Thomas Jennings Pace Senior (1866 - 1889)

Born 4 Sep 1866 in Montalba, Anderson County, Texas

Ancestors

Husband of Antoinette (Hathcock) Oldham — married 5 Jan 1888 (to 9 Oct 1889) in Anderson County, Texas

Descendants

Died 9 Oct 1889 at age 23 in Montalba, Anderson County, Texas

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Perry Dunn [send private message]

Biography

Obituary: Thomas Jennings Pace, son of O. D. Pace and Annie Duval, born September 4, 1886*, assassinated October 9, 1889, aged twenty-three years one month and five days. Ordinarily language is used as a vehicle of thought, but would convey only a feebel idea of the horror that thrilled this community from center to circumference at the sad intelligence of the death of "Jennings," and the manner of his taking off. Old and young, male and female, black and white, all were agitated to a degree never before experienced in this community; and no wonder! for inheriting of his gentle mother, whom he lost in his early infancy, he also inherited her gentleness of disposition that in childhood, boyhood and early manhood rendered him singularly free from the vices and follies of the average boy of the period and dissipations incident to youth, and made him a model of filial piety, moral rectitude and all the social virtues that endeared him to the best elements of society. He professed religion in boyhood, and his subsequent life was consistant with his profession, and when striken down by the red hand of the assassin, under cover of night, he was ready to obey the sommons. Having never harmed one of God's creatures, he was ready ot face the record. His future was unclouded, and he died as he ahd lived, at peace with God and all mankind. He left an amiable young wife, to whom he had been married scarce two short blissful years, now overwhelmed with grief, and a bright little babe, whose innocent prattle mingled strangely and incongruously with the wail of grief and the wierd sound of the clods as they fell upon the casket that contained the inanimate form of his murdered father. May God in His mercy comfort the bereaved in the earnest prayer of the entire. MONTALBA COMMUNITY

An addendum to the murder of Thomas Pace, Senior:

Niel Hilton, who killed Tom Pace on the 9th inst., was arrested by Constable Carroll, of Tennesee Colony, on Copperas Creek, and is now in jail. He was wounded in the arm and in the groin. Actiong under the advice of his counsel he refuses to say anything about the difficulty.

• Misprint of Tom Pace's birthdate. Should read September 4, 1866.

Both reprinted from copies of Montalba newspaper clippings in the possession of Ann Blanche Pace, Kerrville, Texas. This entered on 13 Sep 1996 by Perry Lee Dunn, Dallas, Texas.

According to Uncle Monk (Winfield Jennings Pace), this was the situation surrounding Tom's death: Tom Pace, Sr. owned a general store in Montalba,TX, as well as a cotton 'gin in Iowa Park, TX. Apparently, he had loaned some money to Neil Hilton, with the understanding that when Mr. Hilton's crops were sold, Mr. Pace would be paid back. When Mr. Pace went to collect, Mr. Hilton was waiting inside the door of his house, with a shotgun concealed by the frame. The negotiations got a bit rough, and Mr. Hilton shot Mr. Pace in the side or the back. At this point, Mr. Pace drew his .38 and wounded Mr. Hilton twice, in the arm and in the groin.

Sources

• Family records

Texas death certificate for Thomas Jennings Pace Find A Grave Memorial# 31137308