Created by Brian

William F. Thomas 

Birth

25 May 1845

Montgomery County, Ohio, USA

Death

14 Aug 1918 (aged 73)

Sedro-Woolley, Skagit County, Washington, USA

Burial

Burial Details Unknown. Specifically: Cremain shipped to Seattle, but specific destination not specified. Believe they were trying to get him back to Retsil.

Memorial ID

205665202

Per 1850 Federal Census for Carrollton, Indiana; William was the third of five children (siblings: Nancy C., Munroe, Joseph H. & Sarah J.) born to Laben & Mary Ann (Willson) Thomas -- they married 30 December 1836 in Montgomery County, Ohio.
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Served with Company "H" of the 34th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War; enlisting 21 September 1861 in Anderson, Indiana & honorably discharged as a Corporal on 3 February 1866.
-o- On 27 April 1887, he applied for & was approved for a Civil War pension ($25/monthly) as compensation for injuries sustained during his military service.
-o- When he died in 1918, this pension was transferred to his widow, Laura.
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Per his Veterans Home application & other records -- on 1 January 1880, he married Laura J. Horn in Delphi, Carroll County, Indiana; the ceremony officiated by Rev. Robson. In 1902, they ultimately moved to Seattle, where he worked as a real estate broker for the next 15 years.

20 July 1917, he was admitted to the Washington State Veterans Home (Retsil, WA). Laura was to join him there on 2 May 1918 -- but on that same date, William was transferred to Northern State Hospital for treatment, after a diagnosis of chronic headache, weak heart & high blood pressure.
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Unfortunately, he never made it back to her at Retsil; William died at Northern State Hospital. His death certificate lists the cause of death as cerebral hemorrhage.
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8/2/2023 Message: Hi! There's new information. The Seattle Times has recently released scans of the Northern State Hospital death registry. The registry says that Mr. Thomas was NOT buried at the NSH cemetery. There's a note in the registry reading "Body Shipped to Seattle." His Washington State death certificate also says his remains were sent to Seattle. The Sedro-Wooley undertaker A.F. Baker handled the transfer. I hope this means we can find him in the Seattle area.

Thanks for remembering him. Laura K. (FaG# 50445897)

Veterans Affairs, Department of, Retsil Veterans Home, Member Files
https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/47A8CA3F5555B11194105F6CF51FF5AF

Buried at - select -