Iowa State Obituaries [Unknown Counties] We try and place our data within the correct counties, so make sure and check there first! Asa Thompson Elk County (KS) Citizen, September 26, 1895 Died, Asa Thompson, of apoplexy, at his home in this city, Sunday morning at 7:45, this old and respected citizen passed over the dark river. His death was very sudden. He had just risen from his bed and lowered a window, remarking to his wife that the draft was too strong. He returned and lying down, his wife noticed that his breathing was labored. She tried to arouse him and failing, called to the rest of the family and sent at once for Dr. Olney. When the doctor arrived the pulse had nearly ceased. He never spoke after lying down. Quickly, silently, the death angel came and the spirit of our old friend accompanied him into eternity. Mr. Thompson was born in Morgan county, Ohio in 1829. When he was 18 years old, he moved to Iowa, where he resided until March 1872, at which time he moved to what was at that time Howard county, since divided into Elk and Chautauqua counties (KS). While living in Iowa he married Miss Emma Ables. This was in 1850. As a result of that union four children were born. One, a boy, dying in infancy, the second, Mrs. Hart, the mother of Hugh Hart, now of Emporia, dying in this city in 1878; and two sons, Tom E. and John A., now citizens of Howard, who with the wife are left to mourn the loss of husband and father. In politics he was a republican and was often honored by his party holding several offices of trust by election and appointment. He kept a hotel for awhile in the prosperous town of old Boston. When Howard county was divided he cast his lot at Howard and has ever since been identified with the interests of Elk county. Elected clerk of the district court in 1875 he held the office till 1881. In 1886 he was elected to the legislature and served one term. While a member of the legislature he voted with the majority when the law known as the prohibition law was placed on the statue books of the state, and ever since that day his voice and his pen have supported the law he helped to enact. In 1887 he was appointed probate judge to fill a vacancy. He was mayor of Howard several times and chairman of the republican central committee during the two or three of the hardest fought campaigns of the county's history. After a limited experience in the newspaper business he, with his sons, purchased the Howard Courant in 1881 and remained its senior editor to the day of his death. He had opinions of his own upon all questions political and moral and was at all time fearless in his expressions, as a consequence he made many enemies and as many friends. He was always found on the side of the law and order, and gave the columns of his paper freely, in support of all moral questions. Mr. Thompson was never a member of any church and yet he gave freely to all churches. His paper was at their disposal at all times, and in the way of gratuitous notices and printing he has contributed largely to the various departments of every church in town. For thirteen years he was the leader of the M. E. church choir and those who know of his work in that line must praise, for he furnished the best music in the town during that time, and by this means was the cause of numbers attending divine services. The writer has known him for eight and a half years, and in all that time has only received at his hand, kind and considerate treatment. At the request of the mayor all business houses closed from 10 to 11 o'clock a.m., Monday, and the citizens of Howard of all opinions, political and religious, assembled at the M. E. church, to pay the last tribute of respect to this man, so long a companion and co-worker in the interests of city, county and state. After a short service by Rev. D. K. Steele, his remains wre escorted to the cemetery by a long procession of friends, and his body was placed to rest within the ground, where we in time must likewise rest. -- W. A. McCausland [Submitted by L. Morgan] ©2007 Genealogy Trails