The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, August 13, 1905
pg. 1

T.E. "Tom" Horan Dead
Started for Gainesville - Stricken While in the Anna Peruna

A newspaper man receives a great many surprises, and one of them was the unexpected death of Thos. E. Horan, which occurred at the family home in the 400 block on West Main street Sunday morning.
On Thursday of last week we met the deceased and he seemed in the best of health and spirits.  He said that he was the guest of Lou McAleer and would leave the next morning on a river voyage to Gainesville, and that he intended to return home by rail.  It was a fatal journey that he started on, for in less than 4 days from our meeting he was a dead man.
Mr. Horan, "Tom", as his large circle of friends called him, left Denison Friday morning on the Anna Peruna, their destination being a point on the river north of Gainesville.
Lon McAleer, Bert Ford and Jim Cash, who worked for Mr. Horan, and one or 2 others, were on the boat.  The boat started out under the most favorable auspices, and it was predicted that a surprising quick trip would be made to Gainesville.  As
a matter of safety it was decided to tie up early in the evening, as the river is quite 'snaggy."  A short distance above Preston the stop was made.  All hands turned in quite early.  Mr. Horan seemed quite fatigued, but he did not lose any
of that exuberance of spirits which made him a very companionable man on an outing.  The next morning McAleer called all hands, but there was one who did not hear the call, and that one was poor Tom Horan.  He was delirious, and in a short
time passed into a comatose state.  The launch was dropped down to Preston and a doctor called aboard, who advised an immediate return to Denison.
The launch then proceeded as far as Bear's ferry, where a carriage containing Mrs. Horan and Dr. Bailey, was in waiting, and Mr. Horan was brought to his home.
Physicians were summoned and everything possible was done to bring Mr.  Horan back to consciousness, but it was futile.  He died Sunday morning at 8 o'clock.
T.E. Horan cast his lot with Denison a number of years ago, as early as 1888.  As a business man he attracted immediate attention; he was full of snap and vim; while his methods were quiet he seemed to get there every time.  Mr. Horan virtually controlled the harness business in this city for a number of years.  He had the stock and capital and when a rival attempted and did get into business, he was sure to land into Tom's net, who would either buy him out or freeze him out.
Mr. Horan business career was a splendid financial success.  He acquired money very fast.  He was at Jacksboro, Wichita Falls and other points and came here with considerable money.  He was a rustler of energetic western methods.  Denison
was a good field for the exercise of his business talents.  For a number of years he was a very hard working man, giving his entire time and attention to his business.  In the past 2 years business cares had rested very lightly upon his shoulders.  He was an extensive traveler, going all over the United States and Canada, accompanied by his wife.
He was a loyal and loving husband; his wife sharing all his trips.
For several years he had been devoted very much to out-door sports.  The call to the Wilderness was very attractive to him.  He was the life of many a foray to the Choctaw woods.  At the camp-fire he was a most congenial companion.
T.E. Horan was born in New York City, but was in life taken to Nashville, Tennessee, where he lived until coming to Texas, about 25 years ago.
Mr. Horan was married while living in Jacksboro, to Miss Anna Gallagher, who survives him.  To them was born a son, who died in infancy.  Mr. Horan's parents have been dead a number of years.  His only brother, George Horan, of Dalton,
Georgia, a step-mother, 2 half sisters and 2 half brothers, also survive him.
The Gazetteer, with hosts of others, deeply regret the sudden taking off of Mr. Horan.  He was young yet, being only 55 years of age.  To his noble wife, as faithful and true a woman as ever lived, we extend our heartfelt sympathy.  She
will miss him most but he will always have a warm place in the memory of a legion of friends.
The deceased was a member of the K. of P., Woodmen, Masons, Elks, Knights of Honor and Vorwaerts.
We forgot to mention that Mr. Horan was at one time one of the active members of the city government.
The funeral of Mr. Horan was one of the largest ever witnessed in Denison.  It was an out-pouring of representative citizens.  The turn-out of the secret order, of which Mr. Horan was a member, was very imposing, including the Elks, Society Vorwaerts, Odd Fellows, members of the city government, Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias.  The floral decorations were very pretty and appropriate.  The services were conducted under the auspices of the Knights of
Pythias.  The burial was at Fairview cemetery.