Thomas Scroggs Work

From “Work Family History”, vol. I (1969) & vol. II (1994), compiled by Von Gail Hamilton.

The family moved to Ft. Morgan, CO, in the spring of 1902, along with Thomas' sister-in-law and her family (wife's sister), the John Horton Works. Taking virgin prairie west of town, they raised alfalfa, wheat and sugar beets. Thomas was a leader and director in the development of the Bijou Irrigation Co.; later he drilled one of the 1st irrigation wells in the area.

Thomas always had a hobby. He brought a few Jersey cows from PA, and always sold top grade butter from these; in the 1910s he ran a dairy route. His big Percheron horses were his pride and joy. His apiary produced both comb and extracted honey of a high grade, over 1 ton a year. He raised bronze turkeys and for a few years Peking ducks. After moving to town in 1920, he specialized in more than 50 kinds or irises and grew more than 30 varieties of grapes.

In a newspaper article at the time of his death - "In his death there passes one of the interesting and positive characters which has been influential in the community during all these years. ... The church was his first interest . . . He was known for his strong convictions on various subjects in which he was well informed. He was outspoken on what he believed was wrong and a staunch supporter of what he thought was right. Few issues were raised among the people that he didn't voice his position and take his stand." - by his daughter, Elizabeth Jane Work