Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1889-04-18
Obituary.

LEONARD J. THOMAS.
Leonard J. Thomas, Esq, OF Eden, passed
e hi. eternal home April ;. without ,iruS-
Esquire Thomas A. be VA, universally styled
~ aIi whp knrw him, va, an incumbent of
some public position nearly every year Of his
II, from HI majority; and the unIaryu- test
imony !, hat he served win singular fidelity
il whatsoever position be wa~ placed.
Hc held the oldest commission A. po-tma,-
ter of any man IN the United States, It being
dated NoN. Il, ISIS. signed by John Mclean.
ro>tml~trr-Gruornl. lie received five com
missions and died 40 incumbent OF the oilira.
During the YEAR, that hr wa~ not postmaster
be- Wa nearly always In son" public position.
IN -om. eases evidently re>ieuinE thu ON 10
accept the other. Jan. ;. lsi9. he received an
appointment t. ~ putty Collector % the Iurl
~ Ellsworth. Edward :. Jones being Col
irrtur. About $40 h- wa> messenger ~ the
Governor AMI Council. About l>i4 he wa-
elected Erprr~r nitiivc to the state legislature.
April -. l>ij. h" was 4 second time appoint
I'd Deputy Collector, and stationed At South
mr>t liarhor where b. served until Jan. |.
49,. About ls'3 wc lind him IN thr of.r or
The Secretary OF state al Augusta filling the
position % engros>ins clerk. During the ld-
mini.trarion OF Andrew John.on h. served Il
third time - Deputy Collector. When Mon
roe Young Was removed from otilrc. MIR.
Thomas took charge Of the affairs ~ the office
under the official title u Special Deputy COL
Irctor dating hi ,ir.t OH rA act that Of as,tm-
Ing charge the 9Th OF March. 1907.
Mr. Thomas also held = commission Il. Reg
l-rrr Of Probate FOR Hancock county for four
wears beginning with ls5y, TN appointment OF
John Fairfield, Governor. III received COM
mission - Justice Of the Peace amt Quorum
a. early ~ 1870; one A. Notary Public in l>t2
al. hon.
Justice and Public Administrator at different
times. For wears hr was qualifying officer.
tie held numerous town offices ana in town
matter, was for many Years considered au-
thoriry on legal questions. In polite, he Wa,
life long democrat, casting hi, last vote al the
last Stale election.
Esquire Thomas was made a mason by L.
gomia Lodge in the town o. >urrv. that part
that is now Ellsworth. Jan. 80. ISIS, more than
sixty -oue years ago, and retained all interest IN
the principle, OF masonry until the close 81
life. often conycr>ng upon the subject with
brother ma-On.. tie can b. safely kuned
among the oldest mu>On-. tie and hi e-timh-
Die wife who departed this life five months
since, were baptized into the fellow >hil OF the
Eden Baptist church Oct. :. l>32. OF " hich BE-
remained faithful, consistent member inter
->ted in il welfare both temporal and spirit
uui. until the very last. His home wa. always
open 70 ministers Of the gospel 10 enter al any
time and remain a long ~ they chose, Mr..
Thomas especially delishtng 10 minister unto
their necessities. Al the death Of his wife he
expressed hi- belief that she had gone 20 a bet
ter world, preceding him but short time a.
the event proved his comfort AT that time
" NJ his faith in God. A. a public servant
D r. was faithful and exact in the discharge OF
cry duty. a. a citizen esteemed by his fellow
men. His private character was exemplary:
As christian and member OF the church. he
was loyal to the cause Of Christ. and IL a ser
nal reward. He leaves Il daughter and grand
on to mourn their rreparable loss.