REGISTER OF
OLD SETTLERS
BOOK ONE
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MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF | |
Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 78
submitted by Ronna Thuman, November 14, 2007
FRANKLIN THURSTON Old Settlers’ Meeting.
Tuesday, May 28, 1878.On call of the President, the Old Settlers met at the City Hall. There were present twenty-five members.
The President being absent, Moses Couch was called to the chair, and J. P Walton was elected Secretary pro tem.
D. C. Cloud addressed the meeting, and moved that a committee on resolutions be appointed. On motion, John Mahin, Jos. Bridgeman and M. Block were chosen as such committee, to report at an adjourned meeting.
Upon motion, the meeting adjourned, to meet at 1:30 p. m. at this place, and receive the report and attend the funeral. --J. P. WALTON, Sec’y pro tem.
At 1 ˝ o’clock p. m. the meeting convened pursuant to adjournment.
The committee on resolutions made the following report which was adoped:
WHEREAS, Death has removed from our midst our long-time and much esteemed fellow-citizen, Franklin Thurston, thus narrowing the circle of early settlers, therefore—
Resolved, That we bow submissively to this sudden and mysterious dispensation of Divine Providence, and hereby express our admiration of his character as a good citizen, a kind neighbor and a a faithful friend, and would point to his example as one worthy of imitation by those who will ere long fill our places in the community.
Resolved, That we most sincerely sympathize with the family of the deceased in their sore bereavement, and that as a token of this sympathy there that as a token of this sympathy there resolutions be published in the city papers and a copy be given to the family.
On motion, it was voted that the Old Settlers attend the funeral in a body.
Adjourned. --- J. P. WALTON, Sec’y.
****** Death of Franklin Thurston.
Once more the death-knell sounds to summon the fast-narrowing circle of old settlers to the burial of another of their number. Sunday morning, Franklin Thurston, one of our oldest citizens, was suddenl7y called to his long home. He rose quite early in the morning, apparently feeling about as well as usual, and took a walk out for a short time, after which he partook of breakfast. After a part of the family had gone to church he spoke of having a severe pain in his chest, but ascribed it to what he had eaten for breakfast. He went in his room to lie down awhile, but soon called his wife, and when she came he spoke of great distress. She saw at once that he was in an alarming condition, and called for help, which came promptly, but before a physician could arrive death had taken place. There is no doubt that heart disease was the cause of his death. He had been many years a sufferer by dyspepsia, especially in the spring season, and had often complained of pain in the region of the diaphragm, but it was supposed to be on account of dyspepsia. He had never consulted a physician in regard to this pain, but expressed on the morning of his death an intention to do so the next day. Medical skill, however, would no doubt have been unavailing.
Franklin Thurston was 64 years of age. He was born March 4h, 1814, at Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and emigrated west soon after reaching his majority, locating at New Albany, Ind., where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was married in that city in September, 1838, to Laura M. Hawley, a sister of the late Cyrus Hawley, of this city, who was a teacher and a lady of considerable literary attainments. She died in July, 1842. A brief biography of her is given in a book entitled “American Female Poets,” published by Lindsay & Blakiston, in Philadelphia, in 1848.
Mr. Thurston came to Muscatine in 1844. His name is entered in the old settlers’ record of that year in his own handwriting, and the date of his arrival is given as Dec. 6th. On the 6th of October, 1845, he married Miss Margaret Reece, who survives him, and by whom he had two children, Edna, the wife of E. H. Dolsen, and Laura, the wife of Jonathan D. Hopkinson.
The deceased had been engaged in mercantile business all his life. For thirteen years he was with J. G. Gordon and for about two years kept books for B. Hershey. Nearly ten years ago, he entered into partnership with his son-in-law, Mr. Dolson, in the boot and shoe business, in which he was engaged at the time of his death. He was one of “nature’s noblemen, an honest man,”—As a business man, a citizen and a neighbor he could always be depended upon. Quiet and unassuming in his manners, yet courteous and polite to all with whom he came in contact, he had many friends, and few, if any, enemies. He united with the Congregational church in this city in 1845, and at the tome of his death could claim the longest continuous membership of any one in the church. Dr. Robbins received him in the church. He also solemnized his marriage and now has been called upon to officiate at his funeral.
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