Thomas - Benjamin M.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 8 October 1892 (same in Crawfordsville Daily 3 October 1892)
Dr. B.M. Thomas brother of A.D.Thomas and C.L. Thomas, died Sunday at Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was secretary of the territory and had been more than twenty years in New Mexico, nineteen years of which time he has held several offices there. He graduated Wabash college in 1864, and was a man of much force of character and enjoyed the confidence and respect of all who knew him to a remarkable degree, and was acting Governor of the territory in many of the trying political times during the past three years.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 22 October 1892
The Santa Fe Daily News Mexican contains the following obituary notice of the late B. M. Thomas, which will be of interest to his many friends and relatives in this city: He was born in Williamsport, Ind., on the 25th of July, 1843. Soon after completing his studies at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, from which institution he received his diploma, he studied dentistry and practiced his profession a short time in LaPorte, and then established himself in Valparaiso, Indiana, where, until 1870, his success was such that few young men of his years have had more flattering prospects of acquiring wealth and achieving distinction in his chosen profession. One of the heaviest disappointments of his life came with the failure of health that forced him to quit his occupation and accept the invitation of Mr. Carruthers to come to New Mexico. He came to Santa Fe in 1870, and soon found employment at the Indian agency at Fort Defiance. He returned in 1871 to Indiana, married Miss Esther Bradley, of LaPorte, and he and his bride traveled in a wagon from the terminus of the railroad in Colorado to the Navajo agency. In 1872 Dr. Thomas was with agent Miller, when that officer was instantly killed, at night, by a bullet fired by an Indian. Dr. Thomas and agent Miller were sleeping under the same blanket in a glade near the San Juan river. From a grove, or thicket, a party of Navajoes sent a plight of arrows and the fatal bullet through the blankets. The face of Dr. Thomas was covered with the bed clothing and with several thicknesses of a military cloak. These were pierced with arrows, which did not, however, harm Dr. Thomas Awakened by the yells of the Indians and the report of the riffle he sprang to his feet, called to the agent and touched him with his foot to awake him, and then discovered that his companion was dead. In 1872 Dr. Thomas was appointed agent of the Southern Apaches. No Indians are more ferocious or more difficult to control. While the government requires rations to be dealt to each individual Indian entitled to subsistence, the Southern Apaches had not, prior to Dr. Thomas administration, been subdued to the requirements of justice. The chiefs with swarms of their respective bands had been accustomed to invade the corral, kill the beef at pleasure, liberally distribute rations among their favorites and starve such as were less esteemed. Victorio scorned the agent's demand that such proceedings should cease. A scene as dramatic as it threatened to be tragic soon took place in the corral. The Indians threatened the annihilation of the agent and his little band of employees. Dr. Thomas gave Victorio to understand that he was perfectly aware of the ability of the tribe to exterminate the white men, but assured the head chief that while there might be many red survivors after the fray was over Victorio would not be one of those. In conclusion he arrested Victorio, confined him, and thenceforth ruled the tribe, in kindness and in justice. From 1874 till 1882 Dr.Thomas was agent of the Pueblo Indians. From 1882 until 1886 he was register of the land office at Tucson, A. T. He was appointed Secretary of this Territory. Dr. Thomas was a sincere Christian and a ruling older in the Presbyterian church. He was a man of fine talents for business and of excellent judgment. His administrative ability was of a high order. Somewhat reserved in general, he was yet a man of most affectionate nature, a staunch friend, and genial companion. All public men would do well to emulate his unimpeachable integrity. No word of questionable morality ever passed his lips. He was pure of heart, clear in intellect, a loving, faithful husband and father, a good citizen and a Godly man. Note: Son of Horatio & Rebecca Duy Thomas Brothers A.D is Albert Duy Thomas C.L. is Charles Lambert Thomas - thanks sooooo much to Kim H for these great obits
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Saturday, 15 October 1892 Edition
Incidents in the Life of the Late B. M. Thomas
The Santa Fe Daily New Mexican contains the following obituary notice of the late B. M. Thomas, which will be of interest to his many friends and relatives in this city:
He was born in Williamsport, Ind., on the 25th of July, 1843. Soon after completing his studies at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, from which institution he received his diploma, he studied dentistry and practiced his profession a short time in LaPorte, and then established himself in Valparaiso, Indiana, where, until 1870, his success was such that few young men of his years have had more flattering prospects of acquiring wealth and achieving distinction in his chose profession.
One of the heaviest disappointments of his life came with the failure of health that forced him to quit his occupation and accept the invitation of Mr. Carruthers to come to New Mexico. He came to Santa Fe in 1870, and soon found employment at the Indian agency at Fort Defiance. He returned in 1871 to Indiana, married Miss Esther Bradley of Laporte, and he and his bride traveled in a wagon from the terminus of the railroad in Colorado to the Navajo agency. In 1872 Dr. Thomas was with agent Miller, when that officer was instantly killed at night, by a bullet fired by an Indian. Dr. Thomas and agent Miller were sleeping under the same blanket in a glade near the San Juan River. From a grove, or thicket, a party of Navajos sent a plight of arrows and the fatal bullet through the blankets. The face of Dr. Thomas was covered with the bed clothing and with several thicknesses of a military cloak. These were pierced with arrows, which did not, however, harm Dr. Thomas. Awakened by the yells of the Indians and the report of the rifle he sprang to his feet, called to the agent and touched him with his foot to awake him, and then discovered that his companion was dead.
In 1872 Dr. Thomas was appointed agent of the Southern Apaches. No Indians are more ferocious or more difficult to control. While the government requires rations to be dealt to each individual Indian entitled to subsistence, the Southern Apaches had not, prior to Dr. Thomas’ administration, been subdued to the requirements of justice. The chiefs with swarms of their respective bands had been accustomed to invade the corral, kill the beef at pleasure, liberally distribute rations among their favorites, and starve such as were less esteemed. Victorio scorned the agent’s demand that such proceedings should cease. A scene as dramatic as it threatened to be tragic soon took place in the corral. The Indians threatened the annihilation of the agent and his little band of employees. Dr. Thomas gave Victorio to understand that he was perfectly aware of the ability of the tribe to exterminate the white men, but assured the head chief that while there might be many red survivors after the fray was over, Victorio would not be one of these. In conclusion he arrested Victorio, confined him, and thenceforth ruled the tribe in kindness and in justice.
From 1874 till 1882 Dr. Thomas was agent of the Pueblo Indians.
From 1882 until 1886 he was register of the land office at Tucson, A. T. He was appointed Secretary of this Territory.
Dr. Thomas was a sincere Christian and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was a man of fine talents for business and of excellent judgment. His administrative ability was of a high order. Somewhat reserved in general, he was yet a man of most affectionate nature, a staunch friend, and genial companion.
All public men would do well to emulate his unimpeachable integrity. No word of questionable morality ever passed his lips. He was pure of heart, clear in intellect, a loving, faithful husband and father, a good citizen and a Godly man.