THOMAS PARRY EDMUNDS. POULTNEY, RUTLAND COUNTY, VERMONT.
Again Poultney mourns the loss of one of its most prominent men in the death of Thomas P. Edmunds, which occurred December 19th, following a stroke of paralysis on the preceeding Tuesday evening. On Tuesday he was about his business as usual, greeting his friends and associates in his genial manner, with no evidence of the sudden demise which has thrown the town and indeed all of the immediate vicinity into mourning. While the stroke was a severe one, he seemed to be recovering a bit on Wednesday evening and with his usual optimism he was putting up a good fight for life; but all of a sudden just as the serious hour of the day, 3 o'clock on Thursday morning, he gave one gasp and the end had come.Mr. Edmunds was born in Corwen, North Wales, in August 25th, 1873, the son of Richard and Jane Roberts Edmunds. With his parents he came to America in 1883 and for forty years had been a resident here, with the exception of a period which he spent in Rutland. For nearly thirty years he had been engagedin the insurance business in the village, in which he was very successful, and with unusual ability he became very proficient in handling insurance of every nature.
He was endowed with remarkable intellect and was an extensive reader of the best literature, fitting him as an exceptional speaker and entertainer. Many times he was called upon to give an audience and no matter what the subject, he handled it eloquently and furnished something of a very high character. And when Tom was to speak he always had a large number of listeners who were always at the knowledge of the man, whose school days were few and which was a severe handicap to so many.
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On May 1st, 1899 he married Margaret Morris of Poultney who survives him, together with his venerable mother, a brother, William J. Edmunds, both of that village, and a sister, Mrs. Griffith J. Morris of Brooklyn, New York.
The last rites were observed from the Welsh Church in Poultney Sunday afternoon. The edifice was crowded to the doors, many being unable to gain admittance. The pastor, Rev. D. C. Davies, preached an eloquent sermon and gave fitting tribute to the deceased.. Rev. Baldwin Davies, pastpr of the South Poultney Church, and Rev A. C. Wilson, rector of Trinity Chapel assisted. Members of Netis Lodge I.O.O.F. of which he was a member and a delegation from Claire Carmody Post, American Legion, attended in a body. He was also a member of Rutland Lodge No. 345, B.P.O.H. which was represented.
The remains were laid at rest in Poultney Cemetery, the bearers being, H. H. Parry, O. W. McShane, J. R. Shank, G. W. McGrath, H. L. Sherman, F. H. Graves, J. T. Evans, Frank C. Thrall.