HEBER – J. Howard (Hod) Thomas, 68, well known Wasatch county farmer and stockman, died Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. of a heart attack. He was stricken while in the Heber bus depot.
Born at Lehi on August 27,1874, a son of Daniel W. and Mary Ashton Thomas, he had resided in Wasatch county nearly all of his life.
He had served two terms as a member of the Wasatch county school board and was active in LDS church affairs. For 15 years he served in the bishopric of the Center ward.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mary Jones Thomas, whom he married in Salt Lake City on November 14, 1903; three daughters and a son, Miss Thelma Thomas of Juneau, Alaska; Miss Arvilla Thomas of Salt Lake City;, Mrs. Earl Giles of Pleasant Grove and Lieutenant Daniel W. Thomas, in the U. S. army; a sister and two brothers, Mrs. John Moyle of American Fork, Apollos Thomas of Ogden and Henry Thomas of California.
Salt Lake Tribune, December 16, 1942, Page 26
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John Howard Thomas (known as Hod) was born at Lehi, Utah August 27th, 1874 to Daniel Wright and Mary Ashton Thomas. He was the fifth of ten children born to them. He grew up in Lehi helping his father on the farm and with the livestock.
Father was left handed, however he wrote with his right hand. I remember him telling of how the teachers tied his left hand behind him when he was in school forcing him to use his right hand. Although he did not have much formal schooling, he was a good mathematician. Some of the farmers were always coming to him to measure their haystacks and figure the tonnage.
When a young man he went to Wasatch County to work for John Austin, who was one of the largest sheep owners in the State. In 1901 he and Thomas Jones, his future brother-in-law, went to Canada to take charge of a large cattle ranch for the Jesse County and married Mary Jones on November 15, 1905. They were the parents of four children: Thelma, Arvilla, Grace, who married Earl Giles, and one son, Daniel, who married Norma Giles.
Mother and Dad lived first in a home on the main road in Center Creek. While living there he continued to herd sheep and farm the land he had purchased. In about 1914 they moved l/2 miles north to the home and farm that Richard Jones Jr. had homesteaded. They lived there until 1936 when they moved to Heber. While in Center Creek he farmed and raised cattle and a few sheep.
The following is taken from a talk by L. C. Montgomery, a lawyer and fellow cattleman at Father's funeral.
"Howard Thomas was a good man, his death is untimely, as we view it. He was a useful man in this community. He was a public-spirited man and a honest and moral man. He was respected by his fellow men. His associates sought his counsel and advice. The cattlemen of this community in particular will mourn his loss. He was one of the few remaining old time cowboys. He loved his horse and saddle, and he always had one of the best saddle horses in the valley. His old bay saddle horse he rode until a few years ago was almost as well known in this community as Hod himself. Hod Thomas was one of the best campfire storytellers I ever knew. It was a natural art with him. His roundup campfire stories will be missed by his many livestock men associates in the valley."
Along with his good horse, Dad always had a good cattle dog. I remember one time he had taken his horse down to a pasture about ¼ mile from home. He unsaddled the horse and left the saddle in the pasture. For the next day or so we wondered what had happened to the dog. When Dad went down to the pasture to get his horse and saddle, the dog was waiting patiently for him.
Father served two terms on the Wasatch County School Board. I can remember how proud I was when he came with the School Superintendent, David A. Broadbent, to visit our school.
He served as a counselor in the bishopric of the Center Ward with Bishop Bennett Lindsay and Elmer Mahoney for 15 years. After moving to Heber he served as a ward teacher in the Heber 1st Ward. Just prior to his death, Bishop Olpin asked him to serve as Supervisor of Ward Teachers.
The following was taken from a talk by Bishop Olpin at Dad's funeral:
"Two days before his death, following a ward teacher's meeting, I was inspired to ask Brother Thomas to bear his testimony and those who were there will recall what a wonderful testimony he bore that day. He bore tribute to his lovely wife, and the influence she had upon him in his life and how much she meant in getting him to be active in the Church."
Being prompt was one of Dad's strongest assets. If you were going any place with him, you knew enough to be ready on time or you would be left. When it was his turn to conduct church meetings they started on time whether half of the people were there or not.
A while before leaving the farm, Dad had bought hay land in the North fields of Heber and a herd of Hereford cattle belonging to his sister-in-law, Mabel Hylton, but he only lived six years after that.
He passed away of a heart attack in the lobby of the Jensen Hotel in Heber City while waiting to board a Trailways bus to go to Salt Lake City at 6:20 the morning of December 15, 1942.
Howard and Mary were both buried in the Heber City Cemetery. Their son, Daniel W. who died September 10, 1961, was buried in the Provo cemetery in Provo, Utah.
Written by his daughter, Grace Thomas Giles (May 9, 1915 – April 19, 1994)
Born at Lehi on August 27,1874, a son of Daniel W. and Mary Ashton Thomas, he had resided in Wasatch county nearly all of his life.
He had served two terms as a member of the Wasatch county school board and was active in LDS church affairs. For 15 years he served in the bishopric of the Center ward.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mary Jones Thomas, whom he married in Salt Lake City on November 14, 1903; three daughters and a son, Miss Thelma Thomas of Juneau, Alaska; Miss Arvilla Thomas of Salt Lake City;, Mrs. Earl Giles of Pleasant Grove and Lieutenant Daniel W. Thomas, in the U. S. army; a sister and two brothers, Mrs. John Moyle of American Fork, Apollos Thomas of Ogden and Henry Thomas of California.
Salt Lake Tribune, December 16, 1942, Page 26
-------------------------------------------------------
John Howard Thomas (known as Hod) was born at Lehi, Utah August 27th, 1874 to Daniel Wright and Mary Ashton Thomas. He was the fifth of ten children born to them. He grew up in Lehi helping his father on the farm and with the livestock.
Father was left handed, however he wrote with his right hand. I remember him telling of how the teachers tied his left hand behind him when he was in school forcing him to use his right hand. Although he did not have much formal schooling, he was a good mathematician. Some of the farmers were always coming to him to measure their haystacks and figure the tonnage.
When a young man he went to Wasatch County to work for John Austin, who was one of the largest sheep owners in the State. In 1901 he and Thomas Jones, his future brother-in-law, went to Canada to take charge of a large cattle ranch for the Jesse County and married Mary Jones on November 15, 1905. They were the parents of four children: Thelma, Arvilla, Grace, who married Earl Giles, and one son, Daniel, who married Norma Giles.
Mother and Dad lived first in a home on the main road in Center Creek. While living there he continued to herd sheep and farm the land he had purchased. In about 1914 they moved l/2 miles north to the home and farm that Richard Jones Jr. had homesteaded. They lived there until 1936 when they moved to Heber. While in Center Creek he farmed and raised cattle and a few sheep.
The following is taken from a talk by L. C. Montgomery, a lawyer and fellow cattleman at Father's funeral.
"Howard Thomas was a good man, his death is untimely, as we view it. He was a useful man in this community. He was a public-spirited man and a honest and moral man. He was respected by his fellow men. His associates sought his counsel and advice. The cattlemen of this community in particular will mourn his loss. He was one of the few remaining old time cowboys. He loved his horse and saddle, and he always had one of the best saddle horses in the valley. His old bay saddle horse he rode until a few years ago was almost as well known in this community as Hod himself. Hod Thomas was one of the best campfire storytellers I ever knew. It was a natural art with him. His roundup campfire stories will be missed by his many livestock men associates in the valley."
Along with his good horse, Dad always had a good cattle dog. I remember one time he had taken his horse down to a pasture about ¼ mile from home. He unsaddled the horse and left the saddle in the pasture. For the next day or so we wondered what had happened to the dog. When Dad went down to the pasture to get his horse and saddle, the dog was waiting patiently for him.
Father served two terms on the Wasatch County School Board. I can remember how proud I was when he came with the School Superintendent, David A. Broadbent, to visit our school.
He served as a counselor in the bishopric of the Center Ward with Bishop Bennett Lindsay and Elmer Mahoney for 15 years. After moving to Heber he served as a ward teacher in the Heber 1st Ward. Just prior to his death, Bishop Olpin asked him to serve as Supervisor of Ward Teachers.
The following was taken from a talk by Bishop Olpin at Dad's funeral:
"Two days before his death, following a ward teacher's meeting, I was inspired to ask Brother Thomas to bear his testimony and those who were there will recall what a wonderful testimony he bore that day. He bore tribute to his lovely wife, and the influence she had upon him in his life and how much she meant in getting him to be active in the Church."
Being prompt was one of Dad's strongest assets. If you were going any place with him, you knew enough to be ready on time or you would be left. When it was his turn to conduct church meetings they started on time whether half of the people were there or not.
A while before leaving the farm, Dad had bought hay land in the North fields of Heber and a herd of Hereford cattle belonging to his sister-in-law, Mabel Hylton, but he only lived six years after that.
He passed away of a heart attack in the lobby of the Jensen Hotel in Heber City while waiting to board a Trailways bus to go to Salt Lake City at 6:20 the morning of December 15, 1942.
Howard and Mary were both buried in the Heber City Cemetery. Their son, Daniel W. who died September 10, 1961, was buried in the Provo cemetery in Provo, Utah.
Written by his daughter, Grace Thomas Giles (May 9, 1915 – April 19, 1994)
HEBER – J. Howard (Hod) Thomas, 68, well known Wasatch county farmer and stockman, died Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. of a heart attack. He was stricken while in the Heber bus depot.
Born at Lehi on August 27,1874, a son of Daniel W. and Mary Ashton Thomas, he had resided in Wasatch county nearly all of his life.
He had served two terms as a member of the Wasatch county school board and was active in LDS church affairs. For 15 years he served in the bishopric of the Center ward.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mary Jones Thomas, whom he married in Salt Lake City on November 14, 1903; three daughters and a son, Miss Thelma Thomas of Juneau, Alaska; Miss Arvilla Thomas of Salt Lake City;, Mrs. Earl Giles of Pleasant Grove and Lieutenant Daniel W. Thomas, in the U. S. army; a sister and two brothers, Mrs. John Moyle of American Fork, Apollos Thomas of Ogden and Henry Thomas of California.
Salt Lake Tribune, December 16, 1942, Page 26
-------------------------------------------------------
John Howard Thomas (known as Hod) was born at Lehi, Utah August 27th, 1874 to Daniel Wright and Mary Ashton Thomas. He was the fifth of ten children born to them. He grew up in Lehi helping his father on the farm and with the livestock.
Father was left handed, however he wrote with his right hand. I remember him telling of how the teachers tied his left hand behind him when he was in school forcing him to use his right hand. Although he did not have much formal schooling, he was a good mathematician. Some of the farmers were always coming to him to measure their haystacks and figure the tonnage.
When a young man he went to Wasatch County to work for John Austin, who was one of the largest sheep owners in the State. In 1901 he and Thomas Jones, his future brother-in-law, went to Canada to take charge of a large cattle ranch for the Jesse County and married Mary Jones on November 15, 1905. They were the parents of four children: Thelma, Arvilla, Grace, who married Earl Giles, and one son, Daniel, who married Norma Giles.
Mother and Dad lived first in a home on the main road in Center Creek. While living there he continued to herd sheep and farm the land he had purchased. In about 1914 they moved l/2 miles north to the home and farm that Richard Jones Jr. had homesteaded. They lived there until 1936 when they moved to Heber. While in Center Creek he farmed and raised cattle and a few sheep.
The following is taken from a talk by L. C. Montgomery, a lawyer and fellow cattleman at Father's funeral.
"Howard Thomas was a good man, his death is untimely, as we view it. He was a useful man in this community. He was a public-spirited man and a honest and moral man. He was respected by his fellow men. His associates sought his counsel and advice. The cattlemen of this community in particular will mourn his loss. He was one of the few remaining old time cowboys. He loved his horse and saddle, and he always had one of the best saddle horses in the valley. His old bay saddle horse he rode until a few years ago was almost as well known in this community as Hod himself. Hod Thomas was one of the best campfire storytellers I ever knew. It was a natural art with him. His roundup campfire stories will be missed by his many livestock men associates in the valley."
Along with his good horse, Dad always had a good cattle dog. I remember one time he had taken his horse down to a pasture about ¼ mile from home. He unsaddled the horse and left the saddle in the pasture. For the next day or so we wondered what had happened to the dog. When Dad went down to the pasture to get his horse and saddle, the dog was waiting patiently for him.
Father served two terms on the Wasatch County School Board. I can remember how proud I was when he came with the School Superintendent, David A. Broadbent, to visit our school.
He served as a counselor in the bishopric of the Center Ward with Bishop Bennett Lindsay and Elmer Mahoney for 15 years. After moving to Heber he served as a ward teacher in the Heber 1st Ward. Just prior to his death, Bishop Olpin asked him to serve as Supervisor of Ward Teachers.
The following was taken from a talk by Bishop Olpin at Dad's funeral:
"Two days before his death, following a ward teacher's meeting, I was inspired to ask Brother Thomas to bear his testimony and those who were there will recall what a wonderful testimony he bore that day. He bore tribute to his lovely wife, and the influence she had upon him in his life and how much she meant in getting him to be active in the Church."
Being prompt was one of Dad's strongest assets. If you were going any place with him, you knew enough to be ready on time or you would be left. When it was his turn to conduct church meetings they started on time whether half of the people were there or not.
A while before leaving the farm, Dad had bought hay land in the North fields of Heber and a herd of Hereford cattle belonging to his sister-in-law, Mabel Hylton, but he only lived six years after that.
He passed away of a heart attack in the lobby of the Jensen Hotel in Heber City while waiting to board a Trailways bus to go to Salt Lake City at 6:20 the morning of December 15, 1942.
Howard and Mary were both buried in the Heber City Cemetery. Their son, Daniel W. who died September 10, 1961, was buried in the Provo cemetery in Provo, Utah.
Written by his daughter, Grace Thomas Giles (May 9, 1915 – April 19, 1994)
Born at Lehi on August 27,1874, a son of Daniel W. and Mary Ashton Thomas, he had resided in Wasatch county nearly all of his life.
He had served two terms as a member of the Wasatch county school board and was active in LDS church affairs. For 15 years he served in the bishopric of the Center ward.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mary Jones Thomas, whom he married in Salt Lake City on November 14, 1903; three daughters and a son, Miss Thelma Thomas of Juneau, Alaska; Miss Arvilla Thomas of Salt Lake City;, Mrs. Earl Giles of Pleasant Grove and Lieutenant Daniel W. Thomas, in the U. S. army; a sister and two brothers, Mrs. John Moyle of American Fork, Apollos Thomas of Ogden and Henry Thomas of California.
Salt Lake Tribune, December 16, 1942, Page 26
-------------------------------------------------------
John Howard Thomas (known as Hod) was born at Lehi, Utah August 27th, 1874 to Daniel Wright and Mary Ashton Thomas. He was the fifth of ten children born to them. He grew up in Lehi helping his father on the farm and with the livestock.
Father was left handed, however he wrote with his right hand. I remember him telling of how the teachers tied his left hand behind him when he was in school forcing him to use his right hand. Although he did not have much formal schooling, he was a good mathematician. Some of the farmers were always coming to him to measure their haystacks and figure the tonnage.
When a young man he went to Wasatch County to work for John Austin, who was one of the largest sheep owners in the State. In 1901 he and Thomas Jones, his future brother-in-law, went to Canada to take charge of a large cattle ranch for the Jesse County and married Mary Jones on November 15, 1905. They were the parents of four children: Thelma, Arvilla, Grace, who married Earl Giles, and one son, Daniel, who married Norma Giles.
Mother and Dad lived first in a home on the main road in Center Creek. While living there he continued to herd sheep and farm the land he had purchased. In about 1914 they moved l/2 miles north to the home and farm that Richard Jones Jr. had homesteaded. They lived there until 1936 when they moved to Heber. While in Center Creek he farmed and raised cattle and a few sheep.
The following is taken from a talk by L. C. Montgomery, a lawyer and fellow cattleman at Father's funeral.
"Howard Thomas was a good man, his death is untimely, as we view it. He was a useful man in this community. He was a public-spirited man and a honest and moral man. He was respected by his fellow men. His associates sought his counsel and advice. The cattlemen of this community in particular will mourn his loss. He was one of the few remaining old time cowboys. He loved his horse and saddle, and he always had one of the best saddle horses in the valley. His old bay saddle horse he rode until a few years ago was almost as well known in this community as Hod himself. Hod Thomas was one of the best campfire storytellers I ever knew. It was a natural art with him. His roundup campfire stories will be missed by his many livestock men associates in the valley."
Along with his good horse, Dad always had a good cattle dog. I remember one time he had taken his horse down to a pasture about ¼ mile from home. He unsaddled the horse and left the saddle in the pasture. For the next day or so we wondered what had happened to the dog. When Dad went down to the pasture to get his horse and saddle, the dog was waiting patiently for him.
Father served two terms on the Wasatch County School Board. I can remember how proud I was when he came with the School Superintendent, David A. Broadbent, to visit our school.
He served as a counselor in the bishopric of the Center Ward with Bishop Bennett Lindsay and Elmer Mahoney for 15 years. After moving to Heber he served as a ward teacher in the Heber 1st Ward. Just prior to his death, Bishop Olpin asked him to serve as Supervisor of Ward Teachers.
The following was taken from a talk by Bishop Olpin at Dad's funeral:
"Two days before his death, following a ward teacher's meeting, I was inspired to ask Brother Thomas to bear his testimony and those who were there will recall what a wonderful testimony he bore that day. He bore tribute to his lovely wife, and the influence she had upon him in his life and how much she meant in getting him to be active in the Church."
Being prompt was one of Dad's strongest assets. If you were going any place with him, you knew enough to be ready on time or you would be left. When it was his turn to conduct church meetings they started on time whether half of the people were there or not.
A while before leaving the farm, Dad had bought hay land in the North fields of Heber and a herd of Hereford cattle belonging to his sister-in-law, Mabel Hylton, but he only lived six years after that.
He passed away of a heart attack in the lobby of the Jensen Hotel in Heber City while waiting to board a Trailways bus to go to Salt Lake City at 6:20 the morning of December 15, 1942.
Howard and Mary were both buried in the Heber City Cemetery. Their son, Daniel W. who died September 10, 1961, was buried in the Provo cemetery in Provo, Utah.
Written by his daughter, Grace Thomas Giles (May 9, 1915 – April 19, 1994)
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