Paola Times; Paola, Miami County, Kansas, Thursday, July , 1901
Obituary
Thomas K. Clifton an early settler and highly respected citizen of Paola died at his home in this city at 7 o'clock p.m., Tuesday, July 2, of heart trouble.

Mr. Clifton was born in Ohio. When the war broke out, he enlisted in an Ohio company and served through the war. He saw the battle of Vicksburg at close range. After the war, he went to Oregon but soon returned to Iowa and in 1868 came to Paola. Here he worked at the carpenter's trade for a while afterward engaging in the agricultural implement business until 1880 when, with Jas. Wallace he establised the drug business which is still running.

Mr. Clifton was married in Iowa and became the father of three children. From this wife he separated and after coming to Paola married Miss Amanda Wall, by whom he also had three children, all of whom survive him. For sometime he had suffered with a heart trouble and his death was not a surprise.

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"Th Miami Republican" (Paola) Friday, July 5, 101, Page 3
T. K. Clifton Died
Thomas K. Clifton died Tuesday evening, July 3, at his residence in the northeast part of town, east of the High school building, where he had resided twenty-three years. He had been ailing for several years and for the past six months was seldom able to be at the store and for six weeks was almost constantly confined in his bed. His death is attributed to Bright's disease, with complications.

T. K. Clifton was born in Clifton, Ohio, June 14, 1833. When he was a child of three years, his father died and at the age of fourteen years he started out for himself and went to Iowa, where he learned the carpenter trade. From Iowa he went to Oregon, where he worked several years as a mill wright, afterward going to California, and remaining there a brief time, he went to New York by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and again returned to Iowa, where he enlisted in an Iowa regiment and served through the civil war. In 1869 he removed to Paola and worked at his trade a short time, when he purchased an interest in a drug store with Henry Fellows, and was afterwards in the drug business with H.M. McLachlin and later with James Wallace.

In 1875 he disposed of his partnership interest and engaged in business alone, and for over twenty years was at his store from early morning until late at night. The past six years he was relieved by his son Homer, who has had entire charge of the business since his father's illness.

Mr. Clifton was a student of men and of books and was above the average in ability, possessing a strong intellect and well-developed reasoning faculties. He was well posted on every subject that attracted his attention. He possessed the literary instinct, had a wide range of reading and loved to quote choice selections that pleased his fancy. He had many warm friends throughout the county and his familiar form and greeting will be most missed and mourned by the friends who knew him best. In his store on winter evenings a party of congenial friends would gather, to discuss current topics, and these rare occasions were a source of great satisfaction to all of them. But the central figure has gone out into the great unknown, the charmed circle is broken and these meetings will live henceforth only in the memories of those who are left.

Mr. Clifton is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons. Of the children, Mrs. Ida Flower, the daughter of a former wife, resides at Gravity, Iowa, Mrs. Thos. L. Youmans at Osawatomie, and the two sons, Homer and Vernon, live at home.

The funeral services were held Thursday afternoon, July 4, from the family residence, being conducted by Rev. H.L. Hopkins, pastor of the Congregational church. Interment was made in Paola Cemetery.
(Ancestry Chick (47765964) contributed the above corrected obituary from a previous attempt to interpret it from a difficult to read document.)