Obituary for Zebulon H Thomas

Zebulon Thomas died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Alex Lott Monday night at ten o'clock, aged 82 years. He was an old resident of Johnson county, having lived In McCamish township for many years and afterwards In the city of Olathe. He was greatly respected by all who knew him. The funeral was held at the house at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning.

Olathe Mirror
August 15, 1907
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ZEBULON H. THOMAS.

As stated briefly in these columns last week, Z. H. Thomas, one of Johnson county's old and respected citizens passed away Monday evening at the home of his daughter in this city, after a long illness.

Mr. Thomas was born in North Carolina, October 6, 1825, and passed away August 12, 1907. He was, therefore, 81 years, 8 months and 26 days old at the time of his death.

Deceased was of staunch Welch and English stock and possessed sturdy characteristics of his ancestry.

His parents immigrating to that old commonwealth in his early youth. He imbibed some of the spirit of the times in which his early manhood was spent. His parents were Quakers and of course that meant that young Thomas was thoroughly taught the principles of equality, justice and freedom for all. Their ideas, of course, were often at variance with the environments of that section of the country and it required sturdy character to assert one's principles oftimes in those days. Zebulon Thomas was not the man to compromise his opinion of right. Once he asserted his faith, he stood by it to the end. It mattered not to him whether others agreed with him or differed from him, he was steadfast in his faith, unswerving in his purpose.

In 1837 he was a victim of that dreaded disease, yellow fever, but his strong constitution and indomitable will enabled him to conquer the terrible disease and in 1848 he left his native state and immigrated to Indiana where a year later he was married to Miss Abigail Mendenhall, to which union were born one son, J. W. Thomas of Olathe, and two daughters, Mrs. J. N. Rankin, Culver, Kansas, and Mrs. A. H. Lott of Olathe, at whose home her father breathed his last.

The wife preceded Mr. Thomas to the spirit land, having died at Olathe in 1900, and rests by the side of him with whom she spent over a half century in happy wedded life.

In 1852 he had another struggle with a horrid disease, this time cholera tried its power for destruction on him and again his strong vitality was the master.

In 1858 he immigrated to Kansas, locating on a claim, near Gardner, where he lived until 1896 when he came to Olathe where he has since resided.

He was identified with the history of the county for all these years, coming to the territory during its most trying period, he grew up a thorough Kansan, loyal to its interests and faithful to every trust as a citizen.

Mr. Thomas was a devout Christian gentleman, a member of the First Presbyterian church at the time of his death. For more than a third of a century he had been a sufferer and during the last year he was subject to much pain, yet in all he bore his burden with the fortitude of a Christian, making but little complaint until death reliieved him of pain. When he came to the "Valley of the Shadow" he feared no evil, for He whom he had all these years trusted, was with him.

Funeral services were held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lott, Wednesday afternoon, Rev. N. A. Shedd of the First Presbyterian church and Rev. Wm. Elledge of the Congregational church officiating.

Zebulon Thomas left the excellent influence of a useful life behind him. His example in his home and in the community in which he lived, carries with it the benign and uplifting influences which always follow the life of a Godly character.

Olathe Mirror
August 22, 1907
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