Thomas W. Gwinn

Thomas Wilson Gwin (10 Feb 1863 - 7 Oct 1877)

This portrait was found and identified in a photo album belonging to Thomas W. Gwin's first cousin, Martha RoseAnne Gwin Holley, which album was most likely given to her as a wedding gift by her maternal grandparents (Martha and her first husband, Matt Holley, were wed on 7 Sep 1860). The album is now in the possession of my double-fourth cousin, Barbara Lee Lester Ward.

Thomas Wilson Gwin's obituary follows.

Died, at Wilsonville, in this county, on Sunday night last, Wilson Gwin aged about 18 years. [sic--actually 14 years] He was the youngest son of our esteemed county-man, Col. Wm. Gwin, and was a young man of much promise. He had been out with a sorghum mill and evaporator, making syrup for the public for the past two weeks, and probably had been subjected to some exposure. He was taken sick with pneumonia on Friday morning last and continued to grow worse until Sunday night, when he died. He is the second son that his grief stricken parents have buried in the last two months, both young men in the morning of life with bright prospects before them. [The other is Dr. John Wesley Gwin, beside whom Thomas is buried.] We extend our sympathies to the bereaved family and friends in the great affliction.

From The Shelby Sentinel, Columbiana, Shelby County, Alabama, October 11, 1877

Thomas Wilson Gwin is my great-granduncle--i.e., he is a brother to my great-grandfather, William Sutton "Sutt" Gwin, who is also buried in this family's section. Thomas' stone was vandalized, and the broken upright stone was reset in concrete, hiding the date of death. I'm grateful to my cousin Jack Vardaman for finding and sending me the above obituary which effectually brings that date to light.

There is much more at our page for this family located at http://www.gwingenealogy.net/GENEALOGY/SURNAMES/Gwin/GwinWilliam.htm.

Many thanks to

John M. Gwin, [email protected]

Thomas Wilson Gwin's stone was evidently vandalized at some time, and repairers simply buried it partially in wet cement and let it set, leaving the date of death hidden. The double spires of his parents' (William and Roseanne "Roe" Carlisle [Wilson] Gwin) stone can be seen in the rear and to the left, and his grandfather's (John Gwin's) stone, slightly farther back and right.

Thomas' oblituary follows:

DIED, at Wilsonville, in this county, on Sunday night last, Wilson Gwin aged about 18 years. He was the youngest son of our esteemed county-man, Col. Wm. Gwin, and was a young man of much promise. He had been out with a sorghum mill and evaporator, making syrup for the public for the past two weeks, and probably had been subjected to some exposure. He was taken sick with pneumonia on Friday morning last and continued to grow worse until Sunday night, when he died. He is the second son [The other being Dr. John Wesley Gwin] that his grief stricken parents have buried in the last two months, both young men in the morning of life with bright prospects before them. We extend our sympathies to the bereaved family and friends in the great affliction.

from The Shelby Sentinel, Columbiana, Alabama, October 11, 1877

Using an online perpetual calendar, one can ascertain that 11 Oct 1877 fell on a Thursday, making Thomas' reported date of death Sunday, 7 Oct 1877, and his age at death some four months shy of 15 years.