The Wrangell sentinel., 1930-05-08
VIM. t. THOMAS
 DIES AFTER A
 BRIEF ILLNESS
Had Been United States Commissioner at Wran-
 gel1 for Thirty Years

One of Wrangell's best known citizens was removed on last Mon- day when Judge William G. Thomas passed away following a weeks ill., ness.
 A few days before his death Judge Thomas suffered a heart attack and was taken to the Wrangell General Hospital where he remained until the end came six days later.
 The funeral was held Wednesday, forenoon. Services were conducted in the Presbyterian church and also at the grave. The church was crowd ed to its fullest capacity, and the service there opened with the sing ing of Face to Face" by the choir. Then came the invocation after which Mrs. M. O. Johnson sang by request T Am Thine. O Lord" which was Judge Thomas's favorite hymn. The address was delivered by the Rev. Robert Joseph Diven, D. D., and was full of thoughtful reflec- tions. He also eulogized his depart ed neighbor and friend with words of tenderness and affection.
 Judge Thomas had been a mem Der of the Masonic fraternity for more than 30 years. Before his death he expressed a desire to be buried by the Masons. The services at the grave were conducted by the Petersburg Masonic Lodge. The beautiful and impressive service of the Masonic ritual was read by Wor- shipful Master F. R. Ravens, the re- sponses being made by the members. The Petersburg Masons who came to Wrangell by small boat for the pur- pose of conducting the funeral were F. R. Ravens, Frederick Nelson, Ed ward Locken, J. L. Mac Kechnie, L. B. Cornelius, Knud Stenslid, o. R. Ekrem, R. I. Miller, ". R. walther, Eric Ness, o. R. Borseth. There are more than twenty Masnns residing in Wrangell and these joined with the members from Petersburg lodge in conducting the funeral rites The pail bearers were Donald Sinclair, L. B. Chisholm, F. S. Barnes, A. B. Anderson, T. J. Mcbride, E. M Campbell. The floral offerings were lavish and very beautiful.
 William Green Thomas was born in Randolph county, Missouri. He was the youngest child of a large fam fly. When he was three months old the family left for the Pacific Northwest, crossing the plains in a prairie schooner and settling near Scio, Oregon. His mother died when he was seven years of age. Two years later his father died. About that time mines were being opened up in what was then the Territory of Ida ho. He made many trips with his older brothers who were operating pack trains into. the new mining district. Tn this way he had consid- erable experience in pioneering throughout the Pacific Northwest at an early age.
 The gold excitement in the Cassi- ar in the late Seventies appealed to his adventurous spirit. He headed north arriving in Wrangell on March 10, 1877. He bought cabin located on the site on which the Sanitary cannery was built many years later. Here he lived for three months and then made his way up the Stikine. He came out that fall and made trip to the States. Dur ing the first six years that he was In the north he spent portion Of each year up the Stikine river.
 The only buildings in Wrangell standing now which were here when Judge Thomas first landed in Wran- gell in 1877, are two remnants of the old garrison. One Is the build ing occupied by R. W. J. Reed, U. g. Deputy Collector of Customs. which at that time was the garrison cap tain's quarters. The other IS the American Legion's dugout, which was then a military wardrobe.
 Tn the early eighties Judge Thom- as entered the U. s. Customs Service and was stationed in four different Alaskan towns in comparatively short time. He served as a customs officer at Kodiak, Valdez. Sand Point and skagway. Later he served