THE THOMAS FAMILY

From the 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 594:

The Thomas Family

(Post-office, Nevada).

   Just east of the city of Nevada, in Center township, this well respected family is located, actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, devoting all their energies to the proper and successful conduct of their farming interests.  Such determination when properly applied as in the present instance cannot fail of substantial and satisfactory results.  Samuel and Amelia (Yelton) Thomas, the senior members of the family, were native, respectively, of Maryland and Kentucky, the former being born in 1805 and the later in 1809.  He was of Welch-English origin, while his wife was of German descent.  In 1855, moving to Clark county, Ind., he continued to remain there until 1860, when he came to Vernon county, Mo., and here his time was occupied in tilling the soil until 1882, when he died.  His worthy companion still survives.  Their marriage resulted in 11 children, and of these seven were boys; five of the children are deceased.  Two sons were in Hunter's regiment during the war, Philip and Brazil; the latter was a gallant soldier for two years, but finally at the battle of Prairie Grove laid down his life on his country's alter.  Philip's military career only lasted some six months; he is now in Colorado.  John J. Thomas, another son, was among the first to enlist in the Confederate army, joining the army of Northern Virginia, with which he took part in all the most important battles until Lee's surrender at Appomattox.  William Thomas, the eldest boy, was a Federal soldier, and as a member of Sherman's army participated in the march to the sea.  His death occurred on March 7th, 1886, in the Indian Territory.  There was still another soldier in this family, Samuel, who served in the Confederate command under John Morgan.  He returned home in safety and died in July, 1870.  Jesse V. Thomas was born in Campbell county, Ky., May 29, 1840, and in April, 1872, was married to Miss Martha E. Gabbert, who has borne him three children, Bertie R., Samuel M. and Mary E.  In connection with his brother, Richard J., Mr. Thomas owns a valuable farm of 80 acres, which is being managed to good advantage.  Richard J. Thomas is unmarried and makes his home with his mother.  Politically these brothers are strong Democrats.  Their sister, Eliza A., was married in 1860 to John J. Stark, of Indiana, who came to Missouri with the Thomas family and has since remained with them, occupied partly in farming.  But in 1869 he became a minister of the Christian Church, and since then has devoted his time to that sacred calling.  He, too, was a Southern sympathizer during the war and in common with others suffered many hardships.  His two sons, Samuel K. and Philip, are also engaged in the ministry and in teaching.  Mary J. Thomas was married in 1869 to Cal. Brown, and emigrated to Iowa where one son was born to them, Branch O.  She departed this life in 1882.  Francis J. Thomas was married to C. P. McRay, and two children were given them, Blanche and Rockey.  They still reside in Nevada, his occupation being merchandising.

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