Tuolumne County Biographies

COLONEL (OR CAPTAIN) THOMAS R. STODDART

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


Was for many years a noted character in Tuolumne.  Originally a man of 
intelligence and education, he passed his life amid stirring scenes in Texas, 
Mexico and other distant lands, eventually finding his way to Tuolumne, where he 
exercised his talents in various ways to gain a livelihood, but with meager 
success. As a newspaper correspondent he had few equals, his letters signed 
�Cosmo�rama,�� in the Tuolumne Courier, and other communications from time to 
time, entitling him to a good standing among writers.  He prospected, he did 
ornamental writing, as cards, diplomas, etc, and he taught writing school.  At a 
later date his mind became weakened and nature gradually broke up.  During these 
later years be was a resident of Sonora, where he lived in the solitary life of 
a bachelor.  Interested in military affairs, the old soldier joined the Tuolumne 
Rangers.  Afterwards he was a member of the fire department of Sonora, and 
almost the last recollections that the people retain of him is the spectacle of 
Colonel Tom parading at the head of the new wing proud and erectly conscious of 
his imposing figure, and grandly bearing the beloved Stars and Stripes, in whose 
whose defense he had given freely of his best blood. His last years were 
divested of care by the ministrations kind friends and the veteran sank 
peacefully to rest a few years ago.

�A History of Tuolumne County, California� B.F. Alley, 1882. Pg. 389-390.