Capt. Thomas Landon Goes To Eternal Reward

WAS AN ORIGINATOR OF CRAB INDUSTRY

Mr. Thomas Landon, aged 72, died of heart
disease, at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
Maggie Ward, Maryland Avenue, on Friday
night last. Although Captain Tom, as he was
familiarly known, had suffered with heart
trouble for a number of years it had not been
considered of a serious nature, until he had
a severe attack on Monday of last week and
gradually grew worse until the end came on
Friday.

The deceased was one of Crisfield's oldest
and most highly respected citizens and was
actively connected with the history and growth
of the city. In 1876, Capt. Tom with his father,
the late John W. Landon and Severn Riggin
formed a partnership and were the first
persons ever to buy crabs in the peeler state
and shed out the soft crab, which is now
considered one of the most famous delicacies
served at the leading hotels and restaurants
throughout the world.

Captain Tom, who from early youth was a
good, conscientious christian, soon realizing
that, because of the fact that in warm weather
the crabs shedded very fast and that in order
to succeed in the crab business, he would be
compelled to fish his floats and do other
work connected with the business on Sunday,
he sold out his interest, bought a boat and
begun catching and selling crabs to the firm
in which he had formerly been a partner.
Since that time hundreds of our citizens have
been engaged in the shedding and shipping of
soft crabs and a number of them have become
financially independent and we have no doubt
that, but for the fact that Capt. Tom, would
not sacrifice his religious principles, he too,
instead of being a laborer until the end would
have spent his last days in luxury. It is a
matter of local history, that on numerous
occasion when, in the winter season he would
bring a load of oysters to Crisfield and, after
selling to one of the local dealers, began to
measure them out he would pile them so high
on the tub that he would be requested to stop
and would invariably reply, "Brother, when I
sell a bushel I want to be sure that you get
all that you are paying for." Thus from day
to day, the deceased, who had been a class
leader and a power in the church, lived his
religion and when the end came, with a glad
heart and a smile on his face, went to meet
his God. Thus passeth the life of Captain
Tom Landon, known by all and beloved by all
who knew him.

Funeral services, conducted by Rev. C. M.
Elderdice, were held in Mt. Pleasant M. P.
Church, at 2 o'clock on Monday afternoon and
interment was made in the Crisfield Cemetery.

The deceased is survived by five sons and six
daughters, Messrs. John W., Edward Lee,
George, Charles and Lloyd Landon; all of
Crisfield; Mrs. Lyda Holmes and Mrs. Ruby
Leidneck, of Baltimore, Mrs. Maggie Ward,
Mrs. Lucy Stevenson, Mrs. Ruth Purcell and
Miss Sallie Landon, of Crisfield; and the
following brothers and sisters: John H.,
William, Sidney and Robert Landon of
Crisfield; Mrs. Ella Betts, Hamptont Va.;
Mrs. Sara Miles, Mariners; and Mrs. Lucy
Lawson, Lawsonia.

The Crisfield Times, April 3, 1926 pgs.1&5

[spelling correction-Ruby Liebknecht]