Iowa Old Press
Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Linn co. Iowa
Saturday, July 9, 1892
Death of Mr. Thomas
Richard Thomas, the oldest man in Iowa, and one whose name has
always been familiar as "Uncle Dicky," for the last
forty or fifty years, died last night at his home on East Ninth
avenue. Mr. Thomas, so far as can be ascertained, not knowning
himself, was born about the year 1781, in Baltimore, going from
there to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1810; in 1824 he removed to
Richland county, Ohio; in 1837 came to Iowa; then in 1840 came to
his present farm, which adjoins the city of Marion.
He was married to Julia E. Jones in February, 1865, who was born
Jan. 6th, 1843, being about 50 years younger than her husband.
There was born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, July, 1866, one child Mary
M., who with her mother are the survivors of Uncle Richard.
Mr. Thomas was in the war of 1812 and was also one of the first
settlers in Marion township.
His funeral will probably not occur till Monday on account of his
daughter and her husband being in South Dakota.
The City in Brief - Personal and Local Paragraphs About
Minor Happenings
-Don't forget that C.H. Rank, the West Side liveryman, has got an
elegant four horse carryall for picknicing, etc. Tel. 260
-A party of young people visited the Upper Palisades on Thursday
afternoon, going by way of the river in a row boat, taking supper
at Cedar Springs hotel, and returning in the evening via Bertram.
Messrs. W.K. Wisner, Woodward, Greene, Arthur Taylor, Misses
Bella Knox, Helen and Florence Clark composed the party.
-Henry Nutt is the proud father of a beautiful boy baby.
-Rev. A.K. Davis, pstor of Second United Brethren church, who was
so badly injured in the railroad wreck near Bristow, Butler
county, was brought home yesterday and is recovering rapidly, but
is not yet able to fill his pulpit.
A large party from Cedar Rapids spent a delightful day at the
Upper Palisades on Thursday. The party consisted of Messrs and
Mesdames A.T. Averill, G.F. Van Vechten, C.D. Van Vechten, Geo.
C. Harman, M.P. Mills, E.K. Larimer, W.W. Higley, Mortimer Higley
Jr., Wm. Broeksmit, Ed Mansfield, G.W. Howell, Dr. and Mrs.
Kegley, Misses Mary Larimer, Mamie Amidon, Helen Anderson, Flora
and Mary Mills, Jessie and Hattie Averill, Edward Haman, Edward
Howell, Wellington Higley Jr. and John Mills.
M.R. Runion, familiarly known as Ross Runion, a brakeman on the
B.C.R. & N. had a narrow escape from instant death last
night. As train No. 12 was switching at Waterloo, Ross stepped
between two cars to connect them. One was an ordinary car and the
other a Northern Pacific fruit car that had a Miller coupler.
When the train came together the couplers slipped by and he was
caught on the left side of his body. He received no more than a
bad pinch and his injuries will not result seriously. He was
brought to this city and removed to St. Luke's hospital. In Cedar
Rapids are living three of his sisters and a brother.
Marion Mention - Items of News Gathered in and About the
County Seat - General News
-In the case of the State of Iowa against Ambrose Taylor for
assault and battery before M.B. Allen, he was fined $1 and costs.
-Allen McKean and Sherman Thompson were out sporting yesterday
afternoon, hunting and fishing.
-The funeral of Mrs. S. Woods occurred at her home yesterday
afternoon, at 3 p.m. conducted by Rev. Alex. Marshall.
The pocketbook containing $34 and a draft for $135, which was
lost by or stolen from Geo. E. Wink last Saturday was found by
Richard Hovris and handed to D.R. Kinley. But the $34 in cash was
minus. There is evidently some one around town that knows where
the cash went to. The draft also would have been gone had it been
possible to have cashed it. The right party will be caught yet
and when he is there will be a place prepared for him.
[transcribed by S.F., July 2012]