Daily Republican., 1878-06-26
[From Yesterdays late edltion.l
OBITUARY.
Death Of Thomas Walter-A SIX etch
OF his Life.

Death Of Thomas walter--A SIX etch
ofhis Life.
Thomas Walter died at his residence
No. 215 West street, in this city, this
morning, June 25th, 1878.
He was born in Christiana Hundred
New Castle County, Delaware, Febru-
ary 1st, 1902. He was descended from
Goodwin Walter who emigrated from
Wiltshire, England, in 1855, and pur-
chased land in Concord Township, Del
aware County, Pennsylvania. Enos
Walter, the father Of Thomas, came
from Delaware County about 1853, and
settled in Christiana Hundred, (near
what is now Greenville, )where he mar
ried Elizabeth, daughter Of William
Meals, and until his death in 1915, oc-
cupied farm which had descended
to his wife from her Grandfather, Rob-
ert Pearce.
AT the beginning of this century, the
facilities for education were very limited
in the country districts, but Thomas
Walter had all the schooling he could
get in his neighborhood, and being of
a studious mind, improved himself by
reading. He engaged in teaching in
his eighteenth year. Subsequently,
during long life, by diligent reading,
accompanied by ths habi,ual use of
works of reference, he amassed an un.
usual fund of information; and re-
tentive memory enabled him, even in
his latest years, to repeat many pas
sages from the old English poets and es-
sayists Of whose writings he had always
been especially fond. W..
In 1920 he was apprenticed to the trade
of carpenter, and in 1928 removed to
New York where he remained at work
until 1926, when he returned TO Chris
tiana Hundred. From that time until
lS40 he engaged in the occupation of
building.
In 1s4O he settled in Wilmington,
where, in partnership with Joshua
Simmons, he built and operated pla-
ming mill. In l842 VIM. Poole united
in the firm, and steam saw-mill was
added, but he did not long continue,
and year or two later Thomas Walter
bought out the interest of his remain
ing partner, and thenceforth conducted
the business until 1873, when he retir-
ed. In lS4S, February 23d, he married
Naomi, daughter Of Joseph Rhoads, of
Philadelphia, who was descended from
Adam Rhoads, of Derbyshire, England,
"a Quaker who came to Pennsylvania
in 1884. ,.
In earlier lite Thomas Walter took
an active part in public matters, being
an ardent partizan of the National Re-
publican and Wing parties, and was
delegate to the Convention which NOM
mated General Fremont for the Presi-
dency. Though in his later years he
withdrew almost entirely to business
and domestic life, he always adhered
firmly to the Republican party.
Many of our citizens will remember
him in early and middle life as re-
markably erect and vigorous man, and
he carried, even to the last, a fine
physique and manly presence.
They will also remember with respect
his long and honorable business career
in Wilmington, and will testify to his
sterling qualities of mind and heart. By
nature he was high spirited and i'm
petuous, but gentle and kindly; and he
had quaint chivalry of manners which,
though sometimes wanting in artificial
refinement, never failed in the true po-
likeness which comes from the heart.
He had peculiarly sensitive pride
which made him shrink from publicity
and self.assertion, and which pride
united with his marked benevolence,
enlisted his sympathies always with
the poor and weak rather than with
those of high estate.
In early life he had attended the
Lower Brandywine (then the "Old
Log'O church, but he had never con-
nected himself with any religious de-
nomination until a few years since, he
became member of the Hanover street
Presbyterian Church.
He died, as he had long tried to live,
a christian.
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