THOMAS POMEROY.

      Was born in Cornwall, England, March 17, 1817, two years before the birth of Queen Victoria. He removed thence to Canada, where he became a Christian. His trade was that of a blacksmith. In 1864, he removed to Colorado, driving across the plains from Topeka to Denver. Here he took up his trade again. Denver continued to be his home during all the remainder of his early life.

      Brother Pomeroy's name is inseparably connected with the earliest history of the church in Denver. As far as known he was the first member of the church in that city. In 1865, after a year of hitherto unsuccessful search, he was delighted to meet another member of the same household of faith, a brother, A. M. Short. In 1866 Mr. Short and his brother took up their residence in Denver. About the same time a union Sunday school was begun by [453] the Methodist and Baptist churches. These three disciples joined the Bible class. Often after the Sunday school sessions they met and talked of their hopes and fears concerning the cause they loved so well.

      In 1870 W. H. Williams, then minister at Golden, held a meeting, assisted by G. G. Mullins. Quite a number made the good confession and were baptized. The administrator was Brother Williams, and the place of baptism a mill ditch in West Denver. These were the first baptisms by disciples of Christ in Denver, and above five hundred persons witnessed them. About this time Mrs. Ann Pomeroy and Miss Louisa Maria Pomeroy, wife and daughter of Thomas Pomeroy, confessed the Christ and were baptized by Brother Williams.

      In the original organization which followed the work of brothers Pomeroy, Williams, Mullins and others, John Radcliffe was chosen elder and Thomas Pomeroy deacon.

      In the succeeding organization Thomas Pomeroy was one of the original trustees by whom the church was incorporated. When the meeting for organization was held, May 25, 1873, he offered the opening prayer. On June 1st, following, he, with Daniel. C. Stover, was unanimously elected an elder of the congregation, in which capacity he served faithfully for many years. He was a loyal member of the church in days when it required more than ordinary fidelity to maintain and advance the cause. At the state convention of 1893, by request, he read a paper entitled, "The Day of Small Things," in which he recounted some of the incidents narrated above.

      On his birthday, March 7, 1900 at twenty minutes past mid-night, having completed a journey of eighty-three years, he ascended into the presence of the King. How much of the present prosperity of the cause in Denver and Colorado is due to the fidelity and sacrifices of this godly man in those early days eternity alone will reveal. He being dead yet speaketh.

[COC 453-454]