The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-06-18
DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN

Thomas Harvey Halle passed quiet
ly away at 1890 Monday morning,
June 14th, from the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Edward Byington, in
this city, after few days illness, OF
general debility, after an unusually
long, active and useful life. he mad
passed the Tooth milestone, but his
mind was clear and unimpaired to
the last, though he had for several
wears been confined to his room ow-
ing to an injury received several
wears ago. He had lived a blameless
life, and was respected and honored
by host of friends. He was 100
years, 2 months and 30 days old.
Mr.. Halle was a native of st. Fran
co.'s county, where he had spent his
entire life, with the exception OF two
trips to California, the first made IN
40, and the next made in '5l, spend
ing a year or two each time in the
Golden State. The first trip to Cali
fornia proved very successful ven-
ture and he brought back with him
small trunkful of gold nuggets. He
made the trip each time to Califor-
MIA over land, going by OK train the
first time and driving $50 head of
cattle and horses through the second
time. in 1851. He thought he would
find a great market for these at San
Francisco, but in this he was mlstak-
en-. After losing 300 head of cattle
through depredations of Indians and
other causes en- route, he found a
poor market at San Francisco and sold
the remainder of the herd at a great
financial loss.
To add further to his misfortunes,
on his return by ship when near the
Isthmus of Panama the ship was
wrecked and he, with thirty-five other
passengers on board, were cast out
upon barren island where they were
stranded with nothing but the eggs OF
seagulls upon which to live until res
cued by passing ship which they
were able to signal month later. He
fell thirteen years ago and broke his
left hip, since which time he has been
unable to walk. Barring this, he has
enjoyed splendid health nearly all OF
his long life, which he attributed to
regular habits and simple living. He
always made it a rule to retire each
night at as nearf9 o'clock as possible
He was Just as punctual in arising
and in having his meals served.
He was elected Assessor of st
Francois county in 1912, when the tax
able wealth of the county (now $24,-
900 O0O) was about 100000. For list.
ing this he received $50. He represent
ed the county in the State Legislature
in 1874. Afterward he was repeatedly
urged to accept political prefermentt
by his friends, but steadfastly refused
He was a staunch Democrat, although
liberal in his views. This attitude
made strong friends for him among
those of opposing political faith a'
we'll as those of his own party. Ht
had for many years been an elder IL
the Presbyterian church.
A large gathering of relatives ant
old friends gathered on the Byingtor
lawn Tuesday afternoon, where tn
funeral services were held, whici
were conducted by Rev. r. S. Boyd, as
sisted by Rev. o. H. L. Cunningham
Interment was in the Masonic GENE
terry. Out of respect to this respected
citizen, circuit court Adjourned fol
the funeral services, and the cour
house and business houses were closed
The pall-bearers were Messrs. r. L
Allen, o. w. Bleeck, j. Clyde Akers
Guy Tulloclz, Ed. Henderson and Mil
q 8 J. d..