Laura G. Thomson—Obituary
Cincinnati Enquirer—January 21, 1913
Shock
To Family and Friends
Is Sad News of Sudden Death of Mrs.
Peter G. Thomson in
Florida
Among hundreds who knew and loved her there is deep sorrow for the death of Mrs. Peter G. Thomson, of College Hill, which took place at Sanibel Island, Fla., on Sunday. While Mrs. Thomson had been in poor health for some time, her passing away was a great shock to her family and friends.
Mrs. Thomson had been far from well for some tine, but the marked improvement in her health for the past year had encouraged her family to hope for her ultimate recovery. She and Mr. Thomson left a few weeks ago to enjoy the quiet and sunshine of the Sanibel Islands, on the west coast of the gulf below Ft. Myers, and they had both been greatly benefited by the climate and the repose of the place when the last summons came without warning. The Sanibel Islands are very inaccessible and are reached by boat alone, the journey to Ft. Myers alone taking the entire night.
The sad news came in a telegram yesterday morning and Mr. Peter Thomson, Jr., with his cousin, Miss Alice Rammelsberg, who is quite like a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, left yesterday to meet Mr. and Mrs. Thomson in Jacksonville, and an intimate friend and connection to the family, Mr. De Golier, who is already in Jacksonville, will go down the west coast to meet the train bearing the sad freight. It is expected that the party will arrive here by Thursday or Friday morning, and all arrangements for the funeral have been deferred until word is received from them.
Mrs. Thomson, whose kindly face, with its lovely blue eyes and softly graying hair, was familiar to society, was before her marriage Miss Laura Gamble, of Louisville, a greatniece of Mrs. Latham (Maria Anderson), and her sister Mrs. Kendrick, whose house on Broadway is well remembered, and whose petite figure and charming old-fashioned grace are not forgotten by older Cincinnatians. Mrs. Thomson was a granddaughter of General Logan, of Kentucky, and her third son, Mr. Logan Thomson, is named for this ancestor.
She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Reuben B. Robertson (Hope Thomson), of Asheville, N.C. and Mrs. Walter De Golier Randall (Mary Bell Thomson), whose house adjoins “Laurel Court.” She is also mourned by three sons, Mr. Alexander Thomson, Jr., who married Miss Mary Moore Dabney, the elder daughter of President Charles W. Dabney, of the University; and Mrs. Dabney, Mr. Peter G. Thomson, Jr. and Mr. Logan Thomson, who is hurrying home from New York to be here to receive his father. Mrs. Thomson’s three brothers, Messrs. Hoyt and James Gamble, of Louisville, and Mr. William Gamble, of Chicago, are expected here for the funeral, as are her sisters, Mrs. Charlton Rogers, of Louisville, and Miss Rose Gamble, of Lexington.
Mrs. Thomson was a most gracious and lovable woman. In spite of her husband’s great wealth and the luxury with which she was surrounded, she was always genial and kind to every one. She was prominent in the work of the College Hill Presbyterian Church and active as a member of the Woman’s Club, Woman’s Press Club, Daughters of the American Revolution and College Hill Progress Club.
The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Thomson was an ideal one in every way. Their magnificent residence on College Hill, “Laurel Court”, is one of the finest in the West – the show place for eminent visitors. The home was designed by a nephew of Mrs. Thomson, Gamble Rogers.
Shock To Hamilton Friends.
SPECIAL DISPATH TO THE ENQUIRER
Hamilton, Ohio, January 20 --- Relatives here of Peter G. Thomson, the
millionaire president of the Champion Coated Paper Company, received the
sad intelligence this morning of the sudden death of Mrs. Peter G. Thomson
at a health resort in the Sanibel Islands, off Southern Florida, and near
Ft. Meyers. The brief telegram received this morning was a severe shock
to the Hamilton friends and relatives who believed Mrs. Thomson in the
best of health.