The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-27
Ghs GnteIEiqettter,
oa,,,, Nos, as aud n Rourtssnth strest,


Iis passcl away last night at 12 o'clocl
,Ne, an illness Of many .sHe sutEere
Iom complication Of disease that aflec
81 HE heart and lungs, and at times e.
nerienced good deal Of pain. Ashe hin
.elf said months ago, he was worn ou
n. hal led q life OF intense activity, mer
nj and physical; had deprived himself 0
, great deal Of needed rest; had rise
s,rjy and worked hard aud late, and q
l,,tthe machinery Of lie gave way, an
ho pril the great debt Of nature.
Thomas IlOrnbrook was not an ordinar.
man. Nature put the stamp Of leadinI
character OH his organization. By dint 0
earnest purpose, untiring energy, grCa
method and courageous persistency In al
Ms undertakings, lie achieved q very largl
measure Of success in life. lie knew M
such word as fail. From very humble
Sud unfayorable surrounding at the outse
Of life he made his way up 10 a position o
recognized influence in the community
liz bad bis peculIarities and eccentrictles
some Of which stirred up many antagon
isus, and were hIndranCes to his. but his
bre Of character wass such that he snce5t;ssSs
elin spite Of them, aud most persons re-
spected tho man for his sterling traits,
whilenot sympathizing with his pecultari.
ties. This was because they could sec
underneath his mannerism a good heart,
q kindly nature and a desire for every
mans welfare. Like most self.made men,
ewas conscious ofall that he had achieved
iulile, aud showed 1t In his bearing, but
unlike many such persons he never for.
gotthe day ofsmall things, and never by
word or deed separated himself
irOu close and active sympathy
With the toiling masses. He was
q man Of the people. He bore their
harlships and leprivstions in constant and
practical remembrance. He did q world
o!gOOd for them in his way. For years
past his rooms in this city have been rec
Oguiled as u headquarters where any poor
soul in distress Of any kind could go for
counsel and Tor aid. No worthy man or wo-
laluin want ever went away from his pres
encs unrelieved. It was pride and his
pleasure to do something for everybody
having a just claim to charity. He had a
methOdinhis charities as in all his life work.
lie seldom gave money to the poor. He
kept on hands, in a store-room adjoining
lis office, large quantities Of certain neces-
saries Of life, such as potatoes, meal, rice,
coffee, tea and sugar, and also quantities OF
plain but warm clothing, and these he dis
Isused to applicants Tor charity in all de-
serving cases. and in many instances
where he heard Of distress through
Others he sent supplies by the
hand Of his errand boy!4 He was
accustomed to write notes to preachers and
other influential people, calling their at
tenIiOn to persons who needed their as
sistance, and there was really no end to
lis many ways OF seeking to relieve dis.
tress, For all Of which good samaritanism;
ThOs. Hornbrook will ever be held in
grateful remembrance by large numbers
Of people, and his memory respected by
the whole community.
The story OF this mans life could be
TEiten at very considerable length as q
mater Of local interest 10 this community,
did time and space permit at this hour.
lie came to this country in early boyhood
from England, where he was born in 1914.
IIc and his brother Jacob were among our
most active and successful traders on
the river, and business men in the city
for upwards OF a quarter Of century.
They first ran store boats, and after
wardssteamboats, and subsequently were
jobbes OF merchandise, and finally, after
they had accumulated large means, they
were owners and dealers In real estate,
and active and influential citizens in pro.
Motng all sorts Of public enterprises. They
were men who always put their hands in
thGit pockets literally, and used their en-.
ergy without stint on behalf Of any enter.
prise In which they enlisted. In business
and politics the Hornbrooks always made
their mark. In latter years Thomas Horn.
Dnok has devoted himself untiringly 10
the Temperance cause. This cause was
his religion, we may say. He believed
that its success was vital to the
lifting up OF tho masses, and TO saving
them from want aud care. Hence he was
nncompromising in It's advocacy and was
willing to be spent in the service at all
lines. His reputationin this respect is al
familiar as a household word among US
The wear and tear Of Mr.. Hornbrook'l
buoy life began to tell on him years ago,
but he kept up from season to season.
lie had great powers Of recuperation
during the summer, through out door life
at his country place. There he would re-
main for weeks, dressed in the commonest
garb and doing more work than any man
in his employ. In fact he knew no
moderation in work-neyer dld-aud
while he rocuperatcd for the time being
be really broke down his nervous system
by ovOrtaxation. He was finally unabletc
sleep. and for weeks prior to his death haG
scarcely an hour Of retreshing slumber.
lIe died before his time from oyerwork
Work was his food aud drink, and b,
finally fell a victim TO 1t.
Nr. Hornbrook leayes but small lam
lily, vile and two children. He leave
them in atlluent circumstances, aud wha
isbetter, he leaves them the general re
Grst Of the community for q useful AM
charitable life too soon ended. Hundred
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