Almeda (Barnett) Thomas (1920)

THOMAS, BARNETT, WILSON

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 3/28/2012 at 07:50:52

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, May 5, 1920
Page 10

Earlham

MRS. ALMEDA THOMAS

The funeral of Mrs. Almeda Thomas occurred Sunday afternoon, conducted by President McGrew, assisted by Rev. Lescault, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Clarence Wilson.

Mrs. Thomas had just returned from an enjoyable winter in California and was taken sick in a few days. She died Friday morning, Apr 30th, at four o'clock. Aunt Mede, as she was known by her friends, had practically spent her whole life in this vicinity and was known and loved by all on account of her kind, motherly heart, Christian character and pleasing manner. She expressed herself as ready and willing to go to her heavenly home to meet loved ones waiting for her.

Her two children, Mrs. Wilson and Ernest Thomas and their families, with other relatives, have the sympathy of the community in their sorrow.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
April 1920

Mrs. Almeda Thomas passed away at about four o’clock this (Friday) morning after a gradual decline of health in which heart weakness took an active part. At the hour of going to press the only announcement to funeral services that has been formulated is that they will occur at the home of the daughter, Mrs. Clarence Wilson at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The possible arrival of brothers from Kansas and Washington may vary this arrangement.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, May 6, 1920

SPLENDID PIONEER WOMAN PASSES ON

Four Score Years in Life Span of Mrs. Almeda Thomas. Had Spent 65 years in Earlham’s Vicinity and Saw Town’s Beginning.

Some come to the close of day with work scarce begun and as the purling shadows of night creep across the western sky a feeling of fear and unrest drive away the happy thoughts of the rest and quiet of night. No evening son lulls the spirit to rest and peace. No hallowed influence shuts out the noise of the work and strife of days. No happy thoughts of difficult tasks accomplished, of helpful deeds performed or of victories won. They enter the dark of night with no beacon light lighting the way to rest.

Not so with Almeda Thomas. She came to the close of day with work well done. And such as these triumphantly meet the eventide. Hallowed memories cluster close about. Memories of beautiful deeds done in the name of the master.

Assurance of having lived and served as a Christian sooth them to quiet and peace. To such as her the gathering night clouds are as a door leading away from the work and care of the day. A light shines out in the darkness lighting them to eternal rest. And a voice gladdens and thrills the heart as it speaks of work well done and bids them to enter into the joys of their Lord.

This beautiful life began on January 20, 1840, in the home of Wm. and Julia Barnett, who were then living near Moonsville, Indiana. Her parents endowed with the spirit of pioneers seemed to hear a voice calling them away from homefolks, out into a land that lay a wilderness, waiting for brave people to come and endure the toil loveliness and hardships of frontier life. Waiting for men to come to co-operate with God in turning this wilderness into rich farm land and dot its plains with beautiful homes. In response to that call this family of twelve came to Iowa in 1855 locating on a farm 4 miles southeast of Earlham but there was no Earlham here at that time. Winterset was the nearest trading point and the closest neighbor was several miles away.

Not only were these people pioneers in rescuing this land from a waste of wilderness but they were pioneers in establishing Friends Meetings in this part of the country. The first Friends Meeting was held in their home. Later the meeting house ----- was build and North Branch was established. Mrs. Thomas was a birthright Friend and ---- membership with the ----- where she remained a member until the Earlham Meeting was established and since that time she has been a loyal consistent member of this church, giving liberally of her time and means to all its work and interest.

She was married to Mark Thomas on October 7, 1875 and the following year they located on the farm east of Earlham where the only son still resides. Two children came to the home Earnest M. and Mrs. Myrtle Wilson.

For 55 years this happy couple walked together, doubling each other joys and sharing their sorrows, but on February 8, 1910, the husband leaving the wife to go the rest of the way alone. These remaining ten years were spent in the home of the daughter, where loving hearts cherished a mothers presence and ---- to her comfort and happiness.

Two weeks ago she was taken ill and all was done that could be done to hold her awhile longer to her loved ones, but in the early morning of April 30, 1920, at the age of ----- years, 3 months and 10 days she laid aside life’s work and care and peacefully slipped out ------ the group of loving hands, out through the valley of the shadows of death. The door opening into God’s own country there to receive the welcome of her Lord and Master.

She leaves to mourn her passing her two children, one brother living in Linden, Ia., three in Washington and one in Kansas, and a host of other relatives and friends.
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Transcriber's note: Burial was in the Earlham cemetery

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