Thomas Floyd Dies, Injured 25 Years Ago
Thomas Mason Floyd, age 79, a familiar figure in a wheel chair on Brazil streets for many years, died at 10 p.m. Thursday at his home, 508 West Knight Street. He had been confined to his home for the last few weeks.
Born in Somerset, Ky., January 28, 1879, Mr. Floyd was the son of Thomas and Liza Gaines Floyd. He moved to Brazil 41 years ago from Attica, where he had lived after leaving Kentucky.
After coming to Brazil, Mr. Floyd was employed as a clay worker in the Monarch Factory, which is now the American Vitrified Products Company plant.
In 1933 Mr. Floyd was seriously injured when he was hit by a car at the edge of the city on South 59. Both legs were broken below the knees and he had not been able to walk since that time. When injured he was carrying produce from the community gardens where he had a plot.
Fellow workers purchased a wheel chair for Mr. Floyd soon after the accident. This enabled him to make his living by selling pencils, shoe strings, razor blades, and other articles. During the last few months many of his customers went to his home to patronize him. Courageous in his misfortune, he had many friends.
Surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Flonnie Phelps, with whom he had lived for several years; Mrs. Luevena Slater of Brazil; Mrs. Virgil Waldrop of Grand Ledge, Mich.; Mrs. Floyd Leap, of Zionsville; Mrs. Stanley Purvis, of Kokomo; five sons, Arthur, Clarence, Lawrence, and Orvile, of Brazil, and Vollie of Muncie; a twin-sister, Mrs. Eliza Collins, of Attica; a half-brother, John Floyd, of Somerset, Ky., 43 grandchildren and 58 great-grandchildren.
The body was taken to Miller & Sons Funeral Home where friends may call after 4 p.m. Saturday, and where funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Elder Orville Rader will officiate. Burial will be in Cottage Hill Cemetery.
--from The Brazil Times, 1958
