Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-07-18
Death of Thomas III. Ferris,

Thomas HI. Ferris, son of Mrs. Eliza
beth Ferris, of this city, was drowned
in the Milwaukee river last week. The
Sentinel of Monday morning, July
18th, gave the following particulars of
the finding of the body:
"Thomas H. Ferris, a member of
the Uniformed Rank, X. P. from Ge-
neva, Nebraska, was found drowned
in the river yesterday morning. At
| about 9 o'clock the Waterman on the
steamer Chicago" near the Huron
street bridge saw a body slowly float
ing down the river. He notified the
bridge tenders, and they and the police
finally secured ii. The dead man wore
the uniform of the X. of P, and from
all appearances had been in the water
three or four days. The face was
badly bIoated, rendering Identification
impossible. At the mOrgue number
of visiting cards were found, but they
gave no clue to the mans name. His
linen was marked " Ferris" Manager
W. c. Williams was informed of the
finding of the body, and he fastened
to seek some Nebraska knights. A. l..
Morrison, supreme representative from
Nebraska, and others saw the man at
the morgue but failed to recognize
him. Mr.. Morrison then telegraphed
the postmaster at Geneva, Neb., and
during the afternoon received the fol-
lowing reply:
THE body is that of Thomas H Ferris will
start at once. Be there Tuesday morning.
&C, L. RATHBUN."
\ telegram was then sent by Mr..
Rathbun to Mrs. Ferris, inform
ing her of the death of her son, at
Milwaukee, in the manner above des-
scribed, stating that he (Rathbun)
would be in Milwaukee on Tuesday to
take charge of the body. This tele-
gram was given to Col. w. L. Tallman,
who Immediately telegraphed Briga-
dier General L. w. Halsey, of Milwau-
kee, as follows:
"Embalm body, aud send with escort to Min
Point Wis.,"
The body arrived here on Monday
evenings train under the escort Of
Sir Knights, D. 5. Rose and George II.
Thomas, of Milwaukee, and four Sir
Knights of this city, and was taken
charge of by Raven Lodge, and placed
under watch in the basement room of
Trinity church until Tuesday after
noon, when it was taken into the
church, where the funeral services
were held, the rector, Rev. M.ChaSe,
officiating At the close of the ser
vices in the church, the body was
escorted by the Sir knights of Raven
Lodge, X. p, to Graceland cemetery,
and there laid at rest, in the family
lot, Sir Knight E. Y. Hutchinson acting
as prelate.
The deceased grew to manhood in
this city, and his death has cast
gloom over the community. He leaves
to mourn his early death, his mother,
sister and two brothers, to whom the
sympathy of many hearts is extended
in their hour of sore affection His
mother expected him to reach here on
Saturday, and intended to have shortly
accompanied him back to Nebraska.
How sad the disappointment of her
hopes!
The Milwaukee Journal of Tuesday
contained the following in regard to
the sad affair:
1.-The mystery surrounding the find
ing of the body of Sir Knight Tom H.
Ferris, of the Nebraska delegation, in
the river here deepens. Mr.. C. l..
Rathbun prominent business man of
Geneva, Neb., arrived in the city at
noon today to look into the matter.
To Journal man he said: Tom was
station agent at MARYLAND, for the Ere
mont, Elkhorn and Missouri valley
railroad. He was in no respect a
drinking man but a reliable, indus
triOus young gentleman. He left home
exceedingly happy in view of a con-
templated visit to his mother at Min
eral Point, Wis, at the close of the
conclave. He arrived here Tuesday,
and marched with his division in the
parade that afternoon. The others
missed him soon after the parade. He
had when ne left home railroad passes
and 500 in money. AS he was never
known to go on spree, we cannot &C
count for his terrible death as he was
of a genial disposition and would
never have committed suicide, and he
never fell in the river while drunk, we
are certain When found there was
$745 on the body. His friends pro-
pose TO investigate the case"