Thomas A. Banning, patent attorney is summoned by death

Thomas A. Banning, senior member of the firm of Banning & Banning, the oldest firm of patent attorneys in Chicago, died at the Evanston hospital Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, following a stroke of paralysis which he suffered Tuesday morning of last week.

For the past three years Mr. Banning, when not with his family on their estate near Robertsdale, Ala., had been living at the home of Mrs. Howard G. Hodgkins, 602 Maple avenue, Wilmette. He had been suffering from heart trouble for the past few months, but his condition had not been considered alarming. He was stricken Monday night of last week, and was unconscious when found by Mrs. Hodgkins the following morning.

Mr. Banning was 76 years old last January. He spent the greater part of his life in Chicago, where, half a century ago, he established the patent law business which firm still bears his name. Associated with was a son, Samuel, of Hinsdale, and a nephew, Ephraim Banning, of Winnetka. The firm has had offices on the sixteenth floor of the Marquette building, since its erection.

Mr. Banning owned a large estate at Robertsdale, Ala., to which he was preparing to retire. Mrs. Banning and a daughter, Miss Esther, were at Robertsdale, when they received the news of Mr. Banning's sudden illness, but arrived in Chicago before he passed away. The other members of the family are a daughter in California and son, Thomas A. Banning, Jr., of 600 Third street, Wilmette.

Mr. Banning was a member of the Congregational church, being one of the founders of the church of that denomination in Hyde Park.

funeral services were conducted from Hamann's chapel, 7008 North Clark street, Chicago, Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock, following which the remains were taken to Laporte, Indiana, for burial.