The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois

July 2, 1938 - Saturday, pg 3 

THOMAS  A  DRAYTON
 

Thomas Drayton, Funeral Sunday at New Bedford - Served As Supervisor of Fairfield Township For 19 Years 

Thomas A. Drayton, 66, former supervisor of Fairfield township, Bureau County for 19 years, passed away Thursday evening at the home in Princeton following an illness of six months.  He had been ailing for the past two years.

Final rites will be conducted from the New Bedford Christian church Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with burial in the Fairfield-Greenville Cemetery. 

Mr. Drayton was born Nov. 21, 1871, and came to the vicinity of Thomas with his parents, George and Betsy Drayton, at the age of two and one half years.  He was educated and resided in that vicinity the rest of his life with the exception of the last four years when he moved to Princeton to enter the insurance business.  Mr. Drayton was manager of the Yorktown elevator for a number of years.  He was prominent in Democratic politics in Bureau County and served his township as a supervisor with a good record.  He had also held a number of township offices.  He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge. He was married to Emma Johnson of the Thomas vicinity. 

Surviving are the widow and four children as follows:  Leslie G., Racine, Wis.;  Asa, Thomas;  Donald and Miss Darlene, at home.  Also surviving are six grandsons and a sister, Mrs. Anna Hertenstein, Tampico. 

His parents, a brother, Joseph, and a sister, Nellie preceded him in death.

also see July 7, 1938

FINAL RITES FOR THOMAS DRAYTON AT NEW BEDFORD

Associates Of Many Years Furnish Music - Odd Fellow Ceremony

The funeral of Thomas A. Drayton was held at the New Bedford Church of Christ Sunday afternoon.  Rev. O. A. Becker conducted a short service at the home in Princeton and the service at New Bedford was conducted by Rev. Maynard Woudsma. Favorite songs of the deceased, "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," were sung by the original Fairfield male quartet, a group of men who were associated with Mr. Drayton during his life in Fairfield.   Mrs. Eva Delle Johnson accompanied the quartet and Mrs. Sylvia Lindgren played the recessionals.

The pallbearers were W. A. Nelick, J. H. Dale, Homer Steers, Herman Draper, Elmer Wright and T. J. Conley, all brother Odd Fellows.  The burial service in charge of the Odd Fellows was most impressive.  Master of Ceremonies Thomas E. Dale was in charge and Chaplain John Dale gave the farewell address, after which the brothers scattered their emblems on the casket.

Sketch Of Live

Thomas A. Drayton, son of George and Betsy Drayton was born in Williamson, Wayne County, New York, November 21, 1871, and passed away at 8 p.m. June 30, 1938, at the home in Princeton, aged 68 years, 7 months, and 9 days.  When he was two years old, his family moved from New York and settled on a farm at Thomas, Illinois, where he attended school and grew to manhood.

August 29, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Johnson of Fairfield Township at Princeton, Ill.  To the union were born four children, three sons and one daughter, Leslie of Racine, Wis., Asa of Tampico, and Donald and Darlene, at home.  Mr. Drayton united with the Tampico M.E. church in Tampico, July 15,, 1906.

He also was as member of the New Bedford  I.O.O.F. lodge for 28 years, a member of the Past Grand Association of Bureau County.  He was in the insurance business for 35 years and served as a supervisor of Fairfield Township for 19 years, resigning when he moved with his family to Princeton four years ago.  He had been in feeble health for two years and was confined to his bed since February.  He was a cheerful and patient sufferer, frequently expressing, his appreciation and thanks to those who cared for him.  He leaves besides his wife and children, one sister, Mrs. Anna Hertenstein of Tampico, six grandsons.  One brother, Joseph, and a sister, Mrs. Nellie Magee, preceded him in death.  Mr. Drayton was a man of clean habits, profanity found no place in his vocabulary and he used no tobacco or alcoholic liquor in any form.  He will be greatly missed by his friends.  One daughter-in-law, Mrs. Leslie Drayton of Racine, Wis., was unable to attend the funeral on account of illness.

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