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Sudden Death of Thomas McManus

  Thomas McManus, one of the most prominent residents of Pre-emption township, passed away at his home five miles southwest of Reynolds at 1:50 o'clock Saturday afternoon, May 15, 1915. The cause of death was heart disease and the suddenness with which the end came plunged his many friends into deepest sorrow.
  Mr. McManus had been a life long resident of Pre-emption township, being the son of Michael and Ella McManus, pioneers of that township, Mr. McManus never married but made his home on the home farm with his sisters, Misses Ella and Mary. He was an industrious and progressive farmer and gave great thought and study to the development and improvements of his farm land, comprising several hundred acres, all well equipped with modern buildings and those things which make farm-life comfortable and profitable. No farmer residing in the Pre-emption community enjoyed a wider acquaintance or the high esteem of his neighbors more than Thomas McManus.
  Death at all times is sad, but when it comes to us as it did to Thomas J. McManus, it is felt more keenly by relatives and friends. For Mr. McManus was apparently in good health until the last illness, which lasted only a short time. He had been ill and under the doctor's care only since Friday evening, when he suffered a severe attack of gastritis. The members of the household did not realize the seriousness of the attack, nor did Mr. McManus himself, for he arose as usual Saturday morning.
          Obituary
  Thomas J. McManus was born a mile and a half east of Pre-emption January 31, 1863, and died May 15, 1915. At the early age of three he move with his parents to the farm three and a half miles southwest of Pre-emption, which he has ever since made his home. He was the eldest of five children. His father and mother have already preceded him in death. Those left to mourn are two sisters, Mary and Ella at home, two brothers, Patrick of Taylor Ridge and Francis of Pre-emption, and four nieces and two nephews.
  Thomas McManus was a cheerful and generous person, meeting everyone with the same genial smile. He had always been a faithful member of St. Joseph's Catholic church, at which place a Requiem High Mass was celebrated Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock by the Reverend Father Welch of Aledo assisted by Reverend Father Murtaugh of Sheffield, Illinois. Father Welch preached an eloquent sermon. Interment was made in the Catholic cemetery.
(Aledo Times Record, Thursday, May 20, 1915, p. 4)

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