DEATH OF JAMES WALLER
THOMAS
Passing of Collin County
Pioneer Citizen
Courier
November 15, 1906
RAN FIRST MCKINNEY PAPER
For Years Edited Old
McKinney Messenger—Served as Postmaster Many Terms.
The death of
James W. Thomas which occurred Thursday afternoon at him home on North
College street, after a week's illness of kidney trouble caused much sorrow
through out the city and county. Though Mr. Thomas had been in rather feeble
health for some time, he had only been confined to his bed a week, having
ate dinner with his family for the last time on Thursday preceding his
death.
Born Jan. 19,
1826. Died Nov. 9, 1906. Resident of McKinney for 47, years, moving here
from Clarksville, Texas, in 1859.Served as postmaster under the
administrations of Presidents, Pierce, Buchanan, Johnston, Grant, Hayes,
Garfield, Arthur and Cleveland. Established The McKinney Messenger
(suspended about 30 years ago) which was the first newspaper ever published
in Collin county.
James Waller
Thomas was born at Jefferson City, Cole county, Mo., January 19, 1826, and
was therefore eighty years, 9 months and twenty two days old at the time of
this death. His father, John P. Thomas was a Virginian, whose father served
with distinction in the Colonial army during the Revolution, and his
mother's maiden name was Miss Sarah Christopher, she being a native of
Versailles, Ky. Mr. Thomas came to Texas in 1845, living at first in Fayette
county, followed surveying and school teaching in West Texas for two or
three years, then settling at Clarksville, where he served as postmaster,
County Clerk and Treasurer, and edited the Clarksville Messenger. In 1859 he
moved his newspaper plant to McKinney and continued the publication of his
paper under the name of the McKinney Messenger, the first paper eve
published in Collin county. John T. Darnall, who still survives and lives
now at Pilot Point, was his partner and associate editor from 1859 on during
the war. Mr. Thomas was an intimate personal and political friend of Gen.
Sam Houston, whose candidacy for the Governorship in 1859 was first
suggested in the public prints by Mr. Thomas in the Messenger and taken up
by other papers, and then the people, who elected the San Jacinto hero
Governor that year over Gov. Runnels. Mr. Thomas, like Houston, strenuously
opposed Texas secession. He maintained his Union views and advocated them
through the medium of the McKinney Messenger throughout the war period until
about 1875 when he voluntarily suspended the publication of his paper.
He married Miss
Mary William Smith, daughter of John Smith, a prominent citizen of
Clarksville, at that place September 30, 1866 and is survived by his aged
widow and the following children: John W., W. G. and James P. Thomas, all of
this city, and E. L. Thomas of Dallas; daughters, Mrs. T. A. McClenny of
Dallas, Mrs. G. R. Wear of Sherman, and Misses Alice and Katherine Thomas of
this city. A brother of the deceased, Wm. M. Thomas, died in Clarksville
several years ago. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Adelia Burns of
Houston. Federal Judge Waller T. Burns and Hon. Uvalde Burns, both of
Houston, are nephews of the deceased. Mr Thomas was twice the nominee of the
republican party for state office, comptroller and treasurer, and ran twice
on the republican and anti-saloon ticket for congress from this district. He
was an earnest temperance worker, mild in manner, kind to the sick and
temperate in all his habits. He was a deacon in the Christian church and the
first superintendent of the Sunday school here or among the first.
He served as
postmaster, either at Clarksville or McKinney, under the administrations of
Presidents Pierce, Buchanan, Johnston, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur and
Cleveland. He was a man fearless in the expression of his views under all
circumstances, as was evidenced by his eventful career during the war, and
retired as postmaster here in June 1887, with the respect and goodwill of
all, regardless of political affiliations.
Mr. Thomas
served at one time as treasurer of Collin county, having been succeeded by
the late Geo. Cameron. Miss Martha Pendleton was the maiden name of Mr.
Thomas' grandmother. She was a Virginian, the Daughter of Edmund Pendleton,
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Funeral services
were conducted at the family residence, No. 17 North College street, by Eld.
Hugh McClellan, assisted by Eld. R. C. Horn of Vineland at 3 o'clock p. m.
Friday after which a long and sorrowful procession followed the remains to
Pecan Grove cemetery, where they were laid to rest. We join with many
friends in extending sincere condolence to the grief-stricken family.
Surname Index
Recommended
Citation:
"Death of James Waller Thomas,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
