William Henry Toms (1845-1938)

TOMS, FITZGERALD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/2/2023 at 15:32:26

From Nevada Evening Journal August 22, 1938 (page 1)

Taps Have Sounded For Nevada's Last Civil War Veteran

Born Dec. 26, 1845
Civil War Veteran
Died August 21, 1938

William H. Toms, 92, last surviving Civil war veteran in Nevada, died at his home 307 H avenue, here Sunday morning at 9:05.

Mr. Toms, or "Uncle Billy" as he was familiarly knwon, had been invalided since December 4, 1937, when he fell upon a sidewalk approach at the corner of Fourth and I avenue and fractured his hip.

He was taken to Iowa sanitarium at that time and there he was cared for until Easter Sunday, when he was brought to his home, which has been in care of his grandson Lawrence Toms and wife, and there he had since been tenderly cared for by members of the family, assisted by competent practical nurse.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 at the Bishop Funeral home with Rev. C. E. Lookingbill in charge. Burial will be in the Nevada cemetery by the side of his wife and daughter who died in 1926 and 1930 respectively. Interment will be under the ritualistic ceremonies of the Masonic lodge of which he was a long time member, and with an escort and firing squad from Nevada Post No. 48 American Legion. The latter will accord him full military honors as he is laid to rest.

William Henry Toms was a native of Virginia, born in Nelson county December 26, 1845, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Dillard Toms, being one of nine children, he having three sisters and five brothers.

In 1858 the family moved from Virginia and settled near Wexton, in West Virginia, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. Came the Civil war and both the father and son enlisted in the Third West Virginia Cavalry, the father in Company M and the son in Company I of the same regiment. He served throughout the war being discharged in July 1865, at Harpers Ferry.

He took part in many of important battles with the army of the east, being at Lynchburg, Gettysburg and was active in all of the important campaigns.

Following his discharge in 1865 he returned to his West Virginia home and there he was married to Miss Amanda Fitzgerald, his bride being a native of Kentucky. Three children were born to this couple. One died in infancy, the daughter of Olive lived at home and passed away in Nevada, March 22, 1930, and the one son Marston Henry Toms id a farmer just west of Nevada in Grant township.

Besides the one son he leaves four grandsons and two granddaughters, and several great-grandchildren. The grandchildren are Lawrence who was raised in the home of his grandparents and who with his wife made a home for the old veteran following the death of the wife and daughter Olive; Theodore Toms of northwest of Ames, Clyde Toms at home, Mrs. Pearl Kyle of near Ames and Mrs. Violet Wirtz of near Ames.

The family home had continued in West Virginia for a time, after which Mr. Toms and his young wife came west and settled at Lexington, Illinois, where they lived until 1896, when they came to Iowa and settled on what was known as the Silliman farm in section 16 Grant township. They lived there for five years and it was from this farm that Mr. Toms gained the distinction of delivering the largest crop of corn ever delivered in one day in Nevada, over 8,000 bushels in one string of wagons.

Mr. Toms continued to farm in this vicinity for a number of years, retiring and moving into town in 1912. The family home was established at 317 H avenue and there his wife died January 28, 1926 and the daughter Miss Olive, who had always lived at home, passed away March 22, 1930.

From that time home was in charge of his grandson Lawrence Toms and wife, the grandson having been brought up in the home. He spent some time at the home of his son Marston (Mack) Toms and family, on Lincoln Way, just west of town.

Mr. Toms was for many years a member of Jason D. Ferguson Post Grand Army of the Republic, being one of the few active members of that post when the charter was surrendered a few years ago.

He had always been active in veterans activities and never failed to attend the Story county Civil war veterans reunions as long as they were held. He was also well known in State Grand Army circles which he attended regularly. For the past several years he had been a regular attendant at the National Encampment where he had gained a wide acquaintance.

Comrade Toms as he was known among the patriotic organizations of the city or "Uncle Billy" as he was generally and familiarly known was a distinctive figure at all reunions and encampment because of his military bearing, his full gray beard and the high top cavalry boots which he invariably wore. The latter characteristic gave him the nickname of Boots among his more intimate Grand Army comrades.

For many years he had been a familiar and popular figure on the streets of Nevada and as he grew older and finally became the last of the Civil war veterans interest centered on him more and more.

He was the leading figure in the various patriotic functions and for many years had been Chief of Staff of the Marshal of the Day of the Decoration Day observance and until the past couple of years, head insisted on riding a horse with the other members of the staff in the parade from downtown to the cemetery.

This past Memorial Day was the first for many years that he was unable to be present and his figure was missed by practically every one who attended the services.

The long and useful life of this old Virginian has ended, "taps" were sounded and he responded and he will be laid to rest by the side of those dear to him, in the Nevada cemetery, Tuesday afternoon, with full honors of the country and flag that he had loved and fought for and with honors of the Masonic brothers whom he has been fraternized for over 37 years.