Lapeer-Van Buren County MI Archives Biographies.....Thomas, Le Roy 1819 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 2, 2007, 6:07 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

LE ROY THOMAS. New York State has contributed many valuable citizens to Lapeer
County among whom may be named the subject of this notice, now of Metamora
Township. His father was Alanson Thomas, a native of Jefferson County, N. Y.,
his business being that of a miller, the owner of grist and saw-mills. He was
also a true patriot having served in the War of 1812. His wife, Sarah (Saunders)
Thomas was a native of Rhode Island.  Her father was a Revolutionary soldier and
later on served in the War of 1812 at which time he was taken prisoner to Canada
and never heard of afterward.

  The parents of our subject were married in New York where they resided until
after the death of Mrs. Thomas which took place in 1871. Mr. Thomas again
married and removed to Michigan where he died at the good old age of ninety
years. Of the first marriage, nine children were born, four of whom only are now
living. Our subject was born March 18, 1819, in Monroe County, N. Y., where his
father had a farm, saw and grist mills. Our subject having been born in the
woods he had but a slim chance for an education. Previous to moving to Michigan
he followed the business of milling which he learned from his father.

  Mr. Thomas was married in 1844 to Miss Almira Cheney, daughter of Ira Cheney,
who was a farmer of Monroe County, N. Y. He was a soldier in the War of 1812,
and died at the age of eighty. Both sides of the family are blessed with a
patriotic inheritance. Her parents had a family of eight children, three of whom
are now living. Mrs. Thomas was born June 8, 1825, in Monroe County, N. Y. They
are the parents of three children, one only of whom is now living-James E., who
is married to Ettie Cunningham. They live on the home farm with their two
children, named Addie and Arthur.

  Our subject came to Michigan in 1856 and removed upon his present farm in
1857, which was then but partially improved. He has now two hundred acres, one
hundred and fifty of which are improved. There is an immense amount of timber
and stones upon this farm. All the buildings now on the place have been put up
by Mr. Thomas. In addition to his farm he has quite an orchard of ten acres.
During all these years Mr. Thomas has been a very hard working man. It is
gratifying to see that his work has not been in vain as he is the owner now of a
fine property and able to take life easy; his wife died in April, 1885. She was
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His eldest daughter, Caroline, was
the wife of J. O. Perkins. She died some time since leaving two children. His
second daughter, Susie, who was the wife of Prof. P. N. Hagle is also deceased,
she having left one child. Realizing the want of an education himself Mr. Thomas
gave his children good educational advantages. His sterling qualities have been
fully appreciated by the citizens of his township and he has held many offices.
He was a member of the local School Board for many years, Road Overseer, and
while in New York State he was Poormaster of his county. During the Civil War,
Mr. Thomas helped to clear Metamora Township of its draft money. His prospects
were not very bright when he first came to Michigan in 1839 when he came to
Romeo and hired out to Mr. Starkweather to work in the pineries, putting in a
mill saw. at which time he only saw one white man for two months. He evidently
did not like that kind of life as he returned home to New York. He made trips
West, however, as often as once in every two years, and finally settled here. He
has carried on general farming including the raising of one hundred and thirty
Merino sheep. Twelve years ago he received a very severe sunstroke from which he
never fully recovered. He was indebted for his land when he settled on it to the
extent of $600 which debt was long since cleared away, and a handsome competence
secured besides.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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