Arkansas Misc. Searchables

June 11, 1914
THOMAS HOY
NOTABLE PERSON PASSED AWAY
Thomas Hoy Gone to the Great Beyond
Mr. Thomas Hoy, of the Stonewall vicinity passed to the unseen world
May 30th 1914 and his body was interred at the W.B. Smith cemetery on
the 31st. attended by hundreds of his friends.
Mr. Hoy was of Irish extraction and was born in Liver pool about
1839, hence was seventy four years of age at the time of his transfer.
While yet an infant his parents emigrated to America and landed at
Mobile, Ala., where he passed his younger days. His father died when
he was quite young and his mother having contracted an imfortuniate
marriage, young Hoy was thrown on his own resources to maintain his
mother and her family. He engaged as cabin boy on an Alabama steam
boat plying between Montgomery and Mobile, in which occupation he was
proficent; he remained here giving satisfaction to his employees
aiding his mother in supporting the family. He remained here, until
the fratricdal strife between the States begun when he joined the
artilery service under.-----
Here he remained until Lee had surrendered, and Davis was captured and
the confederacy was without government or authority.
Mr. Hoy at the close of the war floated back to the river and joined
the crew of the "Old St. Charles" in which several years before he had
commenced his career as cabin boy. He was soon promoted to the
position of Mate, where he became popular with Capt. Frank and crew
and everbody else concerned.
At Clinton, Miss, 1869, he became acquainted with a Missouri girl, a
most pleasant and companionable young lady of his own nationality and
these two congenial young persons were married at Clinton, Miss., on
the 3d day of Sept., 1869.
In 1872 he moved to Popular Bluff, Ashley County, Ark., where he
engaged in farming, after loosing three of his children from sickness,
he became dissatisfied, he moved into Southwest portion of Cleveland
Co. where he bought a farm and permanently located.
At this period he commenced a new life, theretofore he had read
nothing for he had only the rudements of a common education. he came
to this locality when the Green Black party was attracting attention
all over the country, and was about to dismember the old parties.
Mr. Hoy took a deep interest in the finance question, and he soon
became the best informed man on this subject there was in the country.
Mr. Offutt, a brother-in-law of Mr. Hoy, came to this county with
him.
There first effort was to build Stonewall, a place for school, church
and club room. In this, they were assisted by Nat Mosley, Monroe Smith
and others. The building of Stonewall and the purposes for which it
was used has built up the most social and kindest people in the
county. In the early days of Stonewall, a club was organized by Nat
Mosley, Offutt, Thomas, Hoy and the writer of this article for the
discussing of the financial question and other subject relating
thereto, or any other subject that might be agreed upon. This club
continued for several years and exerted a beneficial influence upon
this locality. During these years Mr. Hoy became one of the most
intelligent men of the county.
In his steamboat days he was a Catholic, later on he became a Methodist,
but finally as he grew in wisdom and experience he
discarded creeds. His religious foundation was based upon the
intelligent understanding of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood
of man. His religion and politics merged into socialism. Not political
socialism but of that kind that grew towards the brotherhood of man,
and the fatherhood of God.
It is impossible for me to tell of the kindness the people of
Stonewall paid to Mr. Hoy in his last long sickness. There is nothing
like it to tell of how kind and attentive they were to him--supplying
every want, but I cannot give them justice.
He leaves his wife, two sons and one daughter. Mrs. Hoy has moved
from her home and taken up her abode with her daughter and son-in-law,
Mrs. and Mr. J.T. Marks. Her daughter Mrs. Marks, is greatly devoted
to her mother.
So mote it be,
J.N. Marks