THOMAS SLADE PASSES AWAY.
Succumbed to Heart Failure Yesterday Morning-Came Here in 1889, Was Twice Mayor of New Whatcom-A Prominent Attorney and Real-Estate Dealer.
Thomas Slade died yesterday morning at 11 o'clock at the family residence, in the Slade block, on Elk street. His death was due to heart failure. Mr. Slade had been troubled for years with a weak heart, but his death came suddenly and was a great shock to his family and friends. He came to Bellingham in 1889, since which time he has taken a prominent part in all the affairs of the city and has been one of the most active of our citizens in forwarding the growth of Bellingham. He always had the fullest confidence in the future of this community. He was one of the earliest and one of the strongest advocates of the consolidation of the Bay cities; and he lived to see the accomplishment of this great step toward the upbuilding of the great city on Bellingham bay, which had been his dream from the first.
Short Sketch of His Career.
Mr. Slade was born at Fall River, Mass., March 9, 1834. He was graduated at Brown university, Providence, R. I., and entered the practice of law in St. Louis in 1859. In 1865, he moved to Bloomington, Ill, continuing the practice of law there, and establishing in connection therewith, the loan business, commencing as early as 1885 to loan money in Spokane, Wn., on both farm and city property, through an agency there which he has continued since. In 1888 he paid a visit to Washington and was favorably impressed and enthusiastic over the future of the state. After visiting Puget Sound and the various cities of the state he firmly believed that the city on Bellingham Bay would some day be the greatest in the state. Pinned to this faith, he never changed his opinion, and never failed to present this view whenever opportunity presented itself, whether in personal conversation or in writing to his clients; friends or the press. He probably influenced more capital and people to locate here than any other citizen; especially from Illinois, as directly and indirectly he brought the McLean county colony here, including some of the leading citizens of the town.
Mr. Slade was always interested in educational work, and during his residence in Bloomington, Ill. served Supreme Judge H. E. Hadley read law in the office of Mr. Slade, and was associated with him in partnership in the practice of law in Bloomington, from 1877 to 1889, and at the solicitation of Mr. Slade moved to Whatcom, where again he formed a partnership with Mr. Slade. L. H. Hadley also joined the firm, which was known as Slade, Hadley & Hadley. Since 1891 Mr. Slade has devoted most of his attention to the extensive loan and investment business which he has built up. He was elected mayor of the city of New Whatcom and served two years, 1893 and 1894, zealously guarding the city's best interests and conscientiously fulfilling the duties of the office, and retaining the full confidence of his fellow-workers and the community. He was married in 1865 at Bloomington, Ill., and leaves a widow and two children-Walter B. Slade, who is associated with him in business, and a daughters, Mrs. Alma E. S. Johnson, who resides in Boston, Mass. Two brothers and a sister also survive him. The funeral will take place from the residence in the Slade block, Saturday afternoon, and will be attended by the Whatcom County Bar Association, of which deceased was a member.
