Carter Co., OK - OBIT: John Thomas ************************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Deborah Whitehead deborahw195448@msn.com ************************************************************************* This is an article that appeared in the Daily Admoreite in 1929. It is about the John Thomas. The same John Thomas that is in the Thomas Cemetery. I have the original article. He was my great-grandfather. When death, the remorseless reaper, cut down John Thomas about five years ado, it removed one of the most picturesque characters that ever lived in this section of Oklahoma. John Thomas was born in the vicinity of where all of this more than four-score of years of life were spent, and in his young manhood and later maturity he controlled a large area of the farming territory about Baum or Nickel Hill, and all of his life was devoted to farming and stock raising. A combination of Chickasaw and Scotch-Irish blood combined to create a personality that was a power in this section of the primitive territory where he reigned, but it can be said of him that his reign was just and no usurpation of power was exercised by him over the less fortunate. When he was a young man times were turbulent, and often it required a strong hand to control unpleasant situations, John Thomas had the strong hands and keenness of judgment that enabled him to meet any situation and settle matters to the satisfaction of all contending parties. He was a lover of fine horses, and never appeared on the streets of Ardmore or elsewhere that he did not bestride a fine animal. While he prided himself upon being a good judge of livestock and especially of horses, he was never adverse to trading upon his own judgment and it is also recorded that he did not always get the better of the deal. If he got "stung" in a horse trade, he kept his own counsel and chances were better than even that someone else would feel the touch of disappointment later on. John Thomas was three times married and reared a large family of sons and daughters, most of whom are living and operating farms of their own. His widow now lives in Ardmore with one of her daughters. Most of the territory between the towns of Daugherty and Baum at one time was under his control and at the time of his death he was living on the home place near Baum in a house built almost entirely of black walnut lumber that still stands as staunch today as it did a half century ago when first erected. Pioneers about the Baum and Nickel Hill section owe a great deal of their present condition to the foresight of John Thomas who, when selecting land for himself and kindred, chose that beautiful Washita river valley that cannot be surpassed for location and fertility in Southern Oklahoma. ************************************************************************ The following are obits written on him. I do have the originals Sturdy Oak of Pioneer Days;. Was an Unfailing Friend of the Needy; John Thomas Dies at 80. One of the pioneer citizens was lost to Carter county Friday afternoon, when death claimed John Thomas of Baum, who died at 6o'clock after a brief illness. Funeral services were conducted at the church at Baum Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock followed by interment in the cemetery at that place. He is survived by his wife and six children, all of whom are lining in this immediate vicinity and were with him when the end came; the survivors are: Mrs. Mary Beam, of Mannsville, John Thomas, Jr., and Nolan Thomas of Baum, Mrs. Felsa McAlester and Mrs. Alta Smith, of Baum and Mrs. Lavera Fisher of Ardmore. Mr. Thomas, "The Tall Sycamore of the Washita" as he was known to his friends, was born near Boggy Depot in the Chickasaw Nation, May 8, 1846 and was therefore in his 80th year at the time of his death. For over forty years he has lived and reared his family at the place where he died, and accumulated some of the most fertile acres in the Washita valley. He was a friend to everybody and universally liked. He was fair in dealing with the white man, and the white people of the section were indebted to him for many acts that made the going easier for them when they essayed to settle among the Indian citizens. He was a Mason and Odd Fellow, and took an active interest in all affairs of the two organizations. A Commanding Figure Mr. Thomas was a man of striking personality, tall and commanding. Even to the day of his death he was as straight as the proverbial arrow and looked the world directly in the face as he addressed it. He was above board in all his dealings, and leaves hundreds to mourn his loss who have at some time or other benefited by his acquaintance. ************************************************************************ Shock to Pioneers. Condolence was showered upon the bereaved family by the hundreds of former acquaintances of the deceased who regret exceedingly that death has put an end to a long and useful life, and a noble character. The Masonic order had charge of the services at the church led by J. A. Gilliam. Preceding the Masonic services.the Odd Fellows, of which deceased also was a member, also conducted services. ************************************************************************ JOHN THOMAS TO BE BURIED SUNDAY Pioneer Who Spent Many Years of Life in County Dies at His Home. John Thomas, 83 year old pioneer ranchman and land owner, died at his home at Baum yesterday afternoon at 6 p. m. Mr. Thomas will be buried Sunday afternoon at the Baum cemetery with services preceding from a church at Baum. Hid body was taken in charge by Harvey Brothers undertaking establishment yesterday evening and will be returned to his home at Baum today a 3 o'clock, where it will remain until funeral hour at 3 o' clock Sunday. Mr. Thomas has spent nearly all of his life in Carter county and is one of the most widely known men in southwest Oklahoma. He was a former rancher and was the owner of considerable land in the Baum district. He is survived by a large number of relatives