Obit: Wage, Thomas D. #2 (1852 - 1942)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org  

Surnames: Wage, Fowler, Thiede, Foster, Winn, Beeckler, Berg, Pearce, Longenecker

----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 22 Oct. 1942

Wage, Thomas D. (26 April 1852 - 15 Oct. 1942)

Thomas D. Wage passed away at the home of his daughter, Miss Gladys Wage, Thursday, October 15, at 5:30 p.m., after an illness of but a few hours duration. He was 90 years of age.

Thomas Davis Wage was born April 26, 1852, on a farm near the small village of Herrickville, Bradford County, Pa. When he was four years of age, his parents, John D. and Susan (Fowler) Wage, came to Clark County, Wis., to settle on a 320 acre tract of land in the town of Grant, which the elder Wage had purchased from the government. Access to the land, which now is a part of the Ewald Thiede farm, located a mile south and a mile west of Trimberger’s corners, was made from Neillsville through a trackless forest, a distance of about eight miles.

Here the young Thomas grew to manhood and after the death of his father he carried on the farm work and cared for his mother. On his 24th birthday, April 26, 1876, he was married to Miss Henrietta Foster at Neillsville, Wis. They continued to live on the farm until 1883 when they sold the farm and came to live at Maple Works, a thriving little crossroads settlement, now known as Trimberger’s corner. A few years later, he purchased a farm close by. A portion of this farm now is the site of the village of Granton.

Mr. Wage had lived continuously in the town of Grant until May 30, 1941. He went to live with his daughter, Miss Gladys, at that time, the daughter having resigned from her teaching position to make a home for her father. Following the death of his wife on the 30th day of May, 1918, he lived with his daughter, Dora, Mrs. F. E. Winn, on the old farm. During all these years, he was the constant companion of his grandchildren. He was sympathetic and helpful to them in all their childish ambitions. He took a personal interest in each one’s school life and looked forward each month to seeing their report cards. The children understood that they must have good marks if they wished to receive the approval of Grandpa Wage.

Not only was he interested in his own grandchildren, but he also was a friend of all young people in the neighborhood. He was always glad to know of their successes in school or in their careers after school days.

His last few days were happy ones. On Sunday, with members of his family, he enjoyed a ride over many of the roads which he had traveled as a young man. Tuesday he attended a farm auction in the town of York, where he met several of his old time friends, and on Wednesday afternoon he spent several hours at the George Rose home where he had visited many times in the past. On his way home he met several of his friends and neighbors for whom he had a cheery word of greeting. After supper, he retired early, saying merely that he was tired. About twelve p.m., he called to his daughter that he did not feel very well and after suffering two heart attacks he passed away at 5:30 p.m., the following day, content in the thought that he had lived a long, happy and useful life.

Mr. Wage had the honor of attending the Clark County Fair each year for 70 consecutive years. The Clark County Fair Association was organized in 1872, when he was a young man of 20. He purchased a share of stock that year and without a single exception attended the exhibition each year thereafter, including the 70th this fall.

For many years, Mr. Wage and two pioneer friends, E. A. Beeckler and Carl Berg, celebrated their birthdays together annually. Mr. Wage and Mr. Beeckler were born on April 26, while Mr. Berg’s birth date fell a day later, on the 27th. Mr. Beeckler now is sole survivor of the group.

He is survived by three daughters: Jennie, Mrs. N. J. Pearce, Monroe, La.; Dora, Mrs. F. E. Winn, and Gladys Wage, both of Granton. He also leaves four granddaughters, Betty Jane Pearce, Monroe, La.; Kathryn Jane, Patty Ellen and Doris Irene Winn, and a grandson, John Wage Winn.

Funeral services were held Sunday at the Lowe Funeral Home in this city, the Rev. G. W. Longenecker officiating. Burial was made in the Windfall Cemetery, Granton.

A touching incident in connection with the death of Mr. Wage, was a gift from the children of Granton in the form of a beautiful basket of flowers.