Thomas Hulme 1840-1905

HULME, HYDE, HEWITT, REIMERS

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/8/2010 at 17:31:37

Thos. Hulme Dead - A Noble Life Passes Quietly Away

The spirit of one of the most worthy characters of Winnebago county passed over into the endless eternities forever to live with his Maker, Tuesday afternoon at 1:10 o'clock, December 26, 1905. Death came rather unexpected and was a shock to the community as it was generally understood that he was improving.

Tuesday evening, December 12, about 5:30 o'clock he went out to the barn to do his chores. Shortly after he retuned to the house, removed his coat and said, "Mother, the little mare has killed me." He then became delirious and for several days was kept under the influence of opiates, and was also kept packed in ice for several days. All that medical skill and loving hands could do to prolong the life of this good and generous man was done, but nothing could save him and after two weeks of intense suffering, death relieved him. The cause of his death was by being kicked just below the stomach by his trotting mare, Sis.

Mr. Hulme claimed a few days after the accident that he went into the stall, where Sis was kept loose, and looked into the box or manger to see if there was plenty of straw and that when he started to go out she wheeled and kicked, striking him just below the stomach. Although from the time he entered the house until his death he never seemed to be quite in his right mind and just how the accident occurred will probably never be known. His son says that his father always kept a blanket on Sis and that this blanket was always working around to one side. It is his belief that this blanket had worked to one side and that as his father was about to leave the stall he took hold of the blanket to straighten it, when the mare wheeled and delivered the fatal blow, as the was very touchy about the blanket moving about her flanks.

Thomas Hulme was born at Denton, England, October 5, 1840. He came to America in 1864, settling first in Stark county, Ohio, where he was united in marriage to Miss Ann Hyde, May 11, 1865. To this union were born five children, four of whom survive him. In 1866 he moved to Tama county, Iowa, at which place he resided until 1896, when he became a resident of Winnebago county. When he came here he purchased the farm he still owns, ten miles southeast of here, and where he lived until March, 1905, when he and his wife moved to Woden, where his untimely death occurred, at the age of sixty-five years, two months and twenty-one days.

Short services were held at the home Wednesday at 1 o'clock. the remains were shipped from here to Traer that evening for burial. The funeral services were held yesterday at 1 o'clock. Interment was in Buckingham cemetery beside his eldest son, William, who had preceded him to his home above several years ago. A true and devoted wife and four children are left to mourn his loss -- George, who resides on the home farm, southeast of here, Samuel, who lives near Traer, Mrs. Emma Hewitt, living three miles west of Bancroft, and Mrs. Alice Reimers, who lived at Reinbeck, but who left the day of the accident for Payette, Idaho, to make her future home, and who was the only one unable to attend the funeral of a beloved father.

He was a pioneer farmer and was successful in gaining a goodly share of this world's goods to keep him in old age. The kindly face of this grand, good man is hid from earthly view. His gentle step will be heard on our street no more. To the writer's mind he was that embodiment of manhood that made a community better for his having lived in it. No man ever knew him to do a mean or dishonorable act. No man ever found his word not good. He never deceived anybody. He always had a kindly feeling for Buffalo Center and worked for her advancement. He was one of the principal workers of the fair association. Everybody keenly feels the loss of this noble citizen. The bereaved wife and children have the sympathy of the entire community in the loss of a kind and loving husband and father in these, their sad hours of affliction.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, December 29, 1905