Thomas Slater (1842 - 1916)

Born 31 Jan 1842 in London, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 17 Jan 1916 at age 73 in Emmetsburg Palo Alto County Iowa, USA

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Biography

Thomas was born about 1841. Thomas Slater ... ^[1]

Thomas was the son of William Slater. He married Mary Moore. They were the parents of William, Angie R, James A, Maude E, and Charles.

Jan 19, 1916 - Palo Alto Reporter - Thomas Slater died at his home in this city early Monday morning after a very brief illness. His death was a surprise and shock to his friends. The funeral services will be held at the house at 1:30 today and at the M.E. church at 2 o'clock. Rev. Van Metre will officiate. Interment will be made in Evergreen cemetery.

Thos Slater was born in London, England, on Jan. 31, 1842. He came to America with his parents at the age of six years. Shortly after he was bereft of both parents and he then made his home with an aunt in Monroe, Wis.

On April 22, 1867, he was married to Miss Mary E. Moore at Verona, Wis., where they resided until 1870 when they came to Palo Alto county and located on a homestead 6 miles north of Emmetsburg where they lived for many years and then moved to this city and established their home.

When he was sixteen years of age he enlisted and served until the close the war. He belonged to Co. K. of the 12th Wisconsin regiment and enlisted at Madison. He serve his country for five years during the time of war at the risk of his life but this service was not outdone by his service in time of peace, for he was always an honest, upright, peaceful, law-abiding citizen.

Quiet and unassuming at all times, never agressive or quarrelsome. He believed in the theory of live and let live and we doubt if he made himelf offensive to those with whom he dealt. He waa a kind and dutiful husband and father, a good provider and ever ardent and solicitous for the welfare of his family.

He would have reached the age of 74 years had he lived to the end of this month. His years were well spent and his memory will be a precious one to his bereaved family.

Besides his wife, he leaves three sons, W.S. and Chas D. Slatter of this city and James A. Slater of Des Moines and two daughters, Mrs. W.G. Morris of this city and Mrs. W.S Campbell of Chariton, Ia. To them we extend sincere sympathy.

Jan 20, 1916 - Palo Alto Reporter - Monday morning the people of Emmetsburg were astonished by the sad word that came to them that Mr. Thomas Slater had passed to his final reward. Indeed but few knew that Mr. Slater was ill and those who did were told Saturday that he was better. However he was taken worse Saturday night and the grippe which he was suffering with developed into priuemonia and in his weakened condition he passed away about five o'clock Monday morning.

The deceased was born in London, England January 31st 1842 and was 73 years, 11 months, and 17 days old at the time of his decease. He came to this country with his parents when six years of age. Shortly after coming to this country both his parents died and Mr. Slater made his home with an aunt that resided in Monroe County, Wisconsin.

Here he grew to young boyhood and when the call of his adopted country came for her patriotic sons to stay the tide of treason, he, then but a boy of 16 years of age, enlisted in Company K, 32th Wisconsin volunteers. This regiment was in some of the hardest battles of the war and went with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. Mr. Slater in common with the rest of the boys endured that strenuous campaign and although but a boy when he came out of the army in 1865 after four years of service, was one of the hardened veterans of Sherman's famous army. He had done his duty by his country and when the war was over and he was discharged and returned quietly to his Wisconsin home.

He was united in marriage to Mary E. Moore at Verona, Wisconsin April 22, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Slater resided in Wisconsin until the year 1870 when they came to Palo Alto county and took up a homestead in Vernon township 5 miles north of the present town of Emmetsburg. Here they resided about four years and endured the life incident to the settlement of a new country. A series of poor crops and the grasshoppers made life pretty strenuous and Mr. Slater used to come to the old town of Emmetsburg and get what work he could and sometimes when completing his days work, he would trudge home that five milles carrying a sack of flour on his back.

There was no railroad then nearer than Algona and often times he has been known to walk to that place and purchase a basket of groceries and carry them home with him. After residing the farm about four years the family moved to the old town of Emmetsburg on the river and when the railroad came through and the town was moved to its present location they came too and settled in the town. This has been his home ever since.

Mr. Slater was a quiet unostentatious man and always did the duties of life in a quiet manner. He was one of those that believed that a man had a duty to perform and that it was no matter for display the manner in which he performed this duty. Although he had seen hard service in the army he said but littie of his own part in that great struggle. Thus it was in every duty of life, that he perform, it was done quietly and well.

To Mr. and Mrs. Slater five children were born, all of whom survive. These (this obituary repeats the above one)

The record of the deceased as an old soldier was a commendable one and one that any man had a just reason to feel proud of. He was a patriot in deeds, not in words. He offered all that he had on the altar of his country and amid the shot and shell of his country's enemies he bravely breasted the tide of battle until the liberty and integrity of the nation was secured.

One by one these brave men are passing on. They are being overcome by the only foe that they could not conquer. Nobly and well have they wrought for the welfare of the nation and untold millions will yet rise up to call them blessed. To the men of this day and age they leave an example of patriotism that can well be studied and copied. These men loved peace and it was with sadness that they drew the sword but they loved their country and right better than life itself and by their valor left the noblest, grandest and most goodly heritage ever bequeathed to any people.

Spouse: Mary E. Slater (1845 - 1927)

Children: William S Slater (1868 - 1939)* Maude S Slater Campbell (1878 - 1952)* Charles Doland Slater (1886 - 1966)*

Burial: Evergreen Cemetery Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County,Iowa, USA

Find A Grave Memorial# 86790022

Sources

• Lloyd Wagner, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Lloyd and others.

1. ↑ Entered by Lloyd Wagner, Oct 12, 2012