The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-05-26

of Mason.
From Fridays Daily.
A gloom was cast over the city by
the sudden death this morning OF
John r. Thomas, cashier of the Man
kato State bank. His death was due
to neuralgia of the heart, and occur
red at nine o'clock, at his home, 936
South Front street, after an acute Ill
ness that began last evening, but
which in it's chronic form was OF con-
siderable duration.
Mr. Thomas was confined to his
bed with sickness for a couple of
weeks, two months ago, but while he
recovered sufficiently to attend to
the affairs of his position at the
bank, he was not in good health. For
several nights past he suffered great
ly from pains, and each morning re-
ported his trouble at the bank, re-
marking that he had feared that he
was not going to live until morning.
He had been treated throughout the
spring for rheumatism of the heart.
Failing Health for Some Time.
While Mr.. Thomas failing health
was known to his family and bust
ness associates, his death was en-
tirely unexpected at this time, es-
pecially to the public. He was at
the bank each day, and was there
yesterday, transacting business as US
usual, but looking pale and thin. He
sat on the porch last evening until
late 1t was soon after supper that
the nightly pains began to come on,
and the medicine that had been pre-
viOusly prescribed was given, and his
sisters did all that they could for
him. 1t made him feel worse to lie
down, and therefore he sat on the
waved to friends passing by. He suf-
fered intensely after retiring, all
through the night, but it was not UNI
til early morning that it was found
necessary to summon physician.
He retained consciousness until the
hypodermic injections that were
given him to ease his pain took ef-
feet, and then sank into unconscious
ness, and passed away at nine
o'clock.
Was in Banking Business.
Mr.. Thomas was born April 20,
1853, at Racine, Wis, and was son
of r. j. and Sarah Thomas. He re-
moved with his parents to South
Bend in October, 1868, and thence in
September, 1865, to Mankato, where
he received a good common school
education. He clerked in his faith
er's grocery store for five years and
then, in 1875, accepted position as
bookkeeper in the Citizens National
until January, 1884, when he went to
Minneapolis for two years as teller
and bookkeeper for the Manufacture
ers' National bank. He then return
ed to MankatO to assume the posi-
ton of cashier of the MankatO Ma
tional bank, later reorganized as the
Mankato State bank.
The deceased possessed fine
voice, and about the time that his
father retired from the choir of the
Presbyterian church he took the place
left by his father and continued in
the choir up to the present time, a.
though for the past year or so he was
not as active in this work as for
merly. His service in the choir dates
from 1886, and he was a faithful
member, and was ever ready to give
his services on all occasions where
singing was needed.
Was a Single Man.
Mr.. Thomas was never married.
After the death of his father, he
made a home for his mother and two
sisters, and that home was one of
the pleasantest in the city. A year
ago he prepared the present home,
sparing no expense to make it as
comfortable and delightful as posi-
BILE. His mother passed away two
years ago, and after that he contin-
ued to make an attractive home for