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Thomas B. Oldroyd
Arkansas City.
The beginning...
Arkansas City Traveler, April 28, 1886.
We were favored a few days since with a call from Elmer G. Oldroyd, brother to T. B. Oldroyd, of this city. Mr. Oldroyd is from Wayne County, Ohio, and is making a leisurely visit to several friends in this state. This being his first visit here, he is surprised to find so solid and handsome a town, and is gratified at the activity and progress that surround him.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, May 22, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
J. C. Armstrong, J. W. Ruby, and Thos. Oldroyd have formed a combination and entered into the real estate business. Their office will be on the first floor of the Pickle building.
Arkansas City Republican, May 29, 1886.
ARMSTRONG, OLDROYD & RUBY, Land, Loan and Insurance Brokers. Make collections, pay taxes. OFFICE: Front room, 1st floor in PICKLE BLOCK.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 19, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
The jury in the Brubaker case failed to agree and were discharged this morning by Judge Kreamer. Seven were for conviction and five for acquittal. The jury was composed of T. H. McLaughlin, J. F. Hoffman, Chas. Howard, G. Cunningham, W. D. Bishop, J. F. Smith, A. C. Gould, Jas. Benedict, T. B. Oldroyd, Geo. Allen, Dugal Owens, and W. S. Upp. A new trial will be had, commencing next Tuesday. This trial consumed two days and the jury was out overnight.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 17, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
E. G. Oldroyd, of Wayne County, Ohio, is in the city visiting. He is much pleased with Arkansas City and will most likely cast his future with us.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 24, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
E. G. Oldroyd, of Shreve, Ohio, who has been visiting his brother here since April, left for his home today.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, August 11, 1886.
ARMSTRONG, OLDROYD & RUBY, Land, Loan and Insurance.
Rents collected and taxes paid. Furnished City Property sold or exchanged.
Titles examined and abstracts made.
Office in D. L. Means’ implement store, Summit Street, Arkansas City, Kansas.
J. C. ARMSTRONG, T. B. OLDROYD, J. W. RUBY
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 27, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
J. W. Ruby is no longer connected with the real estate firm of Armstrong, Oldroyd, & Ruby, he having retired. Mr. Ruby intends entering business upon his “own hook.”
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, November 20, 1886. From Saturday’s Daily.
C. W. Oldroyd, of Ottawa, is visiting his brother in this city.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 24, 1886.
C. W. Oldroyd, of Ottawa, Kansas, brother to T. B. Oldroyd, has been spending two weeks in the city and returned home yesterday.
[REAL ESTATE BOOM.]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 5, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.
Thirty-five lots in McLaughlin’s addition to Messrs. McCague, Armstrong, and Oldroyd: $6,500.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 19, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Thos. Oldroyd has been up to Oswego on a business trip.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 26, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
J. W. Strohm has sent his resignation to his Atchison employers. A trip over the state of Kansas convinced Mr. Strohm there was no town equal to Arkansas City and he returned to stay. He will enter the real estate business, having bought Thos. Oldroyd’s interest in the real estate agency of Armstrong & Oldroyd. We wish him success.
The end...
Note: RKW found the obituary notice on T. B. Oldroyd.
FALL FATAL; T. B. OLDROYD PASSES AWAY.
Dies Hour After He Reaches Hospital.—Rites Tomorrow.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 29, 1925.
Thomas B. Oldroyd, veteran furniture dealer and undertaker in Arkansas City, who fell down the elevator shaft in the Oldroyd store on West Fifth Avenue late yesterday, died of his injuries an hour after reaching Mercy hospital. In the fall from the main floor of the building to the basement, a distance of 10 feet, his head struck the concrete floor. He suffered a fracture of the skull. He never regained consciousness.
He was waiting on a customer when he stepped to the door leading to the elevator shaft, to call his son, Harry, who was on the second floor. He did not notice the elevator was not there and stepped off into the open shaft. George Pfisterer, who with his mother, was in the store at the time, was conversing with him and was but a few feet away when Mr. Oldroyd fell. Pfisterer, however, was not close enough to grab him and prevent the accident.
Brother Unable to Come.
Two physicians were summoned and the injured man taken to the hospital in his own ambulance.
One daughter, Miss Roxanna, and two sons, Ralph W. and J. Harry, survive. Mrs. Oldroyd died at the family home, 828 South Second street, eight years ago. One brother, E. G. Oldroyd, of Canton, Ohio, also survives. He is the oldest member of the family. On account of his age, he will be unable to be here for the funeral services and burial.
Came Here in 1885.
For nearly 40 years, or since 1886, T. B. Oldroyd had been in business in Arkansas City. He came to the city in 1885 from Wayne County, Ohio, his native state. He liked the appearance of the rapidly growing border town and decided to cast his lot here. The daughter and two sons grew up in this city, and also decided to remain here. Today the sons are partners in the business located at 205-207-209 West Fifth Avenue, which is owned by the firm.
Bought Out Partner.
With C. P. Duff as a partner, Mr. Oldroyd started in the furniture and undertaking business in this city in 1886. Several years later he purchased the interests of Mr. Duff. Some time later the two sons were taken in as partners. Twenty years ago the firm was located in what is now the Trimper building, at Summit Street and Washington avenue, where the People’s store is located.
Mr. Oldroyd prospered and several years ago he and the sons erected the building on West Fifth Avenue, which was the first reinforced concrete business block erected in Arkansas City. This was in 1913. Prior to this, however, the firm purchased the Walnut block, located just west of the new building, and the three business rooms are now used by
the firm of T. B. Oldroyd & Sons.
Strong Church Man.
For many years Mr. Oldroyd had been engaged in the undertaking business, which was also taken up by the sons. He was a member of the Kansas State Embalmers Association and had held several offices in the association. He was well known over the state. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges.
Mr. Oldroyd was a pillar in the First Methodist Episcopal church of Arkansas City for many years. At the time of his death he was president of the board of trustees. He had at different times served in nearly all of the offices of the church.
