Thomas F. Whistler, Civil War veteran and Elk City pioneer
Thomas Ford Whistler, an early Elk City Pioneer was born near Baltimore on November 9, 1836. His parents, Samuel Whistler and Catherine Elizabeth “Kitty” (Ford) Whistler had six children. In about 1856, Thomas married Mary Elizabeth Stockdale. They had two children, a daughter, Mary born in about 1857 and a son, John O’Kane born in 1858. The daughter died at an early age and his wife Mary Elizabeth died in 1860.
In 1862, Thomas married Agnes Hayes in Baltimore. Thomas joins the Union Army while his wife stays with family and gives birth to their son, Thomas Seth in 1863. He died in 1864 at the age of one year.
The Civil War Union Army records received from the National Archives provides information on his military service. On September 30, 1862, he was recruited in Harford County, Maryland into Company G, Second Regiment, East Shore Infantry and was assigned to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia on the lower Potomac. The Second Regiment performed duty in Maryland until 1864, when they advanced up the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. They later advanced down the Kanawha Valley to the Ohio River.
On November 26, 1864, Thomas was promoted to Corporal and soon after was assigned to Company K, Eleventh Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers for garrison duty at Fort Delaware, just south of Wilmington, Delaware. On June 15, 1865, Thomas Whistler was mustered (discharged) out of the service at Camp Bradford, Baltimore, Maryland.
After returning to his wife, Agnes and son John O’Kane Whistler, he took up his farming activities in the Baltimore area. In 1866 his father, Samuel died, then in 1868 his wife, Agnes died and finally in 1871, his mother Catherine died. Thomas age 34 and his son, John, age 13 leaves Baltimore to find a new life in the West. They traveled by train to Southeast Kansas looking to begin their quest for a better life. They left the railroad at Independence and walked about 10 miles where they found a man, Ed Cole who later became a close friend, he advised them to look at the Louisburg Township near Elk City. Thomas purchased a quarter section of land in the Louisburg Township in the Prairie School District and began their farming duties.
He learned that two Seever brothers and their sister, Elizabeth Seever were neighbors on a section nearby. After a brief courtship, Thomas and Elizabeth were married on December 10, 1871. Thomas and son John built a six room stone house on their property. They lived on this property until 1890 when Thomas and Elizabeth moved to Thurston, Lane County, Oregon. Son John O’Kane Whistler continued the operation of the farm. In 1891, the Elk City Enterprise newspaper reports that Thomas is visiting Elk City and hasn’t made up his mind to stay here or go back to Oregon. Thomas and Elizabeth moved back to Elk City where they were active in many civic and community affairs.
In October of 1897, Elk City Mayor Brown appointed Thomas Whistler as City Marshal. The Elk City Enterprise newspaper made the following statement:
Elk City was very much in need of a Marshal as the Goddess of Liberty and her followers were getting so gay at nights that they encroached on the liberties of peaceable and law-abiding citizens. Mr. Whistler will make an excellent Marshal, and we can guarantee that the hideous caterwaulings which have been disturbing the midnight slumbers of people will cease.
In January, 1898, The Elk City Enterprise reported the following news:
Elk City Marshal Whistler desires us to sound a note of warning to the boys who have been violating the curfew ordinance and making night hideous with their noise. It is the Marshal’s duty to put a stop to this and he is just the sort of person who will perform his duty. Stop it, boys, and save yourself trouble. Mr. Whistler doesn’t want to run you in but he will do it if it is necessary to stop the noise.
Friday, January 5, 1900, the following announcement was made in the Weekly Star and Kansas newspaper in Independence:
Thos. Whistler’s resignation of the Marshalship is regretted by every law abiding citizen, and will be hailed with delight by those who despise law and order.
Life in the small town of Elk City in the late 1800’s was a much more simple time that included some antics that disturbed the peace. But Marshal Whistler was on duty to maintain the proper law and order of that time. The newspaper editors of that time enjoyed a more entertaining and humorous way of describing local events.
He was known as Uncle Tommy by both young and old acquaintances. He bought and sold several properties in the City and always made a large garden which he shared with neighbors and friends. In 1902 he donated five acres in Elk City to establish a brick plant and in 1903 sold property to The Houston Lumber Company to open a lumber yard.
As a Civil War veteran, Thomas was active in the Grand Army of the Republic in Elk City. The photo below is the only one available of Thomas F. Whistler and his third wife, Elizabeth Jane Seever, taken in the late 1890’s.
His wife of 39 years died on November 26, 1910 at their home in Elk City. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery.
In June of 1912, Thomas marries Mary Jane Tharp Cornue, his fourth wife. Just two years later, Thomas passes away on October 11, 1914. His funeral service was held at his home with Rev. Byron J. Clark officiating. Members of the G.A.R. acted as pallbearers. He was placed next to his third wife, Elizabeth Seever Whistler in Oak Hill Cemetery, Elk City, Kansas.
His widow, Mary Jane Tharp Cornue Whistler died on November 18, 1938. She was buried in the West Liberty Cemetery just west of Elk City in Chautauqua County. She was placed next to her first husband, John T. Cornue.
Submitted by Dan Whistler, Great Great Grandson of Thomas F. Whistler
Click on photo to enlarge