The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-11-18

Governor Eberhart. Mr.. Atchison W.
instructed to take the matter ND vii
Governor Eberhart over the telephor
as soon as he could get the ear of Il
chief executive.
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From Saturdays Daily.
Memorial services in honor of IL
late Colonel William Thomas and Cha
les d. Geddes, attorneys, who died son
months since, were held in the dstri
court room this forenoon. Judge A.
Pau, ST., presided. The memorial f.
Colonel Thomas was read by Harriso
l.. Schmitt as follows:
Memorial to William Thomas.
William Thomas, son of Caleb
and Mary Hewes Thomas, was
born September 10th, A. ID. 1910,
IN Fulton, Lancaster County. Penn
sylvania. His education was OBJ
tanned in the common public
schools, the Civil war and in law
offices.
July 81, 1861, he enlisted as
private in Company b, thirty Sec
ond Regiment Pennsylvania volun-
teers. March, 1862, he lost an eye
IN battle, and was offered his dis
charge, but refused it and continue
ed in service. He participated in
some OF the most important bat
ties OF the war, among them be-
ing the Second Bull Run, Chantelly.
Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Get
tysburg. Manassas Gap and the
Wilderness. In the last named
battle, on May 5, 1864, while act
sGM on 'lunoSIos fIIoplo So Sur
wounded in his left leg, necessitat-
ing its amputation near the hip on
the field of battle. About this
time he was commissioned second
lieutenant, but could not be mus
tered in because of the loss OF his
eye and leg, and on August 2, 1864,
he was honOrably discharged.
During the year 1870, he was adj
mittcd to the bar of Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, and continue
ed in that profession until shortly
before his death. September l6.
1871, he was married ia Miss Alice
Person, who died January 20, 1874,
leaving her husband and two
daughters, Mabel H., and Alice A.
Thomas who now survive him.
He came to Mankato in the year
1870 and then practiced his profess
sion, part of the time alone, and
part OF the time as q partner with
the Hon. j. l.. Washburn, now of
Duluth.
Several years before his death
he became totally blind, as re-
suit of the injuries suffered by him
in defense OF his country.
On October "a, 1909, he died at
his comfortable home in Mankato,
surrounded by his loving daughters,
the sister of his deceased wife,
and honored and respected by the
entire community.
ssf. He was also survived by an only,
sister, Rebecca I. Bicknell of Lam
caster county, Pennsylvania;
Thus a fine Christian and patri-
otic citizen, brave and battle
Scared soldier, an honest and sue
cessful lawyer and business man,
and true and loving husband,
father and brother, did his duty
and answered the final summons.
Harrison l.. Schmitt; John c.. Noe;
Jean A. Flittie.
Memorial to c. D. Geddes.
The following is the memorial t.
Charles ID. Geddes. 1t was presented t,
the court by Thomas Hughes:
"In the death of Charles D., Gedde
which occurred in this city of Man
kato on October 25, 1909, the bar 0
Blue Earth county has lost an able
and we'll beloved member
ellis fidelity, integrity and cheerful
ness were salient points in his char
actcr worthy of our emulation. Fl
possessed good legal mind, was eve
, diligent student and was well verse,
in the principles of law. No one ha
\ higher regard for truth, justice an
The highest ideals of Christlike lif
than he. His natural modesty an,
his physical inlirmity made him ashrinl
from pushing himself into the glare o
public notoriety, but in him there wa
no discount of genuine worth in men
tai or moral attainment.
Charles d. Gcddcs was born Feb
ruary 4, 1864, at Poynctte, Columbi;
county, Wisconsin, and in a few months
,fter his birth the family removed t.
Ibis county of Blue Earth, and locates
Ipon farm in Mcpherson township
lie was educated in our public an,
formal schools and for time fol
owed with much success the teacher.
In 1889 he was. appointed t.
| position in the United States patent
,fficc at Washington, d. c., and sooI
thereafter became student of tn,
Columbia Law school. On his return
home in 1898 he took a postgraduate,
course at the Minnesota state univer
ity and in the summer of 1894 was
admitted to the bar by the suprem,
'ourt of this state. He at once be.
gan the active practice of his pro
ession at lie Sueur, this state, and
wo years later removed to Madison
lake, this county. In 1909 he formed
. co-partnership with his brother
William r. Geddes, at this city OF
which continued until his
leath.