Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-04
Thomas J. Sloan Called

The following obituary, which
appeared in a local paper published a;
Martinsburgh, Neb., WAS sent The
Leader by Dan Crowley. The deceased
was a former resident of Watertow I
and will be remembered by many of
the older residents: .s
In the death of Thomas j. 81 an.
which occurred at his home in this
city on Thursday morning of last
week, the city Of Vermiilion and the
county of Clay, lose ona of their best
known AND most respected citizens.
For the past forty years he had been
identified with the upbuiIdlng of this
young state, and had seen it grow
from territory with handful of
inhabitants to state which is now
recognized as leader among the ma
tional sisterhood. Coming to this
western country in 1868, he found
here the conditions which surrounded d
the pioneer of those days. and had
witnessed all the ups and downs of
the life of the early settler, and had
shared their sorrows and triumphs.
The record of his life is that of life
worth living and patterning after.
and his influence upun those with
whom he associated has always been
for the best. lie was always an &C
tive man until poor health forced him
to give up the mvre arduous labor,
and he bIsied himself with the simple
| duties around his own home. A few
years ago he began to fail, and dur
ing the intervening time he suffered
much. A week previous to his death
be was forced to take to bis bed. The
family physician gave out no hopes
for his recovery, and the children
| were summoned to the home He
failed rapidly, and en- Thursday morn.
ing last, surrounded by the members
| of his family, with the exception of
his oldest daughter he passed to his
eternal reward. .. ....s. ....
Thomas J. Sloan was born in
Brooklyn, N. Y, June %. 1841. When
young he removed with his parents to
Wisconsin, and here most of his early
life was passed. At the age of tw en-
tv-seven he was attracted by the pos
sibilities of the then new western
country. and in the spring of 1868, he
came to Dakota and filed on the home
stead north of the city, which he still
owned at the time Of his death. On
January 81, 1872, he was married to
Miss Anna J. McNamee. In the early
'70s he served as Territorial Treasur-
er and Auditor for five years at
time when the conbIned salaries of
the two offices for the entire time did
not amount to as much as is now paid
to the incumbents in one month. He
was one of the early teachers IN the
old log school-house in the ravine,
and there are still those in our midst
who were pupils of his at that time.
In the early '8Os he was Deputy
County Superintendent of schools for
two term. Returning to vermillion,
he became superintendent of the city
| schools and many who were pupils of
his at that time ara still residents of
this city and county. Aft r giving
up this pusition he became the head
of the commercial department of the
University of Dakota, now the lJniver-
sity of South Dakota, and continued
in thaU position for nine years. and
part of that time was secretary of the
institution besides looking after his
duties as an Instructor. He had the
contidnce and repect of every pupil in
his department, and in after years
should any Of them meet anyone from
Vermillion they were sure to inquire
after Mr.. Sloan.
Mr.. Sluan was devout Catholi",
and one of the most prominent mem-
bers of St. Agnes church of his city.
He lived his religion in his daily life,
and died strong in the faith.
Funeral services were held at ST.
Agnes church on Monday morning,
and large concourse of people, his
old friends, neighbors and associates,
gathered to pay last tribute of re-
spsct to one whum they had known so
long. Service were conducted by Rev.
Father Flood, whose remarks were
based upon the BIBLICAL text, elf man
die shall he live again?'' The burial
was in Fairview cemetery.
Mr.. Sloan is survived by his wife,
one son ard six daughters, and to
these the sympathy of the community
is extended in their bereavement.
| do not want gaping crowd
To come with lamentations loud,
When life has fled;
| Nor T hove INV yUnrds Uavs