MCCONNELL, J. THOMAS Below we publish the obituary notice of one of the noblest men we ever knew, clipped from the San Saba "News" of Texas:   In Memoriam: J. THOMAS MCCONNELL, who died of smallpox at the quarantine station at this place, was the son of THOS. P. MCCONNELL, of Fayette C. H. Alabama, came to San Saba in 1868 and has since been engaged in the cattle business with the Murray Bros. At the time of his death he was the partner of W. T. MURRAY in quite an extensive ranch in Tom Green County. He contracted the disease in Fort Concho, and came to San Saba to die among his friends and his kindred. His short 32 years of life have not been spent in vain. His was no idle vicious life. All the elements of character that mark true manhood were possessed by him. A rigid honesty, an energy that was tireless, a fearlessness that mocked at danger when in the discharge of duty or business, heart that melted at the cry of want and suffering and held always in his hand to help a fried or assist the distressed; this was Tom, so lately among us, with his manly bearing and cheering smile, but now, alas! gone out of sight forever! Although rigid quarantine laws compelled a hasty burial, and in the presence of a few, yet the hearts of his friends and his relatives were there. Bayonets and laws and public safety may quarantine bodies, but the human heart, pulsating with sympathy and the tear of sorrow flowing for them we love, knows no law and obeys none, but in spirit were there to witness the last sad rites that humanity pays the departed. The night time and its pale moonshine, the waving of live oak trees and the song of wild birds will keep guard over his grave forever, while the hearts that loved him, and the hands that would help him, can only remember him, can only keep sacred the anniversary of his death till the final summons to meet him in a better land where there is no death and no forgetfulness. (Vernon Clipper, September 26, 1879) Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney Below we publish the obituary notice of one of the noblest men we ever knew, clipped from the San Saba “News” of Texas: IN MEMORIAM J. THOMAS MCCONNELL, who died of smallpox at the quarantine station at this place, was the son of THOS. P. MCCONNERLL, of Fayette C. H. Alabama, came to San Saba in 1868 and has since been engaged in the cattle business with the Murray Bros. At the time of his death he was the partner of W. T. MURRAY in quite an extensive ranch in Tom Green County. He contracted the disease in Fort Concho, and came to San Saba to die among his friends and his kindred. His short 32 years of life have not been spent in vain. His was no idle vicious life. All the elements of character that mark true manhood were possessed by him. A rigid honesty, an energy that was tireless, a fearlessness that mocked at danger when in the discharge of duty or business, heart that melted at the cry of want and suffering and held always in his hand to help a fried or assist the distressed; this was Tom, so lately among us, with his manly bearing and cheering smile, but now, alas! gone out of sight forever! Although rigid quarantine laws compelled a hasty burial, and in the presence of a few, yet the hearts of his friends and his relatives were there. Bayonets and laws and public safety may quarantine bodies, but the human heart, pulsating with sympathy and the tear of sorrow flowing for them we love, knows no law and obeys none, but in spirit were there to witness the last sad rites that humanity pays the departed. The night time and its pale moonshine, the waving of live oak trees and the song of wild birds will keep guard over his grave forever, while the hearts that loved him, and the hands that would help him, can only remember him, can only keep sacred the anniversary of his death till the final summons to meet him in a better land where there is no death and no forgetfulness.  From: Vernon Clipper, (Lamar County, AL), Sept. 26, 1879 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney C. W. Stump, one of the employes [sic] at the state capitol, today received letters and papers announcing the death of his father, A. K. Stump, aged 65 years, at San Saba, Texas, on the 14th inst., after a three-weeks’ illness. The deceased served in the Union Army during the Civil War. [The Daily Journal (Salem, OR) Wednesday, March 25, 1903 -- Jim Dezotell]