The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-24
oBITuRY.
John Pickering Thomas.

John P. Thomas. the youngest surviving
child of our venerable fellow citizen, William
w. Thomas, died Saturday morning at his
home in this city after an illness of few
hours.
For the past two years his health was i'm
paired and he had given up active business
hoping that life In the open air, with more
exercise. would restore his natural vi0or.
None who saw him lately could quiet vague
apprehension at the change which showed
itself in his appearance, but his prostratiOn
and swiftly following death came with start
ling suddenness. Friday evening he spent
at his fathers house, and his bright CONVEX
sation and interest in everything gave no
hint Of what was impending, and II was
characteristic Of him that his last hours were
full Of filial devotion and passed in sharing
with his honored father that flow of buoyant
spirits which made his society so welcome.
Mr.. Thomas was, in q word, a man Of ac-
tion. Born into the world with q robust con-
stitution and the best Of natural powers, all
he did was strong and energetic. AS boy
he played hard, and his fondness for boating.
with its keen interest. came as soon as he
was able to pull an oar, and made him nau-
tical authority among his boy friends at an
age when most anxious mothers keep their
children on dry land. He early showed
love for beautiful nature which grew stronger
every year. No joy for him like sailing
good boat, with fresh breeze, on the coast
of Maine, and the more the excitement the
cooler he was, and the quicker to act with
skill and judgment. His yaching was
manly sport and he went into it with his
whole heart. Casco Bay was his fayorite
playground. He loved its long reaches of
sparkling sal. water, It's quiet hooks and
bays, where at morning and evening the pines
are mirrored in its calm surface, aud he took
a personal interest in the people and their
affairs. Many of the fishermen and farmers
knew him, and talk with them always gave
him pleasure. He liked their quaintness and
originality, and they liked his simplicity and
manliness.
1t was the writer's good fortune two sum-
mers ago to take short cruise with Mr..
Thomas and two other friends along the
coast Half Of that pleasant party is now
gone, but the survivors will not soon forget
the keen interest that Mr.. Thomas showed
for all that was beautiful in sea and shore,
and the way he gave himself up to the charms
of those fair days.
As he played hard so he worked hard.
Averse to anything like idleness, as soon as
he had graduated from the High School he
entered the Revenue Marine as second lieu.
tenant, a position he soon left fjr the more
active employment Of business. First in the
grocery firm of Mathews & Thomas. and
afterwards in the boot and shoe business,
first In the firm OF. whitney & Thomas, and
then j. p. Thomas & Co., he found scope for
the activity of his nature and impulse to be
doing something. He relied ON himself.
Never for moment tempted to life Of ease
and dependence ON others, he brought all his
powers of work into his business. (which he
conducted with unusual ability for one of
his age and experience, so that he fairly won
place among our successful merchants.
In 1881 he married Miss Ross of Searsport
and one child, a son, was born to them.
The fulness of his physical nature, and his
abundant vitality, were the sources whence
sprung his fondness for his friends, his
quick sympathy and his good temper. Even
after the first shadow Of trouble passed over
him, his courage and spirits never tagged
From an overflowing abundance he gave law
ishly to those whose temperaments were
pitched on lower key, and his words OF
cheer had always the crispness and flavor oil
the sea he loved. Those less favored forgot
their own inirmities when they felt the mag
netic influence of his splendid physical de-
velopment, and word from him came with
heartIness of a salt breeze.
So devoted to his family, doing what came
to him with promptness. energy and thoI-
ough integrity, constant example OF good
courage and cheerfulress to his friends. he
has lived his life aud left the community bet
ter for being in it. Forty-four years is a
short space to look back over, but how many
Of us could have left SO definite an impress
sion in a longer time. 1t might have been
expected that life of such intensity and
activity would be brief, but the memory Of II
will be long cherished in the hearts Of those
whose privilege it was to know him.