Bartholomew-Wayne County IN Archives Biographies.....Thomas, John 1820 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 21, 2007, 5:42 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) JOHN THOMAS. At a very early epoch in the history of Indiana the Thomas family was founded in this state and more than six decades have passed since John Thomas came to Bartholomew county. He is, therefore, numbered among its oldest settlers and is widely regarded as a man of many sterling traits of character, commanding the respect and esteem of all with whom he is associated. It was in 1811 that the grandfather of the subject, John Thomas, removed from South Carolina to Wayne county, Indiana. Several years passed ere this state was admitted to the Union, in fact, at the time of his arrival it was largely a wild and unsettled region. Its forests were uncut, its streams unbridged and its lands uncultivated and the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun, but the efforts of such resolute men as Mr. Thomas and other pioneers wrought a great change in the state and their labors proved the foundation upon which has been built a splendid commonwealth. In John Thomas's family were eight children, as follows: Isaac, John, Elijah, Mary, Stephen, Francis, Benjamin and Sarah. All were married and settled in Wayne county and the different representatives of the name became active and helpful factors in the improvement of their various localities. Francis Thomas, the father of the subject, came from South Carolina to Wayne county, Indiana, in the year 1811, settling where Newgarden church, near Fountain City, is now and where he lived until his death. His children were Mary, Luke, Sarah, Absillit, William, John, Francis, Lydia, Isaac and Clarkson, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of four brothers of whom the subject of this review is the eldest. John Thomas, whose name introduces this record, was born at Newgarden, Wayne county, on the 24th of February, 1820, and is a son of Francis and Lydia (Woodward) Thomas. The Woodward family was also from South Carolina and about 1819 settled in Orange county, coming to Sand Creek township. Bartholomew county, some years later. In the usual manner of farmer lads John Thomas was reared and attended the subscription schools in the winter, while in the summer months he worked in the fields. He remained upon the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age and then worked one year for his father at twelve dollars a month. In September, 1841, he came to Bartholomew county, where he has resided continuously since. Sixty-three years have come and gone and he yet remains an honored resident of this locality. Throughout the entire period his life record has been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. In the year of his removal here he was united in marriage to Miss Smithey Newsom, daughter of Willis and Sarah Newsom of Sand Creek. He took his bride to the farm upon which he yet lives. Excepting a few acres, it was covered with a dense growth of timber, but soon the sound of his ax was heard in the forest and one by one the trees were cut down and the land cleared, being thus prepared for the plow. Throughout his entire career Mr. Thomas has carried on agricultural pursuits and has met with good success in his undertakings. He has never engaged in speculation, but has earned his competency by persistent effort, untiring energy and unfaltering perseverance. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has been blessed with five children: Luke was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hunter, a daughter of Jesse and Catherine. Hunter, and after her death he was joined in wedlock to Miss Julia Newland, of Sand Creek township; Sarah died in Parke county, Indiana, at the age of nineteen.; Lydia is the wife of Jehu Millhouse; Clarkson married Caroline Parisho and after her death he wedded Lillie Shannon, and is operating the homestead: John N. died at twenty-one, being a student in Earlham College. The wife and mother was called to her final rest and Mr. Thomas was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Hannah (Ratliff) Davis, who died thirteen years thereafter. In his political views Mr. Thomas has always been a stanch and earnest Republican, but has never sought or desired official preferment, content to do his duty as a private citizen. During the time of the Civil war and prior to the outbreak of hostilities, he was a stanch advocate of the abolition cause and largely assisted the negroes on their way to the north and freedom, his home being, a station on the famous "underground railroad," while he was a conductor on that line. When the negroes would cross the Ohio river they would be conducted to Mr. Thomas' home and he would give them food and shelter and assist them on their way to the next station. He believed that slavery was wrong and did everything in his power to assist those who came on their way to freedom and was successful in enabling many negroes to proceed on their way to the north. He continued in this work from about 1845 until slavery was abolished. Mr. Thomas is a birthright member of the Friends church and has served as one of its elders for more than fifty years and has also filled other positions in the church. His life has always been in harmony with his principles and the community in which he lives passes favorable judgment upon him. His salient characteristics have ever been such as win confidence and command respect. He is among the oldest residents of the county and is well known in his locality as a man of unquestioned honor and has been a good neighbor, a faithful friend, an excellent citizen and an earnest Christian gentleman. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/thomas696gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb