The Topeka Daily Capital Saturday November 19, 1927 Real Pioneer Is Dead; In Shawnee Since 1852. Thomas Marple, 89, Came Here at Age of 14. Veteran of Battle of the Blue and Farmer in This Community for Many Years. Thomas MARPLE, 89, one of Shawnee county's earliest pioneers, died last night. Mr. MARPLE was born in Indiana in 1838. At the age of 14, he came to Kansas where his father homesteaded a farm north of Topeka which now is the Shawnee county farm. The son resided there until the county purchased it. He since had made his home on farms in the Rochester district, near Silver Lake and Elmont. He was a member of the Kansas militia during Price's raid and took part in the Battle of the Blue. He is survived by a son, M.J. MARPLE, North Topeka, and a daughter, Mrs. William WOODWARD, Elmont. Funeral services will be at Shellabarger's chapel at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon. His body will lie in state at the chapel. Burial will be in Rochester cemetery.