Thomas’ cremated remains were not initially taken after his death and were for years available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2020 a relative received the ashes. More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Thomas was born in Oregon in December 1868 less than 10 years after Oregon became a state. His parents were both born in Logansport, Indiana. His mother, Susan Isabelle Hiatt, was born in 1847 and his father, Oliver Perry Pointer, was born in 1844. They were married in 1866. Susan and Oliver had 11 children with 8 being alive in 1900. Among their children (all born in Oregon) were: Sylvester V. (born about 1867), Thomas (in 1868), Harry Emmett (about 1871), Mattie M. (about 1873), Mary B. (in 1874), Emma B. (in 1878), William (in 1879), Herbert (in 1881), Lena (in 1885), and Anne (in 1887). The family used the spelling POINTER for many years, but some changed the spelling to POYNTER after 1900. Unlike their parents Thomas and his brother Harry continued using the spelling POINTER.
At the time of the 1870 census Thomas was a year old, living with his parents and older brother in Polk County, Oregon where his father was a farmer. In 1876 the Pointer family was living on Gales Creek in Washington County, Oregon. During the 1880 census Thomas was 11 years old, attending school and living with his parents and siblings in Hillsboro, Washington County.
In the census of 1900 Thomas was 31, single and living in Tacoma Ward 1, Pierce, Washington where he was a laborer. He was a roomer in the home of another single laborer. On 2/24/1908 Thomas filed for a homestead near Paulina in Crook County in central Oregon. He had 160 acres that was nearly level with water near the surface. When the 1910 census was taken, Thomas was 41, single, living alone and farming in Crook County. He owned his farm free and clear of a mortgage. His parents were living in Lents an neighborhood in southeast Portland. On 12/14/1909 Thomas’ mother died of a stroke while visiting in Paulina. She was 62. Thomas’ father died on 06/27/1910 of multiple cystic kidneys in Portland. On 2/17/1911 Thomas filed for more homestead land near Paulina and he “proved up” in June 1915.
By the time of the 1930 census Thomas was living in Delena, between Rainier and Clatskanie in Columbia County, northwest of Portland Oregon. He was 61, single, living alone, and not working. In 1934 he was diagnosed to have tuberculosis. In 1936 he was living in Rainier, Columbia County. On 5/14/1936 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was said to have senile psychosis. After being a patient at the institution 5 1/2 months he died there of TB and arteriosclerosis on 10/27/1936. An autopsy was performed. He was cremated the following day. Thomas was 67 years old. His brother Harry died in 1953.
Thomas was born in Oregon in December 1868 less than 10 years after Oregon became a state. His parents were both born in Logansport, Indiana. His mother, Susan Isabelle Hiatt, was born in 1847 and his father, Oliver Perry Pointer, was born in 1844. They were married in 1866. Susan and Oliver had 11 children with 8 being alive in 1900. Among their children (all born in Oregon) were: Sylvester V. (born about 1867), Thomas (in 1868), Harry Emmett (about 1871), Mattie M. (about 1873), Mary B. (in 1874), Emma B. (in 1878), William (in 1879), Herbert (in 1881), Lena (in 1885), and Anne (in 1887). The family used the spelling POINTER for many years, but some changed the spelling to POYNTER after 1900. Unlike their parents Thomas and his brother Harry continued using the spelling POINTER.
At the time of the 1870 census Thomas was a year old, living with his parents and older brother in Polk County, Oregon where his father was a farmer. In 1876 the Pointer family was living on Gales Creek in Washington County, Oregon. During the 1880 census Thomas was 11 years old, attending school and living with his parents and siblings in Hillsboro, Washington County.
In the census of 1900 Thomas was 31, single and living in Tacoma Ward 1, Pierce, Washington where he was a laborer. He was a roomer in the home of another single laborer. On 2/24/1908 Thomas filed for a homestead near Paulina in Crook County in central Oregon. He had 160 acres that was nearly level with water near the surface. When the 1910 census was taken, Thomas was 41, single, living alone and farming in Crook County. He owned his farm free and clear of a mortgage. His parents were living in Lents an neighborhood in southeast Portland. On 12/14/1909 Thomas’ mother died of a stroke while visiting in Paulina. She was 62. Thomas’ father died on 06/27/1910 of multiple cystic kidneys in Portland. On 2/17/1911 Thomas filed for more homestead land near Paulina and he “proved up” in June 1915.
By the time of the 1930 census Thomas was living in Delena, between Rainier and Clatskanie in Columbia County, northwest of Portland Oregon. He was 61, single, living alone, and not working. In 1934 he was diagnosed to have tuberculosis. In 1936 he was living in Rainier, Columbia County. On 5/14/1936 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was said to have senile psychosis. After being a patient at the institution 5 1/2 months he died there of TB and arteriosclerosis on 10/27/1936. An autopsy was performed. He was cremated the following day. Thomas was 67 years old. His brother Harry died in 1953.
Thomas’ cremated remains were not initially taken after his death and were for years available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2020 a relative received the ashes. More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Thomas was born in Oregon in December 1868 less than 10 years after Oregon became a state. His parents were both born in Logansport, Indiana. His mother, Susan Isabelle Hiatt, was born in 1847 and his father, Oliver Perry Pointer, was born in 1844. They were married in 1866. Susan and Oliver had 11 children with 8 being alive in 1900. Among their children (all born in Oregon) were: Sylvester V. (born about 1867), Thomas (in 1868), Harry Emmett (about 1871), Mattie M. (about 1873), Mary B. (in 1874), Emma B. (in 1878), William (in 1879), Herbert (in 1881), Lena (in 1885), and Anne (in 1887). The family used the spelling POINTER for many years, but some changed the spelling to POYNTER after 1900. Unlike their parents Thomas and his brother Harry continued using the spelling POINTER.
At the time of the 1870 census Thomas was a year old, living with his parents and older brother in Polk County, Oregon where his father was a farmer. In 1876 the Pointer family was living on Gales Creek in Washington County, Oregon. During the 1880 census Thomas was 11 years old, attending school and living with his parents and siblings in Hillsboro, Washington County.
In the census of 1900 Thomas was 31, single and living in Tacoma Ward 1, Pierce, Washington where he was a laborer. He was a roomer in the home of another single laborer. On 2/24/1908 Thomas filed for a homestead near Paulina in Crook County in central Oregon. He had 160 acres that was nearly level with water near the surface. When the 1910 census was taken, Thomas was 41, single, living alone and farming in Crook County. He owned his farm free and clear of a mortgage. His parents were living in Lents an neighborhood in southeast Portland. On 12/14/1909 Thomas’ mother died of a stroke while visiting in Paulina. She was 62. Thomas’ father died on 06/27/1910 of multiple cystic kidneys in Portland. On 2/17/1911 Thomas filed for more homestead land near Paulina and he “proved up” in June 1915.
By the time of the 1930 census Thomas was living in Delena, between Rainier and Clatskanie in Columbia County, northwest of Portland Oregon. He was 61, single, living alone, and not working. In 1934 he was diagnosed to have tuberculosis. In 1936 he was living in Rainier, Columbia County. On 5/14/1936 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was said to have senile psychosis. After being a patient at the institution 5 1/2 months he died there of TB and arteriosclerosis on 10/27/1936. An autopsy was performed. He was cremated the following day. Thomas was 67 years old. His brother Harry died in 1953.
Thomas was born in Oregon in December 1868 less than 10 years after Oregon became a state. His parents were both born in Logansport, Indiana. His mother, Susan Isabelle Hiatt, was born in 1847 and his father, Oliver Perry Pointer, was born in 1844. They were married in 1866. Susan and Oliver had 11 children with 8 being alive in 1900. Among their children (all born in Oregon) were: Sylvester V. (born about 1867), Thomas (in 1868), Harry Emmett (about 1871), Mattie M. (about 1873), Mary B. (in 1874), Emma B. (in 1878), William (in 1879), Herbert (in 1881), Lena (in 1885), and Anne (in 1887). The family used the spelling POINTER for many years, but some changed the spelling to POYNTER after 1900. Unlike their parents Thomas and his brother Harry continued using the spelling POINTER.
At the time of the 1870 census Thomas was a year old, living with his parents and older brother in Polk County, Oregon where his father was a farmer. In 1876 the Pointer family was living on Gales Creek in Washington County, Oregon. During the 1880 census Thomas was 11 years old, attending school and living with his parents and siblings in Hillsboro, Washington County.
In the census of 1900 Thomas was 31, single and living in Tacoma Ward 1, Pierce, Washington where he was a laborer. He was a roomer in the home of another single laborer. On 2/24/1908 Thomas filed for a homestead near Paulina in Crook County in central Oregon. He had 160 acres that was nearly level with water near the surface. When the 1910 census was taken, Thomas was 41, single, living alone and farming in Crook County. He owned his farm free and clear of a mortgage. His parents were living in Lents an neighborhood in southeast Portland. On 12/14/1909 Thomas’ mother died of a stroke while visiting in Paulina. She was 62. Thomas’ father died on 06/27/1910 of multiple cystic kidneys in Portland. On 2/17/1911 Thomas filed for more homestead land near Paulina and he “proved up” in June 1915.
By the time of the 1930 census Thomas was living in Delena, between Rainier and Clatskanie in Columbia County, northwest of Portland Oregon. He was 61, single, living alone, and not working. In 1934 he was diagnosed to have tuberculosis. In 1936 he was living in Rainier, Columbia County. On 5/14/1936 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was said to have senile psychosis. After being a patient at the institution 5 1/2 months he died there of TB and arteriosclerosis on 10/27/1936. An autopsy was performed. He was cremated the following day. Thomas was 67 years old. His brother Harry died in 1953.
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