J. Rush Thomas - Newly Uncovered LODD - 1873

John Rush Thomas - Tossed From His Horse & Killed 

03 April 1873

     Though not completely forgotten, the death of Rush Thomas has for decades been unacknowledged.  His story was lost save for an article published in the Cincinnati Volksfreund in 1874.  The article recalled a short history of the fire department and concluded with a list of members who died in service to the department.  This appears to be the earliest such list.  Deaths of members were recorded in each annual report if they met the given criteria of the age but there was no running list maintained or at least no running list that survived.  Unfortunately many of the annual reports are lost and as such a great deal of research has been necessary to compile a list of members that died while in service to the citizens of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Enquirer - 04 April 1873

     Rush Thomas was out with the horses for their afternoon exercise.  On his way back to the quarters of Engine 13 he heard the bells calling the men out to a fire.  Bringing the horses to a gallop he made a dash back to the house.  He arrived and tried to dismount as fast as he could.  It is not known if the horse reared up or if he simply slipped but he fell to the ground striking his head.  He died that same day.  The engine had been dispatched for a fire at the corner of Central and Poplar.

UC Death Index Card - John Rush Thomas

     Thomas left behind a wife and three children.  He was almost 41 years old and had a long record of service with the department.  He was previously a member of Engine 05, The Jefferson Engine Company.  The funeral services took place at his residence, 27 Bank Street and he was laid to rest at the Wesleyan Cemetery

1872 Fire Department Annual Report shows J.R.Thomas as a member

of The Jefferson Steam Engine Co.5

     The early list of members killed in the line of duty was printed in the Cincinnati Volksfreund in 1874 and reprinted in December 1999 in the quarterly publication of "Tracer" produced by the Hamilton County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.  A link to the article can be found here:

The Cincinnati Fire Dept - 1874 - Cincinnati Volksfreund

The following information will be added to the Roll of Honor of the Cincinnati Fire Department:

John Rush Thomas

Driver - Brighton Fire Co.13

Died 03 April 1873

Fell From Horse - Head Injury