Thomas Rankin West

WEST, Thomas R. – Thomas R. West, son of Maj. Samuel West of East Tennessee, was born May 10, 1828 and came to Arkansas when young. He married Miss Arminda E. Crawford in 1849, embraced religion in 1850 and joined the M.E. Church, South in 1851. His happy spirit left its earthy home to “return to the God who gave it.” He has paid the debt and his sufferings are over. To his wife and ten children who are left to mourn his loss we say, weep not for him for he is at rest in the Paradise of God. The deceased was loved by all who knew him. He was a faithful student of the Bible and a liberal supporter of the institution of the Church. He has gone to receive his reward. May God comfort Sister West and her children in their time of need. Pastor B.P. Summers [Fayetteville Democrat 3/10/1877]
Thomas R. West, son of Major Samuel West, was born May 19th, 1828. He came to Arkansas when young, married in 1849, embraced religion in 1850 and joined the M.E. Church, South in 1851, in which he made an acceptable member until his death, December 10th, 1876. His happy spirit left its earthly house to return to God, who gave it; he has paid his debt and his sufferings are over; he is at rest in the Paradise of God. His death was not unexpected to him; he often talked of death and requested me to tell his two little sons, when they grow up, how he lived and how he died. He was confined only eight days to his room, during that time his sufferings were more than can be described. He bore it with patience and said the bright hopes of Heaven paid for all his sufferings here. He directed me how to bury his body, he chose his own grave in Prairie Grove near his little son. Arminda E. West, Prairie Grove. [Fayetteville Democrat 6/2/1877]