TANDY, William Thomas

TANDY, WILLIAMS, BOSTON

Posted By: Judy Dankert Parsons (email)
Date: 2/25/2005 at 15:30:23

Oskaloosa Daily Herald, December, 1916.

"A Pioneer Goes Suddenly"

William Thomas Tandy was born November 18, 1844, in Keokuk County, IA. Went home on Sunday morning, December 10, 1916, about 8:30 o'clock.

He had been poorly but a few days and at this hour was about his morning chores, when the summons came to come higher and he responded to the heavenly call.

Mrs. Tandy, feeling that her companion had been out too long, although it had been only a few minutes, went to call him; receiving no response to her calls, she then called to her grandson, Wilbur Williams, to go up into the haymow to see if grandpa had fainted up there. Wilbur ran quickly and said, "No, grandma, grandpa is not here." The duaghter, Mrs. R. H. Williams, hastened to her mother and seeing the gate of the chicken yard unfastened, went to look and there she found her dear old father lying on his back, looking so pale. It was such a shock, she screamed for her mother, who was still at the barn in search for her dear one. Mrs. Williams, leaving her mother working with the fallen one, ran to call the doctor and relatives.

It was soon found that life was gone. Rheumatism had struck the heart which caused instant death.

A neighbor, Miss Phoenix, said she had been talking with Mr. Tandy not five minutes before as she, too, was feeding her chickens at the same time. She said he seemed as usual, talked about the beautiful Sabbath morning.

He leaves to mourn their loss, his faithful wife, two sons and a daughter, A.B. Tandy of White Oak, W.T. Tandy, Jr., of Leighton, and Mrs. R.H. Williams of Oskaloosa; nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, three brothers, four sisters, one old uncle, a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Those who have gone on before are a father and mother, one brother, three sisters and a son-in-law. Mr. Tandy was next to the oldest of a family of twelve children.

W.T. Tandy and Mary J. Boston were united in marriage, March 28, 1866. To this union were born two sons and one daughter. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last March, without a break in the family circle. The first sorrow came when R.H. Williams, the son-in-law, was so suddenly called. Ever since that awful shock, Mr. Tandy has been gradually declining in health.

For forty years, this man has been serving the Lord in his true, quiet way. He was a faithful member of the German Reforced Church at Leighton, acting in an official capacity of the church; also he was a Sunday School teacher nearly all the time of his residence at that place.

Eighteen years ago he moved to the late residence in Oskaloosa with his wife and daughter, when he became a member of the Friends Church in which he has been so interested in its every activity, ever ready and willing to answer to all of duty's calls: faithful to his Bible class, missing but one Sabbath during the past year, and that was the time of the tragic death of R.H. Williams. He was a faithful and helpful member of the Brotherhood, never missing a meeting when possible to attend; he was at the last meeting on Wednesday night before his home going on Sunday. On the same morning of his death, he was hurrying to get ready to go to his Bible class and church service; but Jesus called him to a more beautiful place.

The funeral services were held in the Friends' Church, Tuesday, December 12, at one o'clock. Rev. Stranahan had a most comforting message in this sad hour; text was found in 1st Cor. 15th chapter and 55th verse. He spoke of the strange and beautiful coincidence. Our departing brother was hurrying to get ready to go to Sunday School and every member of the numerous relatives that were called that morning was also getting ready for Sunday School.

The college male quartette sang so beautifully, "Looking this Way," "We'll Never Say Good-bye in Heaven." and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere."

The funeral procession went by auto to the Olivet Cemetery, where the interment was made. While the pure white snow was silently and softly falling, the ladies' quartette of Olivet sang so sweetly by the open grave, "Gathering Home One by One."