Tomlinson, Fred M. 1856-1931

TOMLINSON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 12/8/2010 at 16:19:20

LeMars Globe-Post
December 7, 1931

GIVES VIVID PICTURE OF CHARACTER

The following vivid characterization of Fred Tomlinson, whose ashes were
recently buried in LeMars, was written by R. M. Latham, veteran LeMars
newspaper man:

Fred M. Tomlinson in his lifetime, was among many who have helped to place
the name of LeMars on the map in various ways.

His was a meteoric career, interesting in its naiveté during a brief time in
which he basked in the popularity of the fickle public and gained reputation
in many states of the union.

Fred was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Eri Tomlinson, early settlers in eastern
Iowa, who came to Plymouth county in the seventies and located on a farm
four miles east of LeMars in Marion township.

N. B. Bryant, of happy memory, later bought his farm which has changed hands
since.

Brought up in a family possessed of strong Calvinistic, puritanical notions,
Fred felt the urge for wider things.

The elder Tomlinson was a good cattle man and a trader of sorts. He used his
opportunities to good advantage to himself in the rush of settlers to this
part of the state in the early eighties when English, Germans, and
Scandinavians rushed to LeMars, U.S.A., the only town known to many
emigrants, with the possible exception of two cities, New York, where
landing was made, and Dubuque, where wayfarers stopped to assuage their
thirst before taking the long trail across the state to the golden spot in
the northwest corner.

The Tomlinsons found easy pickings among the newcomers, some of whom were
honest, although others came with the intent of plucking the native.

Fred Tomlinson splurged around as a cattle buyer, backed by money from the
old man, dealt for awhile in weedy race horses. Tired of the simple life on
the dear old farm, he came to the swiftly growing town of LeMars and engaged
in the mercantile business on a large scale for a few years, conducting a
store with a brother-in-law, which comprised dry goods, clothing and
groceries.

It was while a merchant of renown, Fred conducted a fancy stock farm on the
bottom lands east of where the Whitewae is now located.

From a gawky youth with an attitude of knowing it all, Fred possessed of a
good heart and well intentioned, became a mixer in his blatant and rough
way. Born with a superabundance of egotism and gall, he nevertheless had
many remarkable traits of character and under the name of “Dead Shot”
Tomlinson, gained notoriety in many states.
STARTED ON ROAD
Often “half shot” and once seriously wounded in Texas in an altercation with
a cowboy, Tomlinson did not gain his sobriquet from his marksmanship. His
fame arose from his humbler beginnings. In the Tomlinson family for many
generations two home made remedies, one for internal and the other for
external use, had served themselves and hardy neighbors for medicinal
purposes.

With an urge to make money, after several unsuccessful ventures, and a flair
for advertising, Fred Tomlinson evolved the idea of capitalizing the
advantages of the home made panaceas.

He started the production on a large scale of Tomlinson’s “Dead Shot” and
Tomlinson’s Quick Relief Oil. While a local chemist engaged in the
compounding and packing of the infallible nostrums and the printing presses
turned our reams of circulars, pamphlets and wrappers, Tomlinson himself
sallied out to the crossroads, the hamlets and the towns to cry the wonder
of his all curing remedies.

With black clerical hat and Prince Albert flowing coat and a wisp of
distinguishing marks of his outward apparel, he mounted soap boxes at street
corners and delivered panegyrics on the value of the products he offered to
sell.

Being successful in his first efforts, he branched out and gathered around
him a troupe of entertainers and gave performances before the sale, touring
the country.

At one time he returned to his early home in LeMars in a chariot drawn by
four fine black horses, gaily caparisoned and bedecked. He was accompanied
by a minstrel troupe of colored members. At other times, while on his tours,
he engaged a number of vaudeville artists.

Riot of color, blatant music, and wealth of florid language, marked his
progress through the land in the hey day of his success. Tomlinson in
cowboy regalia, with guns in his belt, ten gallon hat, was the flourishing
master of ceremonies.

Tomlinson, in common with many great and small, could not stand prosperity.
He loved wine, women and song, and yearned for the bright lights where for a
time he cut a swath.

The lean years followed and in later days he hit the rocks and the panhandle
trail where a drink, a meal, or a cheery word brightened the dragging hours.
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The LeMars Sentinel newspaper in LeMars, IA, reported this same article with this additional information: Fred Tomlinson died in St. Louis, Mo., in September.
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Transcriber Note: Fred M. Tomlinson is buried in LeMars City Cemetery (Block 2). The cemetery records contain these dates:
Born 12/21/1856; Died 9/14/1931.