Thomas, Dr. died 1916

THOMAS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

Source: Alton Democrat issue of 8 July 1916, Ireton column.

Word was received in Ireton in the late afternoon last Saturday of the death of Dr. Thomas at 1 p.m. the same day. His death occurred at the home of his son in Nevada, Mo., where Mrs. Thomas went with him about a month ago from Rochester. His death was expected since the doctors at Rochester and at Nevada could do nothing for him and held out no hope for his recovery. His disorder, said to be pernicious anemia, was one of those obscure maladies that doctors appear to know little about since they differed widely in their diagnosis. It was called at different times, pyorea, cancer of the liver, cancer of the stomach, and pernicious anemia. He did not suffer pain but had nausea and grew gradually weaker until the end. There seems no source of information near to make up anything in the way of biography. We know, however, that he had been a preacher of the gospel for many years through Kansas and Missouri, serving a six year term as district superintendent. His first wife died and was buried at Girard, Kansas. He came to Iowa three years ago and served the M.E. church in Paullina as pastor for two and a half years, coming to Ireton from there last fall. The pastoral work of the doctor in Ireton was much hampered by sickness, first of Mrs. Thomas who is a sufferer from asthma and then his own illness which began to make itself felt as long ago as February. He was very loath to yield to his growing weakness, and persisted in filling his pulpit regularly until the impossibility of continuing forced itself upon him. On the Sunday morning when he last attempted to preach he was obliged to stop in the middle of his sermon and dismiss the congregation. But he was with his Ireton congregation long enough to make them love him as a man and a preacher. He drew many to hear him who, to say the least, were not in the habit of going to church. He was uncompromising in his denunciation of wrong but his genial, heart to heart way of doing it made it impossible to take offense. The funeral was held Monday at Girard, Kansas. He had served the charge there for several years and had many warm friends there.

[Note from poster: May possibly be Rev. James Anderson Thomas born 1834. Find-A-Grave in Girard, Kansas has a Delia Breeden Thomas (1931-1881) buried, and wife of Rev. James Anderson Thomas, but no stone shown for him. Note there says he died in 1913.]