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Abijah H. Thomas; bom April 21, 1837, in Leo county, Virginia, died1 October 5, 1905, Santa Ana, Cal., aged- 68 years, 5 months. and fourteen days. Married to MJb® Emelin© Bartley January 29, 1862,Moved from Virginia to Grant county, Kentucky, in the winter of 1864, where he engaged in farming until 1866, when he entered the mercantile business at De Mossville, Ky., which he continued until 1873 when he sold out and moved to Hiawatha, Kansas, and- still followed merchandising for 17 years. At the end of this period he nioved to Santa Ana, Cal., which has since been his home, with the exception of about 2 years, which were spent In the grocery business at Los Angeles, Cal. He was one of 11 children (10 boys and 1 girl), all of whom became Christians, owing to the influence of the parents. Five brotherssurvive him of whom are James V. Thomas, of Netawaka, Kan.; Josiah C. Thomas, Santa Ana, Cal.; Nathan M. Thomas, of Lee county, Va.; Joshua E. Thomas, Long Beach, Cal.; Daniel B. Thomas, Orrville, Cal. At an early age he was converted and united with the M. E. Church, which was his church home until 1870 when he united with the Christian Church . I at De Mossville, Ky., where he ‘ became an elder, which office he filled until his removal to Kansas. When he reached his new home he found a weak congregation of disciples, but byI his influence and means a church i building was erected and it became a . strong influential congregation. Dur-- ing his residence at Hiawatha, Kas.,he continued to fill the office of elder. 3 On his removal to Santa Ana he was i immediately called to the eldership, 3 which office he filled at the time of his i death. He held the position as Chairman of the official Board. He al-31 ways took an active part In all branches of the church work, and was j | Sunday-school superintendent nearly all of the years of his residence fn Santa Ana. During all this time he gave himself to the work of thechurch, visiting the members of the »1 church and Sunday-school, especially looking after the strangers and the f | sick.A large majority of those uniting e with the church by confession and b baptism have been immersed by him. r He fulfilled faithfully all the different relation? of life. As a husband he -1 was ever loving and kind, as a brother ever tendeT and true, as a friend loyal, as a citizen patriotic, but it wras especially as a Christian, that he was ever . faithful and true, which was shown f during the three long months of his painful sickness. He never murmured, but ever trusted in God and the promises of His word. He was frequently heard to express himself.InII prayer. Shortly before his death he bade all his loved ones good bye and fell asleep In Jesus. Truly of him it can be said: “Blessed are the deadj which die in the Lord, from hence-j forth, yea, saitb'the spirit, that they may rest from- their labor; and their works do follow them.”COMM.$50 Reward.A rowftni of ffifl will he nift for the
Newspaper Details
Santa Ana Evening Blade
Santa Ana, California, US
Fri, Oct 13, 1905
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
VA, USA 29 Jun 2019
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