Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-03-06
DIR. WILLIAM wax THOMAS.
His Death Yesterday Afternoon
Alter a EOrInighRh Illness.

His Death Yesterday Afternoon
After "a Fortnighrs Illness.
DR.. VIII lam Way Thomas OF No. 803
franklin street, died at his home at B 45
O'Clock Monday night. The deceased had
been failing for number OF years.
Early in tho winter he an attack of in
tiuenzs, but recovered sufficiently to go
out of doors. Unfortunately, however,
bis venture into the open cir Was too
much for his already frail condition. he
took relapse nnd his demise on Monday
was the direct result of severe change
for the wUsse which commenced about a
fortnight ago. The deceased gentleman
became unconscious on Monday morning
and then at be hour stated passed peace
fully away surrounded by all his rela-
tives, save one son, Seymour 2. Thomas,
who 10 now on his way homo from Europe.
Or. William Way Thomas WINS born
July 9th, 1871, OF No. 8 East Fifth street,
| this city. This old house, which hos
been in he possession of the family for
nearly q century, still stands and is
owned By Charles E. Thomas. DR..
Thomas Esther, John Buckingham
Thomas, vaa related to the Thomas aud
Boulder families Of Maryland. He was
married June 1861, 1906 and died in Elk,
Md, at the home of his brother Theo-
doro on April Oath, 1924.
DR.. Thomas mother, Elizabeth Way,
WAS n daughter Of Judge John Way of
the court of common pleas Of Delaware,
who was on the bench as contemporary
of Judges Warner, Booth and Cooper in
the years :8l920. Judge Way WAS
nephew of tho celebrated DR.. Nicholas
Way, who wss prominently known both
in Philadelphia and Wilmington in his
day. The old homestead Of Judge Way
stood, until within few years, near what
is now tho intersection of Sixth snd
Become streets, on the farm which then
embraced all, or the greater part, of the
old Pepper Norris property. Here. after
tho death OF his parents Chat of his
mother occurring October 9th 1899, DIR.
ThomRs lived with his grandfather, Judge
Way, until his majority.
Tie Way family occupy prominent
and honorable position in the history of
this CITY. Their ancestor was Heur;o Cor
Henry Way who came to this country IN
1880 in company with Governor Win
thsop on the ship Mary and John and
settled in Dorchester, Mass. One Of
Eenry's sons, William, immigrgted to
Marcus Hook in 1856. He WAS the direct
prcgeritor af numerous descendants who
settled in this and the neighboeins states
giving tue family name to mauy Of the
most respected Quaker families of Penn
gyivania, Delaware and Maryland, and
: in not few instances to some whose
, public and patriotic deeds gained for
,, them national prominence.
In the year 1886 DR.. Thomas, the sub
, ject of this sketch, married Hannah,
daughter OF Mahlon Preston of Chester
I; county, Pa, by whom he had five chill
dren. Hannah died in lsA9. In April,
. 1850, he married Beulah, the youngest
. sister OF Hannah, by whom he had three
/ children. He stuffed medicine undor
0 DR.. j. O. Gosewisch who, in bis day, was
9 the foremost physician in the homn D.
Z pathic school in this section. On the
D death Of his preceptor, and al his express
/ solicitation, DR.. Thomas: then practicinR
z in Hockessin, left large country prac.
D tice and came to Wilmington IS his sue.
. cassor in 1858. From that time until
Y 1881 DIR. Thomas was in constant and
i successful practice. He then retired
;. from active business and YVES succeeded
Il by his brother in law, DR.. Coates Preston
|. who left Chester, Pa, and located in the
a vacated by DR.. Thomas upon his retire
~ ment.
u The surviving children of DR.. Thomat
g are /: Mrs. Amyanna I. Guy Of Philadel
u phia James Bayard Thomas, Charles F
Thomas, W. L. q. Thomas, Of Whining
8 ton Seymour P. Thomas of New York
l. Edgar G. Thomas of Philadelphia ant
y y Frank H. Thomas Of Chicago. The las
q three are children of his second wife
a who also survives him. Mrs. Emma L
q Wise, the second child by the first wife
g and who lived in Germantown, dice
70 sbou. one yesr ago.
u During later years DR.. Thomas led
most retired life. He remained sequest
I, cred amid the circle of his more imme
IA oiate relatives. Yet he has always beel
10 held in the highest esteem by ver,
le large circle of friends in this city, Il
of whom his retiring disposition, his kindl.
q and unostentatious but philanthropic in
l.. terest in the welfare of all, endeared hin
Z in marked degree. He was man o
"a unusual integrity and was endowed wit
is mental abilities and scholarly acquire
y ments which, however, his natural indis
position towards publicity or prominenc
Or prevented of their natural fruits. Il
4 politics he was Wing, an Abolitionis
i and Republican. Ee was originally
Ia Presbyterian but through his marriag
l. connection became affiliated with tn
o. Society OF Friends. He united with tn
4 Unitarian Society at it's formation ii
1866. He continued in the connection
70 until his death.