Thomas W Gideon
Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 9 September 1903, page 5
TRIBUTE PAID
The funeral of the late Thomas W Gideon took place Wednesday
afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence, 1012 York Street, Newport. The
funeral obsequies were private and although simple, were impressive and were
conducted by Rev Dr. Robinson of the Baptist Church. The directors of the
Evergreen Cemetery, of which deceased was a member for years, attended in a
body.
The pall bearers were Charles Wiedemann, E C Wendt, Louis Autenheimer, J A Winter, T P Carrothers and Judge J T Hodge. The burial was in Evergreen Cemetery. Thomas Gideon was one of the best known men in Newport and was well liked. He was born in Louden County, Va. on Oct 8, 1809. He attended a few pay schools there, his parents being poor and he received but a meager education. He was apprenticed out to a builder and learned his trade.
In 1845 he came to Newport. At that time there was not a house or any street south of the Odd Fellows Hall. He was married later in the same year to Miss Margaret J Avis, of Harper's Ferry Va. Five children blessed their union, all of which are dead, except one daughter, Mrs. Louis Tenant Jr. Mrs. Gideon died on March 7, 1878, since which time the deceased made his home with his daughter.
In the early 50s there were no undertakers in Newport and Gideon, being the only carpenter, made pine boxes for the dead and acted as funeral director. He was reputed to have been a pall bearer for at least 200 persons during his residence here. He built some of the most substantial houses in this city, among them being the old Taylor homestead. Barry Taylor's residence now occupied by Mayor Nelson, the Slater residence on Third Street east of York; the Saunders house, at Fourth and Washington Avenue.