Thomson, George 1867-1928

THOMSON, SHERMAN, MONINGER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/30/2011 at 10:00:24

The Grinnell Herald; Grinnell, Iowa, Jan. 10, 1928

USEFUL LIFE IS ENDED

Early Resident of Chester Passes Away Suddenly and Without Warning.

FIFTY-FOUR YEARS IN SAME TOWNSHIP SHOW WORTHY LIFE

Was Active in Church, Social, Political and Civic Life of Home Township.

The death of George Thomson has taken away one of the early settlers in this community, a man known and recognized in Grinnell as one of utmost probity, honest in all his dealing, intelligent, cultured and enterprising.

It was a great shock to the citizens of Chester when it became known Friday morning that he had passed away. He had been in his usual health and about his business in the regular way. He was a member of the Chester Congregational Church Board and a meeting of the trustees had been called at his home the evening before and after a pleasant business session the members departed leaving both Mr. and Mrs. Thomson in their usual health and both retired at the usual hour.

When Mrs. Thomson rose in the morning and found that Mr. Thomson had not yet gotten up she went to his room to call him. When he made no answer she found that he had passed away. The passing was evidently in the early morning and death had apparently come as a sweet sleep, without pain or suffering.

George Thomson was born in Perkinsville, Vermont, July 28, 1867, and he passed away Jan. 6, 1928, in his 81st year. When he was nine years old the family came from his native state to Chester Township and for 54 years here has been his home He grew up with a desire for a higher education and attended college for several years, but afterward returned to the work on the farm. November 30, 1892, he was united in marriage to Lula A. Sherman, who survives him and in 1894 they moved to the farm which they have occupied ever since. A sister, Miss Helen Thomson survives him also.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the home, conducted by Rev.H.L. Wissler, pastor of the deceased, who read appropriate Scripture selections and offered prayer. Interment was in Chester cemetery. The pall bearers, all long time friends and associates, were John Dempster, Lloyd Tice, T.Y. Fuller, Elmer Rickard, Edgar Harris, and Ed Foster.

Present from out of town to attend the funeral were Mrs. Thomson's brother, Walter Sherman, of Hartman, Colo., her sister, Miss Edna Sherman of Litchfield, Neb., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sherman of Altoona, and Mr. and Mrs. Will Moninger and daughter of Marshalltown.

Mr. Thomson was a farmer of the best type. He made a success of farming because he was careful and conservative and looked after his affairs. What he did was done right. When he bred stock it was good stock and was known as good stock everywhere. He paid his debts and his record as a business man and as an honest gentleman was above reproach.

He was a lover of good, clean sport. The Herald man always had a joke with George when he saw him on the street on the day of a big football game. He always had business in town on those days and his business always took him to the grandstand. He drove in often in past years behind the team of fine bay horses which he loved and justly so. He was a lover of all the good, clean, homely things which go to make up the true richness of farm life. Even tempered, cordial, kindly, he lived his life and lived it well.

The Thomson family were one of the well known, popular and thrifty families who came to Grinnell and Chester in the earlier days and made their impress upon the intellectual and thrifty character of both communities. The Fishers, the Thomsons, the Whitcombs and the Shaws in Grinnell and Chester were recognized as families of intelligence, of honor, and were always active in church and educational work.

Mr. Thomson's Chester life was an open book. He was always welcome in any circle because all knew that a man of honor was among them. He and his wife have been among the most useful members in that worthy community and in his passing all recongize the loss of a real friend, of an uprightly man and a cultured Christian gentleman.