About 5:30 he was taken with a choking spell, when he asked Mrs. Barklow to start a fire that he might sit up. While Mrs. Barklow was busy with the fire Uncle Tommy asked for a doctor. Mrs. Barklow threw a shawl over her head and left the house, in the meantime, Uncle Tommy remarking that he feared he was going to leave her. On returning from her call for Dr. R. H. Mast, whose home is a few doors away, it was found that when leaving the house Mrs. Barklow had left the night lock on. Vigorous pounding on the door failed to bring Uncle Tommy. Joe Mast, hearing the disturbance, hurried to the Barklow home. A window was entered. Dr. Mast arrived. Uncle Tommy was found stretched across the bed, but life had passed out.

Myrtle Point spoke in subdued voices when the news went round that Uncle Tommy Barklow had passed from this life so dearly was he loved by all and so well-known by everyone from early pioneers down to the little boys and girls who, passing him on the street, greeted him as "Uncle Tommy". For weeks he had been in poor health. Early in the year he suffered a bad siege of the flu, from which he never fully recovered. He also had lead poisoning which he contracted from painting. But in spite of his frail health he carried on. Two Sundays ago he had charge of the service at the Myrtle Point Methodist church, in the absence of the pastor. At the time he was so weak he asked others to make the usual announcements, if he would preach the sermon. That week he had a funeral service in Coquille and week ago Sunday he preached at Arago in the morning and had a funeral service in Camas valley in the afternoon. That was Uncle Tommy Barklow's way of life. He was always doing good for others. His life was begun that way back in the early days of Coos county and so it continued to the end. No man or woman in Coos county was known by a larger circle of people, and to know Uncle Tommy Barklow was to be his friend. Long years ago he became known as the "Marrying and Burying Parson". 720 times he rode at the head of a funeral procession in Coos county and spoke the last comforting words to relatives of the deceased as the clods of earth were falling on the box to cover the mortal remains of the dead, and 366 time he officiated at the alter and joined two happy hearts in wedlock. While a man of deep religious conviction and always anxious to serve his Master in any way he could, Uncle Tom had a vein of wit that enabled him to see the bright side on every occasion and his conversation usually digressed to relate some amusing incident of the early days in Coos county. To think of Uncle Tommy as anything but alive is to stretch the imagination to a point almost unbelievable, and to think of Myrtle Point as getting along without him well nigh approaches the impossible. His was a life of service. We are assured in the Good Book that "in as much as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto Me." With that as our guide, Uncle Tommy's friends can rest assured that his craft has reached that "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," life's burdens have fallen from him and he is reaping the reward of a good and faithful servant such as is promised all who walk in the ways that Uncle Tommy Barklow walked.

Funeral Largely Attended

"Uncle Tom" Barklow Passes On

Tuesday at 2 o'clock at the Church of The Brethren, of which deceased was pastor for a number of years. It was the largest funeral ever held in Myrtle Point, if not in Coos county, it being estimated that 1400 people were in attendance. Mayor W. W. Baynes issued a proclamation calling for all business to cease during the funeral. The church was filled to overflowing and hundreds of people stood in a downpouring rain throughout the long service. Those coming from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Bonewitz, Weston, Oregon; Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Barklow and family Eugene, Oregon; Mrs. R. L. Edwards, Portland; Clifford Metz, Weston, Oregon; Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Barklow, Albany, Oregon; Mrs. W. H. Banks and son, Portland; Mrs. C. E. Boss, Glendale, Calif. A choir from all the churches of Myrtle Point and the Community church at Arago furnished the music. Rev. S. Z. Smith conducting services at the Church of The Brethren, was in charge and the following ministers assisted; Rev. C. C. Huiet, Presbyterian; Rev. Turner MacDonald, Christian, Rev. Leander Smith of the Church of The Brethren had charge at the grave. Pall bearers were; Arland Barklow, Thos. Root, Harley Barklow, all nephews; Earl Williams, Jesse Robison and Harrison Hayes, grandsons- in- law. Honorary pall bearers were J. MacArnold, Wm. Widby, A. J. Radabaugh, R. C. Dement, Sam Breuer and N. G. W. Perkins.

Came to Coos in 1873

Thomas Barklow was born in Illinois May 30, 1853, being 74 years, 10 months and 14 days old. He moved to Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1876, and at that place was united in marriage to Elizabeth Miller, who departed his life September 25, 1920. To the union seven children were born, three sons and four daughters. They are: Elder C. H. Barklow, Albany, Oregon; Mrs. Daniel Miller, Myrtle Point; twins G. W. Barklow of Eugene, and J. W. Barklow of Myrtle Point; Mrs. Iva Adams, deceased; Mrs. Grace Bonewitz, Weston, Oregon; Mrs. Nora Knight, Myrtle Point. There are 30 grand children and 23 great grand children, four brothers and a host of other relatives. He was united in marriage January 1922, to Mrs. Ada Currier [sic; Currer] at Long Beach, California, who is also left to mourn his sudden departure.

Thomas Barklow united with the Church of The Brethren at South English, Iowa, April 28, 1872, and lived a consistent Christian life all throughout the intervening years. He was elected deacon in September, 1878, and to the ministry October 17, 1891. In September, 1893, he was advanced to second degree of the ministry, and September 18, 1898, he was ordained an elder. May 23, 1901, he was elected to membership on the standing committee of the church at the annual conference held in Lincoln, Nebraska, and again June 3, 1915, at the conference held at Hershey, Penn. For a number of years he had charge of the Brethren Church in Myrtle Point, also at Bandon and Redmond, Oregon. Oregon first knew Thomas Barklow October 13, 1873, when he and his family settled on a homestead one mile west of Myrtle Point. He preached his first funeral sermon in May, 1894, and had charge of 729 up to the time of his death. He also officiated at 366 marriages, his first one being November 27, 1903. He baptized his first convert July 15, 1894

In Business Work

Uncle Tommy was well known in the business life of Myrtle Point, having been engaged at different times in almost every kind of business. For a number of years he was employed in the general store of the later Binger Hermann, at a time when the big three story brick at the west end of Spruce street comprised practically all of the business section of Myrtle Point. At different times he had been grocer, dry goods salesman, druggist, undertaker and furniture man.