THRASHER, BREESE

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, January 06, 2007 at 06:49:50 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, January 13, 1921
Page 1

Wealthy Recluse Found Dead in Squalid Home
David Thrasher Dies Alone in Tomales Cottage With Friends Ready To Offer Aid

David Thrasher, aged 88 years was found lying dead on the floor of his little cottage yesterday afternoon in Tomales, where he had lived for 61 years.

In four bank books discovered tucked away in odd corners was the evidence that in the frugality of his long life the deaf man had saved more than $70,000.

The body was found by Jorgen Jensen, real estate agent, and Leon Dickinson, a merchant, who attempted to enter the little house when Thrasher failed to show around his accustomed haunts after a day’s absence.

Thrasher in his early life was a blacksmith. For nearly a half century he had followed his trade in Tomales. It is said by his closest friends that his every cent, not needed for immediate necessities, was invested in bank stock. It is known that he owned stock in the Tomales Bank and the Bank of Valley Ford, in which he had heavy deposits. He was fond of relating reminiscences of the early days of Tomales and the men and women who lived there when he came in 1860 as a young man.

Many men in Marin county recall with tender feelings the kindness of David Thrasher in the days of their youth. His old blacksmith shop was a gathering place for the boys of Tomales. They grew to manhood and moved out into the world, but “Old Dave” stayed on, happy among the friends he knew and trusted.

The interior of the little cottage was squalid and cluttered with useless bric-a-brac, the accumulation of years. Although surrounded by scores of friends who had his welfare at heart, the old man was independent, insisted upon living in his squalor, and cooking his own meals. According to neighbors he had suffered within the past few years two strokes of paralysis. An inquest held last night by Coroner J. Ray Keaton resulted in a verdict of the jury that he had died from a third stroke.

Coroner Keaton took charge of the remains and turned the body over for burial to the Blackburn parlors in Petaluma, with the preliminary arrangements to be made by Jorgen Jensen. As Public Administrator, Keaton will take charge of the settlement of the large estate.

Letters found in the home revealed the aged man has two married nieces. One of them is Mrs. Sidney J. Breese, of Springfield, Illinois. The other one, whose name in unknown, lives in Arkansas.

It is said today by Coroner Keaton that the estate will probably total more than $75,000. The only real estate standing in Thrasher’s name is the property upon which he has lived for the past twenty years. The remainder is comprised of actual cash or dividend paying stocks.

The funeral will be held in Tomales Saturday, and burial will be made there, where he spent his life among loving friends.