur occasionally in spite of every precaution.
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Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 9th, 1908
Page 1

It is seldom that a death occurs in Winterset that calls forth more general regret than the one we herein record. Mr. Mardis was in his usual health tip about ten days ago when he was suddenly prostrated with a severe complication of the stomach and heart. Every means that could be called to his relief in the way of medical treatment, trained nurses and the most devoted attention of the part of his immediate relatives and friends were employed to no effect. He died about eight o’clock Tuesday morning, April 7th.

Mr. Mardis was born in Jefferson county, Ohio in 1837, there he learned the business of manufacturing brick which his father had followed from childhood. In his twentieth year he came to Iowa to seek his fortune and first stopped in Washington country; he became an expert brick layer and afterwards went to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade for some time. In 1859 he came to Clark county, Iowa and engaged in the business of manufacturing brick and erecting buildings; he came to Winterset and immediately arranged to manufacture brick and contracted to erect a business block in the city.

By his energy and reliability he soon won the confidence of the business men of Winterset and did about all the building that was done in this line for a quarter of century. It may be truthfully said that transformation of the public square from low frame buildings to elegant brick structures was many done by Mr. Mardis; he also erected a great many of the handsome brick residences of the city among others his own elegant home on East Court Avenue. Mr. Mardis was an enterprising and public spirited citizen and was prompt to back with his influence and money every new enterprise that would aid to develop the city. He served on the city council for many years and owing to his knowledge and experience, aided possibly more than any other one in establishing the public improvements of the city; among others we may remember the fireman’s hall and the electric light plant.

Mr. Mardis was sociable, genial and formed intimate and abiding friendship; he was a model fraternity man and among others, he belonged to the following orders: Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Grand Army of the Republic. In Masonry he achieved the highest honors; was a member of Temple of Mystic Zagazig Shriners and Temple Commandery No. 4. He was a great favorite with the Grand Army boys and for years has had charge of the county relief funds.

Mr. Mardis was married to Miss H.A. Clark in 1860, who remains to mourn the loss of a kind and loving husband. The children are John C. Maris of Omaha; Fred Mardis, Mrs. C.A. Tidrick, and Anna Mardis of Winterset. There were present of the relatives Hon. Alex Mardis of Corydon and Horton Bailey of Osceola, Mr. Clark, Mrs. Matheny and daughter. There was a large delegation of Knights from Des Moines present at the funeral and all the other orders of which the deceased was a member were well represented. The funeral occurred yesterday, April 8th and was conducted by Rev. J.S. Corkey. The Mason conducted the burial service.

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