Obit: Syth, Thomas (1867 - 1904)
 

Contact: Pat
Email: pshanks56@yahoo.com
 

Surnames: SYTH O'CONNEL SHANKS HENDREN NICHOLS SCHOFIELD CUMMINGS HOWDEN EGGETT MCKENNA MEAD

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner 12 May 1904

THOMAS SYTH AT REST

The messenger of death called from our midst a respected and highly esteemed citizen when it called Thomas Syth hence at 3 o'clock Wednesday morning, May 4th. Though he had been in failing health for over a year, he had hardly been sick a day in his life, so that it was necessary to take to his bed, until Sunday morning when his heart action became bad, necessitating medical attention which was promptly rendered. Later in the day he got up and was able to visit with the friends who called on him and was lively in reviewing the history of the earlier pioneer days. However, his strength gradually failed until the end, though hope and consciousness was retained to within an hour or two of his demise. The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church Friday afternoon, Rev. W. T. Hendren officiating. An unusually large number of sympathizing friends and relatives were present to pay their respects to the deceased. The funeral procession was led by the Greenwood Brass Band which rendered appropriate music. The remains were laid to rest in the local cemetery, the pall bearers being John Nichols, Robert Scholfild, Chas. Cummings, Sam Howden, Robert Eggett and John McKenna.

Mr. Syth was one of the pioneer settlers of the town of Eaton, coming here in 1867, after spending a year in West Salem, having come in 1866 from Canada. He was born in England about 1830, moving with his people to the Dominion in boyhood. He was twice married, his first wife dying in their early married life, leaving one daughter, now Mrs. Philo Mead of Connecticut. To his second wife, Sarah Shanks, he was married in 1864, which union bore four children, one dying in infancy. The living are Mrs. Mary O'Connel of Butternut, who arrived at her father's bedside the night before his death Robert and John, both of this city. Besides the immediate family one brother, James Syth, besides a number of more distant relatives, are left to mourn.

Mr. Syth was a blacksmith by trade and ran a shop near the present Eaton town hall as well as in town near the present Steinert building. In those days blacksmiths burned their own coke and numerous black spots on the home farm where he used to make his coke can yet be seen.

Genial, kind hearted and of broad sympathies was "Tommy" Syth and the memory of his faithful life will ever remain green and bright.