Taps sounded this week for another of the St. Francois County veterans of the Civil War when William Berry Thurman of Doe Run, passed away at 11:00 o'clock Tuesday morning, June 2, 1936, at the Bonne Terre Hospital where he had gone nine days before for treatment for the infirmities of age. He was aged 87 years, 7 months and 9 days.
Funeral services were conducted at the old Pendleton Church at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon by the pastor, Rev. A. H. Vaugh. Interment was in the I.O.O.F. cemetery at Doe Run.
The deceased was born in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri on October 23, 1845, son of William and Elizabeth Thurman. When but 16 years of age, he enlisted in the Union Army.
He was united in marriage on April 4, 1876, to Miss Alice Burch. To this union, 11 children were born. One daughter, Martha, died in infancy; a son, Sammy died on Sept. 16, 1922 and another son, Michael on June 7, 1928. The surviving children are James T. of Chicago,IL; William P. of Farmington, Route One; John A. of Chicago, IL; Cora (Mrs. George Byrd of Rivermines); Effie (Mrs. N.C. Pirtle of near Ste. Genevieve); Clarence A., of Flat River; George Dewey of Farmington; and Hazel (Mrs. Thos. F. Shelley of Herculaneum). He is also survived by 33 grandchildren one of whom, Chester Thurman, of Detroit, was reared in the Thurman home; also, by 15 great-grandchildren and many relatives and friends. The faithful companion and mother passed away on August 7, 1930.
Mr. Thurman was the last survivor in St. Francois County of the Battle of Pilot Knob and, we believe, is survived by only one other Union veteran in the county--Wm. Lee, of Farmington. He was a member of the G.A.R. for many years until the Post here was disbanded because there were too few veterans left to hold meetings.
Mr. Thurman worked in the mines at Bonne Terre in an early day. He also worked at Pilot Knob until mining there was discontinued. For many years he owned and operated a farm in the Burch settlement southwest of Farmington. About 18 years ago, he bought property in Doe Run where he continued to reside until his death.
For the past few years, since the death of his wife, his granddaughter, Mrs. Joe Faulkner, had kept house for him and had given him evey possible care and attention.
He was well known throughout the county, a man of strong convictions and fearless in his advocacy of what he believed to be right. For many years he had been a loyal member of the United Baptist Church.
All his surviving children and most of his grandchildren were able to be present at the funeral service.
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