Plum, Thomas Melville 1859-1923

PLUM, DITZLER, SHORT, RUSH, GAVAGAN, CARMER, DERVIN, FERNEAU, KOESTER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/5/2012 at 15:12:56

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; May 1923

THOMAS MELVILLE PLUM

Thomas Melville Plum, was born at Davenport, Iowa, Oct. 12, 1959, and died May 14, 1923, at Grinnell, Iowa.

He was twice married. In 1890, Dec. 12, he was united in marriage to Miss Lettie Ditzler, and in 1916, Nov. 9, he was again married to Mrs. Frances M. Short, of Malcom, Iowa.

In early life he united with the Baptist church of Iowa City, and remained a member of that church until the family moved to Grinnell in 1876.

Since that time he has lived in Poweshiek county until his death with the exception of one year in Colorado and three years in Kansas.

Mr. Plum was a farmer all his life until about twenty-four years ago when he moved to Grinnell.

For the last 14 years he has been a faithful, industrious employee of the Grinnell Washing Machine factory.

Mr. Plum was 63 years, 7 months and 5 days old.

He leaves to mourn his death, his wife, Mrs. Frances M. Plum, 4 brothers, Jno. W. Plum of Grinnell, Arthur Plum of Iowa Falls, Frank Plum of Pequot, Minn., E.R. Plum of Marshalltown, one sister, Mrs. Jno. Rush, of Brainard, Minn., and a host of friends and other relatives.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon from the Mellott Funeral Chapel by Rev. W.A. Ross. Interment was in Hazelwood.

Out of town relatives attending the funeral were: a brother, Arthur Plum, of Iowa Falls; a sister, Mrs. Delia Rush, of Brainard, Minn.; four nieces, Mrs. Bertha Gavagan, Mrs. Lula Carmer, Mrs. Martha Dervin, and Mrs. Dora Ferneau of Marshalltown, and Edward Short and Lloyd L. Koester, of Des Moines.

A WORD OF APPRECIATION

It seems to me that it would be fitting at this time for me to say a word of appreciation of Mr. Plum as coming from his employer of nearly fifteen years.

Tom Plum had that virtue which is not found in many who work for others, in that he always gave a day's work for a day's pay. He was a man who didn't need a foreman and one who was always willing to give the best that he had to his employer at any time that his services were needed. The Grinnell Washing Machine Company feel keenly the loss to them in Mr. Plum's death of a faithful employee whose place will be hard to fill. He was always interested in his work, in the success of the company and in putting out a good product. We do not have a record of ever having had to ask him to do over work that he had done because it was not done in the first place in the right manner. He was liked by his fellow-workmen, as well as by those under whom he served. In the fifteen years' service, I can think of nothing that he did that we could have wanted differently done and we feel a keen loss, not only of his services, but of his friendship.

We extend our sincerely sympathy to the family and relatives.
J.L. FELLOWS
-------------------------------
The senior of the Herald would like to add that we first met Tom Plum in the harvest field in 1878--some years ago. Tom was a hard-working, clean young fellow, who even then did not need help to keep up his station. We never met a finer young man to work with and have only kind memories of our acquaintance with him.