Francis Thom (1808 - 1895)

Born 6 Jun 1808 in Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Husband of Margaret (Craigen) Thom — married 18 Jun 1832 (to 2 Oct 1885) in Leslie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 12 Nov 1895 at age 87 in Owatonna, Steele, Minnesota, USA

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Biography

Francis Thom was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, July 6, 1808. He was Christenned on 29 July 18081 in Insch, Aberdeenshire Scotland UK. -See Sourced information added 22/4/2024.

He left his native country in 1856 for the United States, and first settled in Wisconsin. He remained there until 1858, when he came to Steele County, Minn., where he has since lived. Mr. Thom was married June 18, 1832, to Margaret Craigen, who died October 2, 1885, and was buried in Owatonna cemetery. She was a lady of high Christian character and was beloved by all. The fruits of their union were twelve children, as follows: Ann, born August 7, 1883 (died March 23, 1885, was buried at Racine, Wis.); William, born Sept 9, 1834; George, born Aug. 24, 1836; Elizabeth, born Sept. 26, 1838; James, born Oct. 10, 1840; John, born June 19, 1842; Daniel, born July 8, 1844; Robert, born January 12, 1847; Maggie, born February 8, 1849; Frank, born June 11, 1851; Alexander, born March 15, 1854, and Mary, born June 25, 1855. Mr. Thom belongs to the Congregational Church at Owatonna. In politics he is a Republican, and has held a great many local offices of trust and importance, discharging the duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to the citizens of the township. No man in Steele County has led a more exemplary life than Mr. Thom, nor is held in higher esteem or respect by his fellow men.

Deacon Francis Thom Called to His Rest on Tuesday of This Week ----A Remarkably Exemplary Life

At the ripe old age of eighty-seven years, four months, and four days, one of Steele County's most highly respected citizens, Deacon Francis Thom, passed from earth to the brighter shores beyond. The death of no other citizen in this community could have called forth such expressions of universal respect and deep love as the announcement on Tuesday morning that Deacon Thom had passed, during the preceding night, to his long rest. Few men, if any there be, by their sterling character and many admirable traits have come to be so generally beloved and esteemed by the people of the community in which they live as may be said of Deacon Thom.

Born in Leslie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1808, he grew to young manhood in the rugged land of bonnie Scotland. In 1856 he left the place of his nativity and crossing the Atlantic to America settled in Racine County, Wisconsin. Two years were there spent and then he removed to Owatonna where he has ever since resided.

Minnesota was not in those days the highly civilized country of the present day. The conditions which confronted Mr. Thom in 1858 when he settled in Steele County were indeed most widely contrasted with those of today. The wide ranging prairies and dense forests, with few inhabitants, made Minnesota at that time a most desolate and lonesome place in which to make a home but with the characteristic energy and determination of a Scotchman, Mr. Thom began the laborious work of making a home for himself and family.

The year following Deacon Thom's advent to this county he became identified with the Congregational Church of this city of which he has been an honored and respected deacon for thirty-five years. His life as a member of the church has been a continuous sermon preaching Christ. He very frequently walked the four miles from his farm to this city to attend every service and at times during revival interest he attended church every night for six consecuive weeks and he was an especially earnest laborer in all church work.

Although never a so-called public man, Mr. Thom has always been a prominent and active citizen and his participation in matters of public interest has at all times been a strong influence in the right direction.

While his death may be largely attributable to disintegration caused by old age, it was hastened no doubt by a blow which he received two years ago from a floundering horse. One of his ankle joints was seriously bruised at this time and necrosis of the joint resulted, causing long months of suffering.

The funeral services were public in nature and took place on Thursday afternoon at the Congregational Church, which was crowded with friends who came to pay their last respects to the sacred memory of the deceased. Rev Jas. A. Chamberlin, pastor of the church, officiated and preached the funeral sermon, from the text "One Mason an Old Disciple" which was very impressive and specially fitting the occasion. The floral decorations were beautiful in arrangement and beside the offering of the ladies society of the church, the Thom memorial window was very appropriatey draped with wheat and small grain. The music of the service, which was rendered by Mrs.H.K. Tompkins, Mrs.W.S. Bolce, John Niles and Guy B. Bennett, was fittingly chosen and formed a very impressive part of the service.

During the long yearsof his exemplary life, Deacon Thom was blessed with the aid and comfort of a wife whose lovley Christian character was an inspiration and help to him and who was a kind and sympathetic mother to the large family of twelve children which blessed their union. She was called home October 2nd, 1885.

The sympathy of the people of this community will go out to the family in the loss which they have sustained, and they will be joined by all reverence of the memory of the deceased which will ever prove a blessed one.

The remains were laid at rest in the Forest Hill Cemetery by six sons who were present to attend the funeral.

Sources

• online sources"Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XB7N-XLH : 16 September 2021), Francis Thom, 1808.

"Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XB7N-XLH : 16 September 2021), Francis Thom, 1808.

"Minnesota Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDZ3-3RQ : 16 January 2020), Francis Thom, 1895.