THOMAS BROOKS CULP -- IN THE ARMS OF DEATH

The End Was Expected and Came After Months of Waiting -- Stricken With Paralysis Four Years Ago

FUNERAL HELD AT AUGUSTA

Thomas Brooks Culp is dead.  The messenger came on Monday afternoon at 3:24 o'clock, not as a thief in the night, but as one whose coming had been heralded many months before his appearing and to one who was ready and waiting for his appearing.

For days the deceased had been hovering between life and death.  His sun had set, and only the reflected rays of his useful life were lingering upon the horizon.  It was not the unexpected but rather the expected that happened, when the mortal gave way for the immortal, and so silently and sweetly did the change come that death was robbed of his sting and the grave of its victory.  In the death of Thomas B. Culp, Alliance has lost one of her most esteemed and honored citizens.  We have lost a public benefactor, and a pillar from the house of charity.  We have lost a public spirited citizen and a man of a successful business career of almost a half a century.  A man whom we all loved.  A man fond of his home and his friends.  A man imbued with a spirit of kindness, generous to a fault, the soul of honor.  A man who contributed to the enterprise and growth of our city.  A man who carried the teachings of the church he loved, with him in his walk through life.  A man upon whom the hand of affliction rested heavily yet he bore it uncomplainingly.  A man ready for the crown which awaited his appearing and which he has gone to possess as his inheritance.

Thomas Brooks Culp was born at Mechanicstown, Carroll county, Ohio, on April 10, 1837, died in Alliance , February 20, 1905, aged 67 years, 10 months, and 16 days.  He was the son of Jacob and Eliza (Brooks) Culp, the former having died on February 18, at the advanced age of 92.  In early life he worked upon a farm and received an ordinary education.  Early in life he manifested an inclination to become a merchant and his foundation for a business career began when he entered the store of John Manfull at Augusta, as a clerk.  It was while employed in this store he met Miss Frances Manfull, who on June 3, 1856, in the village of Augusta, became his wife.  The two proved congenial companions and shared the burdens of life with its manifold pleasures to an unusual degree with each other.

Soon after marriage the expectant couple went to West Liberty, Iowa, where Mr. Culp formed a partnership with C. C. Manfull, and the two engaged in the dry goods business.  In 1862, Mr. Culp closed out his interest in the store at West Liberty, and returned to Ohio, and opened a general store in Augusta.  He remained in business in that place until 1880.  It proved a successful venture and when he sold his business he found his reward for his labor had been abundant.  He had prospered beyond expectation.  It was at this place 36 years ago that Mr. J. S. Mong became first employed by Mr. Culp, and he has remained with him ever since, as a faithful helper to his employer.

After quitting the store room at Augusta, deceased for a time became a wool merchant, in which he also met with success.  In 1881 he went to Minerva and established himself again in a general store with dry goods predominating.  He met success in Minerva, as at the former places, and in 1882, he came to Alliance and opened a store in the rooms which he has continuously occupied from that date until his death.  After coming to Alliance he greatly enlarged his business.  His fame as an honest, trust-worthy merchant brought him custom, and he made good the fame.  Twenty-three years ago Mr. Jesse A. Grimes entered the store of Mr. Culp in Alliance and has been a valuable aid to the deceased ever since and at present is general manager of the business.  Deceased is survived by his widow.  To this union there were born three daughters: Florella, who died at the age of 5 years; Kate, who died aged 4 years, and Mollie A., who became the wife of Mr. Jesse A. Grimes, and died March 1887, at the age of 24.

Thomas B. Culp was prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Conrad Lodge F.A.M. of Alliance and of the Alliance chapter of the Salem Commandery of Knight Templars, and the Alkoran Shrine of Cleveland.  He had been a member of the Disciple church for over 30 years and was at all times a liberal contributor to the needs of the church.

In July 1900 deceased was afflicted with sciatic rheumatism, which made him a great sufferer.  In April 1901 he was stricken with paralysis, which partially disabled him from business.  It was not until about one year ago, however, that he became a confirmed invalid and confined to his home where he enjoyed the sweet companionship of a devoted wife.  His malady was a hopeless one.  It baffled the skill of physicians to conquer, and slowly but surely he went down the decline of life into the valley of the shadow of death, and peacefully went to sleep to awake with the immortals.  His life work was ended; he had finished his course and had won the crown.

The funeral will take place from the Disciple church in Augusta around which clustered so many happy thoughts of the past on Thursday, February 23, at 12 o'clock, noon.  An opportunity to view the remains will be given to friends of the family at the late home on Wednesday evening from 4 to 9 o'clock.  Special funeral services will be held at the home on Thursday morning at 9 o'clock by the Knight Templars.  A special funeral car has been secured on the L. E., A. & W. to convey the funeral cortege from Alliance to Augusta.

Thus ends the life history of a man of business and a man of good deeds.  Our city mourns his loss as one man.  With his death, his teachings remain and the business he so successfully established will proceed uninterrupted.