Tighlman Howard Thomas (1856-1939)

THOMAS, PIERSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal December 4, 1939 (page 3)

Hold Funeral Rites Sunday for Late T. T. Thomas

Funeral services for T. H. "Tim" Thomas, 83, native son and lifelong resident of Nevada township, who died at the old homestead southeast of Nevada Thursday afternoon, were held at the home Sunday at two o'clock.

The service was in charge of Rev. Jos. M. Kennedy, pastor of Central Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Theo Yackel, pastor of the Nevada Evangelical church. A mixed quartette from the Evangelical church sang three songs.

Burial was in the nearby Mullen cemetery, where many members of this pioneer family have been laid to rest.

The following brief sketch of the life of the deceased, was read by the pastor:

"Tighlman Howard Thomas was born of John S. and Julia Ann Thomas. He was born in Nevada township, near Nevada, Ia., on February 19, 1856 and he resided all his life in Story county.

"There were eleven children in this pioneer family, nine of whom grew to maturity. Tighlman had six older brothers and sisters, they being: Susan, Calvin, James Aldrich, Margaret, Abner, and Franklin; one brother Jacob, and a sister Isabel, were younger than he. These have all preceded him in death, and Uncle Tim, as he was affectionately called, was the last member of this pioneer family.

"As a small boy, he came with his parents to the farm home where he lived the remainder of his life. As his parents came to old age he helped to make a home for them and assisted in their care during their declining years.

"His own home was not established until his duty to parents had been fulfilled. Then in 1906, in the month of January, he was married Miss Eva Hortense Pearson* who joined him in his own home. Their happiness was of short duration for death claimed his wife in June of the same year after only five months of their married life.

"The home as again opened to a niece of Tighlman's when Carrie Thomas Williams and her husband, Walter Williams, and their family came to live with home. Together they have shared the responsibilities of the home and have found satisfactions in the home relationships.

"During recent years Tighlman has confined his active interests to his garden and the lesser chores about the home. He loved the flowers and the garden and he liked to be active doing what he could to share in the farm responsibility.

"As a lad, Tighlman became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church that then stood across the road from the Center school. Here he was a faithful member, often leading the singing and taking an active interest in church affairs. He lived a kindly consistent life with a heart that was right toward God and man.

"Though, because of advanced years, he had been in declining health from some time he had been able to be about his daily duties until a recent illness. Death came to him on Thursday afternoon, November 30, 1939 after a short and painful illness, he being past 83 years of age.

"As the last member of this pioneer family, he will be greatly missed by all relatives and friends of the family as well as by his own relatives and close personal friends."

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: Tighlman Howard Thomas married Eva Hortense Pierson (not Pearson as stated) on 28 January 1906 in Davis County, Iowa. Eva (Pierson) Thomas died on 22 June 1906 in Story County, Iowa.