Edward D.Tompkins Obituary

Ed. Tompkins, Pioneer, Crosses the Great Divide 10/3/1925

This community wa shocked last Saturday afternoon when the news went out that Ed. Tompkins had passed away at his home in this city, at about 3 O'clock P.M.

Mr. Tompkins was oneof the early settlers of Sanborn County, and has been a resident of this city for several years past.

Edward Daniel Tompkins was born in Oneida County, New York, March 26, 1854. Here he passed his boyhood days, until about 16 years of age the family, consisting of his parents and six brothers and sisters, removed to Iowa (Wyoming, Iowa) to make a new home in the west...Here he grew up to a man's estate and on January 8, 1879, he was happily married to Miss Della P. Deming, who for 46 years has been his helpmate and guide through life.

Four years later, Mr and Mrs. Tompkins and 2 young sons, Will and Ford, catching a true pioneer spirit, came west and settled in Sanborn County, taking a homestead 8 miles west and 1/2 mile north of Carthage. (South Dakota). Here their home was made for 35 years. These hardy settlers helped to conquer and to win through the hardships of pioneer life in the west, and to bring up their children to maturity with respect and credit to themselves.

Mr and Mrs Tompkins 8 children were born, seven of whom survived and were present at the funeral. They are: Will B. of Carthage; E. F.(Ford) of Carthage;Frank A. of Madison; Mrs. E. J. Drury (Elsie) of LaFox, illinois; Mrs. O.G. Salter (Lizzie) of Artesian; Mrs. L. E. Crandall (Mabel) of Artesian; C. I. (Charley) of Carthage; and Mrs. B. V. Hanson (Ethel) of Esmond, who passed away less than a year ago.(more about her later - Alice) Besides these children and the well beloved wife, there are three sisters and brothers, twenty nine grandchildren, and a host of friends who mourn the passing of a noble husband, father and friend who through all these years has so magnified the relationships of life, they shall linger with us like a sweet incense.

Seven years ago Mr. Tompkins sold the old homestead and bought a home in Carthage, where they have since lived, visiting their children and being visited by them; finding their chief pleasure in these whom they loved and for whom they had worked and planned. Mr. Tompkins has been in failing health for some time, but not so dangerously so, it was thought. The end came saturday afternoon, Oct. 3, very suddenly, and no doubt as he might have chosen it to be, in his own home and with the loved ones near him.

Mr. Tompkins was a quiet, reserved man.He did not have many intimate friends as some have, but to the few who enjoyed this inner circle of his friendship and confidence, as well as his home folks, he was found to have an exceedingly kindly heart and a high sense of right and a clear and well defined standard of conduct. He leaves a rich heritage to the sons and daughters who survive him. He was 71 years, 6 months, and 7 days of age at the date of his death.

The funeral, which was largely attended, was held from the home in Carthage and from the Christian Church, where the family have their church home. The service, in the absence of the pastor, was conducted by Rev. W. S. Harper, Pastor of the Congregational Church of Humboldt, who is an old friend of the family. The music was furnished by a male quartet, who sang old favorites of Mr. Tompkins. A wealth of flowers were in evidence, mute tokens of the friendship and love of many friends and of various church societies. The internment was in Pleasant View Cemetery in Carthage, South Dakota.

Relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mr and Mrs. Gus Tompkins, of Goodland, Kansas; Mrs. Carrie Woods of Osakis, Minnesota; John Tompkins of Osakis, Minn; Mrs. Rhoda Holub of Wyoming, Iowa; Mrs. Mabel Shimerda and son, Robert, of Sioux City, Iowa; Norris Tompkins of Humboldt, South Dakota; and Mr. Fairchild of Osakis, Minn.