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| Fairview Church Cemetery, Lawrenceville, Gwinnett, GA Photo © 2010/1 S. Lincecum Click here for epitaph information. |
Suddenly in Decatur, DeKalb county, Georgia, on Friday, the 26th of February, and in the 58th year of his age, Dr. THOMAS W. ALEXANDER, of Gwinnett.
The deceased was born in South Carolina, and there lived till 1825, when he removed to this State. He was the son of pious parents, members of the Presbyterian Church, and by them was trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. When about twenty years of age he made a public profession of Faith in Christ, and at an early period after his connection with the Church he was chosen, and set apart to the office of ruling elder, and continued to discharge the duties of this office with great efficiency and acceptance until the day of his death. On the morning of that fatal day, he was returning from Atlanta, whither he had been on business, and was driving in a light buggy a strong and spirited young horse of his own training, and by him considered to be safe. But just as he entered the public square, in the village of Decatur, his horse took fright, ran violently across the square, stove the buggy with great force against a tree in the Court yard and dashed him with great violence upon his head and right shoulder against the ground. He was immediately taken up, and carried into an adjacent house, a Physician was called to him and he received every possible attention. In a short time he recovered from the shock and for the space of two hours was perfectly conscious and rational, and it was hoped, both by himself and his Physicians, that he was not so seriously injured as they had been led to fear from the violence of the fall he had received. But about 11 o'clock in the day a change took place and symptoms of an alarming character began to be exhibited. His breathing became "labored" and he fell into a stupor, from which he could never be effectively aroused, and which continued till about 9 o'clock at night, when he expired. Thus by one sudden stroke he was called away. By his death a devoted wife has been bereft of a kind and faithful husband; six sons and an only daughter have lost a most excellent father; his numerous family connections, and esteemed and worthy relative; his servants a good master; the poor a liberal benefactor; the community one of its most useful members, and the Church one of its most active, intelligent and efficient rulers. This heavy stroke could scarcely have fallen upon any individual around him, the loss of whom would be more extensively, more severely or more sensibly felt, for there was scarcely any one whose prolonged existence on earth seemed to be so essential to the best interests, civil, social and spiritual of those around him. But, alas! he is gone; yet, while we mourn our great loss, we would not deplore him. We must not, we do not, we will not sorrow as those who are without hope. He is gone! His body to the grave, it's quiet, it's long, but not eternal resting place; and his soul, complete in holiness, has passed into glory. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." J. C. P. ["Died," Augusta Chronicle (Georgia), March 10, 1847, http://www.genealogybank.com.]
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