Families - Thomas
William Dilley Thomas of Victoria
1 William Dilley Thomas
Birth: 20 Sep 1818, Guernsey, Ohio
Death: 20 May 1899, Illinois
Burial: Lafayette, Stark, Illinois, Lafayette Cemetery
Father: Enoch Thomas (1785-1857)
Mother: Anna Ayres Dilley (1789-1883)
His marriage certificate is registered in Guernsey county, #3730. He was
married by Thomas McCLeary and the marriage was registered on 4 August 1841.
He is listed in the 1850 Richland township, Guernsey county, Ohio census,
age 31 and a farmer, born in Pennsylvania. William D. farmed in Ohio and was
the owner of a woolen factory for two years, then sold out and moved to
Illinois by wagon where he farmed and raised stock. The first 7 children
were born in Guernsey County, the last four in Knox County, Illinois.
William D moved to Illinois after his parents died as did his brother James.
W.D. Thomas is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria
township. He is 40 with $800 in real estate. He is found in the 1870
Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township. He is age 51, a farmer,
born in Ohio. He is found in the 1880 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria
township. He is age 61, a farmer born in Ohio with a father born in Wales
and a mother born in New Jersey. His son Elwood bought the Illinois farms
after his father's death from his brothers and sisters in 1902.
Spouse: Lavinia Kinney, daughter of David Kinney and Mary Shafer
Birth: 2 Sep 1818, Burks, Pennsylvania
Death: 26 Feb 1913, Lafayette, Stark, Illinois
Marr: 3 Jun 1841, Guernsey County, Ohio
Children:
James L (1842-1862)
Henry Bascom (1844-1860)
Margaret Ann (1846-1943)
John Fletcher (1848-)
William Franklin (1850-1929)
Mary Caroline (1852-1932)
Erastus R. (1854-1939)
Elwood (1856-1950)
Ruth E (1858-)
Abraham Lincoln (1860-1933)
Samuel (1862-)
1.1 James L Thomas
Birth: 26 May 1842, Guernsey County, Ohio
Death: 30 Dec 1862, Gallatin, Tennessee, Civil War
Burial: Victoria, Knox, Illinois, Salem Cemetery
He is listed in the 1850 Richland township, Guernsey county, Ohio census,
age 8 and born in Ohio. James is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox
county, Victoria township. He is age 18, born in Ohio. He died in the Civil
War in Gallatin but is buried in Knox County. He joined the service Aug 10,
1862 in Truro, Knox County, Illinois. He was mustered into service 2 Sep
1862. He was 21, 5' 6 1/2" tall and had light hair and blue eyes. He was a
farmer who died 30 Dec 1862 of disease. He was single. He is buried in the
Salem cemetery.
1.2 Henry Bascom Thomas
Birth: 31 Jan 1844, Guernsey County, Ohio
Death: 14 Sep 1860
Burial: Victoria, Knox, Illinois, Salem Cemetery
He died young sometime after 1850 and is buried in the Salem cemetery. He is
listed in the 1850 Richland township, Guernsey county, Ohio census, age 7
and born in Ohio. Henry is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox county,
Victoria township. He is age 16. He is next to James L, who died in the
Civil War.
1.3 Margaret Ann Thomas
Birth: 10 Jan 1846, Guernsey County, Ohio
Death: 15 Apr 1943, Stark, Illinois
Burial: Stark, Illinois, McCLenahan Cemetery
She is listed in the 1850 Richland township, Guernsey county, Ohio census,
age 5 and born in Ohio. She is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox
county, Victoria township. She is called Ann, age 14, born in Ohio. She is
found in the 1870 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township. She is
age 24 and living at home. She married Elijah J McClanahan in Knox County.
They had 5 children; Edna D., Daniel, Carl D., Franklin and Bert. She lived
in Toulon, Illinois when her brother E. R. died. She died at age 97 and was
believed to have been the last surviving person who heard the
Lincoln/Douglas debates at Galesburg in October of 1858. She was a guest of
honor at the 80th anniversary of the Lincoln/Douglas debate. She was born in
Ohio and moved west with her parents in a covered wagon. She was buried from
her home in Toulon on Sunday afternoon. Services were conducted by Rev. G.
H. McClintock, pastor of the Congregational Church in Wyoming. She was
buried in the McCLenahan cemetery south of LaFayette.
Spouse: Elijah J McClanahan
Birth: 1827, Rush, Indiana
Marr: 16 Dec 1873, Galesburg, Knox, Illinois
Children:
Edna D (1874-1968)
Daniel (1876-1954)
Carl D (1877-1961)
Franklin Clifton (1879-)
Bert Clariden (1882-~1958)
1.3.1 Edna D McClanahan
Birth: 18 Oct 1874, Lafayette, Illinois
Death: 4 Jan 1968, Toulon, Illinois
Edna died at age 93 at the Kewanee Public Hospital. She was the last member
of her family to die. She had attended the LaFayette District School and
graduated from the Toulon Academy in 1895, she then attended Valparaiso
University. She was a member of Eastern Star, Chapter BY, PEO and a member
of the Toulon Women's Club. She was a member of the Toulon Congregational
Church. Funeral was arranged by the Kidd Funeral Home.
1.3.2 Daniel McClenahan
Birth: 30 Oct 1876, Lafayette, Stark, Illinois
Death: 24 May 1954, Lincoln, Nebraska
Burial: Lafayette, Stark, Illinois, McCLenahan Cemetery
He died at age 82, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was a retired lawyer. He died in
his sleep. Services were held at the McClenahan Cemetery. The Rev. Eugene C.
Anderson of the Toulon Baptist church officiated.
1.3.3 Carl D McClanahan
Birth: 15 Dec 1877, McClenahan farm, Lafayette, Stark, Illinois
Death: 1961, Toulon, Stark, Illinois
Burial: Toulon, Stark, Illinois
He was a druggist in Toulon, he was a graduate of the University of Illinois
in Chicago, graduating in 1903. He worked at Ravenswood for one year and
then came to Toulon. He worked at the Cover Drugstore until 1909 when he
purchased the Harvey Wilson Drugstore which he operated until he died. He
was a member of Toulon lodge 93, AF and AM. He never married. Funeral was
held at the Kidd brothers. The Rev. Joseph Clay, pastor at the Toulon
Congregational Church officiated.
1.3.4 Franklin Clifton McClanahan
Birth: 2 Dec 1879, Goshen, Stark, Illinois
Death: Toulon, Stark, Illinois
Frank was born in Goshen Township near Lafayette. He was educated in
LaFayette schools and in 1901, he entered the Northwestern University Dental
School, graduating in May of 1904. He established a dental practice in
Toulon where he worked for 54 years. He was active in the old Christian
Church of Toulon and when that disbanded, he became a member of the
Congregational Church. His funeral arrangements were by Kidd Funeral Home in
Toulon.
Spouse: Lucille Blanche Cary
Death: 1966
Marr: 22 Dec 1903
Children: Cary, Frank
1.3.5 Bert Clariden McClanahan
Birth: 24 Mar 1882, Lafayette, Stark, Illinois
Death: abt 1958
Burial: Lafayette, Stark, Illinois, McCLenahan Cemetery
He was born at the farm home near LaFayette where he resided his whole life.
He attended Stark County schools and graduated from the Toulon Academy. He
attended Beloit College for one year and studied at a business college in
Peoria. He was elected supervisor of the Goshen Township in 1951 and held
that position until his death. He was a member of the Lafayette Methodist
Church. He died at Rockford Memorial Hospital shortly after having surgery.
He was buried by the Kidd Funeral Home with services at the Methodist
Church. The Rev. Elmer Palmer officiated.
Spouse: Mabel Blanche King
Marr: 1 Oct 1903, Victoria, Stark, Illinois
Children: John H, Joyce, Gladys, Frances
1.4 John Fletcher Thomas
Birth: 6 Mar 1848, Guernsey, Ohio
He is listed in the 1850 Richland township, Guernsey county, Ohio census,
age 2 and born in Ohio. John is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox
county, Victoria township. He is age 12. He is found in the 1870 Illinois
census, Knox county, Victoria township. He is age 22 and living at home. He
married Elizabeth Burch and they had three children, John B., Ella and
Sonoria.
Spouse: Elizabeth M Burch
Birth: abt 1853, Saulsburg, Green, Ohio
Marr: 9 Aug 1879, Toulon, Stark, Illinois
Children: John D. Ella, Sonoria
1.5 William Franklin Thomas
Birth: 10 Jun 1850, Guernsey, Ohio
Death: 4 Feb 1929, Arapahoe, Furnas, Nebraska
Burial: Arapahoe, Furnas, Nebraska, Arapahoe Cemetery
William is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria
township. He is age 10 and born in Ohio. He is found in the 1870 Illinois
census, Knox county, Victoria township. He is age 20 and living at home. He
married Eliza Patty and had two children Norris and Maude. Their marriage
took place in Stark County even though they both lived in Knox County.
William was 27 and Eliza was 18. They were married by a minister. William
was a farmer. He is found in the 1900 Nebraska census, Gosper County, East
Muddy township. He is age 49 and a widower, living with his daughter. He is
a farmer who owns his unmortgaged farm.
Spouse: Eliza J Patty
Birth: abt 1860, Victoria, Knox, Illinois
Marr: 10 Feb 1878, West Jersey, Stark, Illinois
Children: Norris, Maud
Norris, the only son of William died in an accident at age 15 and nine
months.. His skull was crushed when he tumbled off a hay wagon that was
coming home from a spelling bee at the Kaiser school. The funeral was held
at the Methodist Episcopal church and services were conducted by Rev. Moore.
Burial was at the Elwood cemetery.
Maud was born Jan 1882, Illinois. She is found in the 1900 Nebraska census,
Gosper County, East Muddy township. She is age 18 and living with her
father. She is found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy
township. She is married and has 3 children but the name of her husband is
too blurry to read, He is initial F, age 34 , they have been married for 8
years. Maud is 27 years old. She was born in Illinois as was her husband.
The children are Maggie, Walter and Roy. Her father William is living with
them, age 54 and he has his own income.
1.6 Mary Caroline Thomas
Birth: 15 Sep 1852, Guernsey, Ohio
Death: 1932, Kewaunee, Henry, Illinois
Mary is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township.
She is age 8 and born in Ohio. She is found in the 1870 Illinois census,
Knox county, Victoria township. She is age 18 and living at home. She is
found in the 1880 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township. She is
age 26 and keeping house, no children. She was a member of the First Baptist
Church.
Spouse: George R Mills
Birth: 21 Nov 1849, Rochester, New York
Death: 3 Jul 1921, Kewaunee, Henry, Illinois
Marr: 16 Nov 1873, Galesburg, Knox, Illinois
Children: Estella (1881-1965) Bert L (1883-1959) Bessie (1885-1931) Lulu
1.7 Erastus R. Thomas
Birth: 12 Mar 1854, Guernsey, Ohio
Death: 20 Nov 1939, Arapahoe, Furnas, Nebraska
Burial: 22 Nov 1939, Arapahoe, Furnas, Nebraska
Erastus is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria
township. He is age 6 and born in Ohio. He is found in the 1870 Illinois
census, Knox county, Victoria township. He is age 16 and living at home.
Erastus was always called E R or Ras. He came to Nebraska from Illinois with
his two brothers, Elwood and Lincoln and two cousins John and Beecher
Thomas. They squatted on land in Gosper county that later became E R's
homestead. A copy of the land grant for the NW quarter of section 21 in
township 6 north of range 23, west of the sixth principal meridian in
Nebraska containing 160 acres, dated 8 April 1890 was found in the papers of
Mary Forney. John stayed in Nebraska, becoming a teacher and then a
superintendent near North Platte. Verbal history has them arriving in 1878
or 1879. E. R. had been to Nebraska 2 or 3 years earlier to Oxford before
the railroad was built. He worked for a man called J. Cole and another man
called Adam Walter. He went back to Illinois for another 6 months and then
returned with his brothers and cousins. Family history says they came in a
covered wagon to Gosper County planning to run a cattle ranch but
homesteaders came so fast that E. R. filed on squatters rights. His
homestead papers are dated 8 April 1890 and the description of the land is
the southwest quarter of section 21, township 6, range north of 23rd west of
the 6th meridian. He had to prove up on the claim so had to have been there
for several years prior to the date on the papers. He knew Jerusha Stevenson
from Illinois and returned there to marry her on 22 August 1889, they
returned to Gosper County to live. He had built a house before bringing
Jerusha home, it was small partially a dugout, that had been E. R.'s
dwelling. The house had a summer kitchen and the cooking stove was a small
stove called a Topsy. Wood was put up from the creek and corn cobs were
burnt for heat and cooking, very little coal was used. Elwood settled one
and a half miles north and one mile east of E. R. By the time Lincoln was
old enough to file there was no land available and he settled near Wallace.
Beecher Thomas returned to Illinois and later settled in Missouri. E. R.
carried mail in the early days and was for many years a commissioner in
Gosper County. Jerusha and E. R. had a large family and the children
attended the Gosper School. Some early teachers were, Edith Faris, Emily
Erickson, Edith Wilson, Minnie Horn, Emma Stoll and Sarah Basinger.
Methodist services were held in the schoolhouse until a church was built.
Some of the neighbors were the families of Ed Heizer, the Hutchcrofts, Tom
Carter, Will Carter, Clayton Hesser, the Leggotts, the Stolls, B.F. Downers,
Ira Downers, the Kaisers, the Blackmans, Charlie Kropf, George Strang, the
Glasers. Jobe and Roy Downer had the Gosper store for awhile and Fred
Thompson who married a Downer girl had the first automobile. The family
raised a big garden, salted down meat and had apple, pear, cherry, apricot,
and mulberry trees. They used wild grapes and plums for fruit as well. E. R.
farmed with four head of horses using a walking plow, walking lister, two
row corn planter that worked by pulling a lever every time the horse took a
step, a Walter-A-Wood binder and his crops included corn, wheat, some oats,
millet and cane for the livestock feed. They sold some of the wheat but fed
most of the corn. They had chickens and milk cows. The Farnholz's had some
sheep and Mrs. Farnholz carded wool and spun yarn but sheep were rare. The
barn and it's contents burned when E. R. and Jerusha were in Rochester,
where Jerusha had surgery. He is found in the 1900 Nebraska census living in
East Muddy, He has been married 11 years and they have 5 living children.
Cornelius and Tyrilla Bedford Stevenson came from Illinois and lived with E.
R. and Jerusha part of the time and the Oliver Stevenson's part of the time.
He is found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy township.
He is age 56 and a farmer. ER and Jerusha moved to Arapahoe shortly before
Jerusha died in 1917. Percy Thomas and his wife Ethel Major Thomas moved to
the homeplace and farmed there for some years. Percy sold the farm to Alfred
Farr and moved to a place near Holbrook. E. R. lived with Nina and Carey
Bratt south of Arapahoe until he died. His death certificate lists his birth
place as Knox County, Illinois and cause of death as sarcoma of the spine.
He was 85 and Nina is the informant on his death. Funeral services were held
Wednesday at 2:30 pm at the Methodist church in Arapahoe. Rev. E. C. Moore
presided with the Rev. E. C. Moore delivering the sermon. Special music was
furnished by Mrs. Vesper Hill and Mrs. Willard Baxter accompanied at the
piano by Mrs. Austin Learned. Honorary pallbearers were Chas. Kropf, George
Moore, Robert Stout, Mark Prime, J. M. Barnes, Wm. Sanders and A. V.
Ireland. Pallbearers were O. W. Kropf, Chas. Murdoch of Orleans, Oscar
Murdoch, Glenn Eland, Ralph Eland and Sam Hesser. His will was probated on 1
Dec 1939 and his property was left to his living children to divide with the
exception of Lewis who owed him $626.00, that amount was to be cancelled as
Lewis's share of the estate. He owned $6000.00 in Nebraska real estate and
$1000.00 in foreign states and about $200.00 in personal property.
Spouse: Jerusha Anne Stevenson, daughter of Cornelius Stevenson and Tyrilla
Bedford
Birth: 19 Aug 1865, Elmore, Peoria, Illinois
Death: 27 Feb 1917, Arapahoe, Furnas, Nebraska
Marr: 22 May 1889, Galesburg, Knox, Illinois
Children:
Tyrrilla Lavina (1890-1894)
Lewis Guild (1891-1967)
Percy Erastus (1893-1986)
Nina Alzina (1895-1970)
James Earl (1896-1989)
Anna Caroline (1898-)
Edith Elsie (1900-1983)
Retta Irene (1902-1960)
Ruth Mildred (1904-)
Mary Esther (1907-1994)
1.7.1 Tyrrilla Lavina Thomas
Birth: 20 Mar 1890, Gosper, Nebraska
Death: 13 Mar 1894, Elwood, Gosper, Nebraska
Burial: 13 Mar 1894, Elwood, Gosper, Nebraska, Elwood Cemetery
Died of Scarlet Fever. She was born at the new homestead in Gosper County.
She is buried at the Elwood Cemetery in lot 23 D, she died at age 3 years,
11 months and 23 days.
1.7.2 Lewis Guild Thomas
Birth: 1 Dec 1891, Gosper, Nebraska
Death: 5 Jun 1967, McCook, Nebraska
Burial: Gosper, Nebraska, Salem Cemetery
Lewis Guild was named for a Methodist minister who was the husband of his
father's sister Ruth. He was raised on the family homestead at near
Smithfield and went to school and church in Gosper. He is found in the 1900
Nebraska census, Gosper County, East Muddy township. He is age 8 and in
school. He is found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy
township. He is age 18 and a farm laborer. He joined the Salem Lutheran
Church in 1914 through confirmation and was married there in 1915. His wife
died in childbirth with twins and he had help from his sisters to raise
them. Nina and Carey Bratt came to help with the children. When they moved
to Hayes County, Nebraska, Lewis moved with them. Nina had the twins and
Berniece in their young years and also cared for her grandfather. Lewis
later moved to a farm southeast of Arapahoe and from there to a farm near
Hendley, Nebraska. He later moved to a farm near Beaver City. He always
raised horses. His obituary in the Ellwood bulletin on 8 June 1967 states
that he passed away after a lingering illness. He was 75 and living in
McCook. He had farmed in the Salem community and for Bill Bogle. He was
survived by his five children. Services were held at Our Redeemer Lutheran
Church on Friday with the Reverend E. A. Slack presiding. He is buried by
his wife in the Salem Cemetery.
Spouse: Mabel Sophia Hanna Holst
Birth: 7 Jan 1896
Death: 7 Apr 1924, Gosper, Nebraska
Marr: 25 Dec 1915, Nebraska
Children: Eva Elizabeth, Clifford, Bernice Adeline, Esther, Edith
1.7.3 Percy Erastus Thomas
Birth: 10 Apr 1893, Arapahoe, Furnas, Nebraska
Death: 20 Jan 1986, Mission, Hidalgo, Texas
Burial: 23 Jan 1986, Arapahoe, Furnas, Nebraska
In notes from John Collinson, Percy's birth date is given as 1893. Percy was
born on the Thomas homestead in Gosper, County, Nebraska. He is found in the
1900 Nebraska census, Gosper County, East Muddy township. He is age 7 and in
school. He attended school in Gosper and started high school in Arapahoe. He
left home at about 15 and worked for farmers in the neighborhood. He is
found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy township. He is
a farm laborer. He married at 23 to Ethel May Major and his occupation is
listed as farmer. He was baptized before 1908 according to membership rolls
of the Methodist Church in Arapahoe. They transferred from the church in
Gosper. His obituary also says that he was born in 1893 and so does his son
Merle. He was born on the Thomas homestead in Gosper County and attended
school in Gosper County and Arapahoe before he started farming. He farmed
until just after his wife died in 1952 and then sold the farm. He worked as
a custodian in the school in Holbrook for many years. He had a house in
Arapahoe, lived with his sister Edith for awhile but had just moved into
senior apartments when he died. He was still driving and kept a notebook
with all the mileage in the glove compartment as does his son Howard and his
granddaughter Pat. He was active in the I00F and Rebekah Lodges. He went to
the Odd Fellows Hall almost every Friday. He dated a woman in McCook called
Bessie for many years, and his sons could never figure out why he was out so
late at night. She died several years before Percy. Percy was visiting his
son Howard in Texas when he became ill, He died unexpectedly there after
recovering for surgery for an obstructed bowel. His SS# was 508-05-2732 and
was issued in Nebraska. His funeral services were held at the Arapahoe First
United Methodist Church with the Reverend Steven Todd officiating. A rousing
rendition of one of the family's favorite songs, Amazing Grace, was sung and
spam casserole was served in the church basement before everyone went to the
Arapahoe Cemetery for the internment. Jake McCoy, Calvin Faw, Don Andrew's
Jr., Lester Haussler, Al Bly and Norman Dunbar were pallbearers, all are
family members. Williamson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Percy
had strong opinions about many things and was fond of proposing higher
education, all his sons had PhD's or MD's, however. He left a signed picture
of Geraldine Ferraro, Democratic candidate for vice president, it remains in
the family. His will left a quarter of his estate to his son Howard, a
quarter to his son Merle, a quarter to his son Walter, (who predeceased him,
his share went to his daughter Linda) and a quarter to the children of his
daughter Grace who died in the 1950's. The estate was settled amicably and
the grandchildren received mementos. I still have in my garden the metal
sign that says Percy Thomas that he had in front of his apartment.
Spouse: Ethel May Major, daughter of James Major and Effie Anne Paine
Birth: 15 Mar 1892, Smithfield, Gosper, Nebraska
Death: 16 Aug 1952, Cambridge, Furnas, Nebraska, Republican Val.
Marr: 27 Dec 1916, Smithfield, Gosper, Nebraska
Children:
Howard Major (1918-)
Walter Ivan (1919-1984)
Grace Ethel (1920-1960)
Leland Earl (1922-1944)
Merle James (1930-1996)
1.7.4 Nina Alzina Thomas
Birth: 6 Jan 1895, Gosper, Nebraska
Death: 21 May 1970, Sioux City, Iowa
Burial: Sioux City, Iowa
She is found in the 1900 Nebraska census, Gosper County, East Muddy
township, age 5. She is found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county,
East Muddy township. She is age 15 and in school. Nina and Carey moved to
help Lewis after his wife died and also cared for E. R. in their home. They
moved to Hayes County, Nebraska and that is where Mary Lou was born,
Berniece and Edith and Esther lived with Nina all their school years. In
1931 Nina and Carey moved back to Arapahoe to a farm two and a half miles
south of town. They farmed and had a large garden. Nina always had flowers
even though it was so dry. They belonged to the Methodist Church. In 1952,
they moved to a farm outside Sioux City, Iowa and Nina died there in 1970.
After her death, Carey moved to Akron where Mary Lou lived. Howard Thomas
and family lived in Vermillion, South Dakota from 1952 to 1958 and visited
Nina and Carey often. There exists a family recipe called Aunt Nina's
Cookies that is often used. The Thomas's sent their collie BoBo to live with
Nina and Carey when he was exiled from town for trying to eat the mailman
and the milkman. Unfortunately, he was shot by a neighboring farmer soon
after.
Spouse: Carey D Bratt
Birth: 9 Aug 1896, Arapahoe, Nebraska
Death: 19 Jun 1978, Akron, Ohio
Marr: 21 Apr 1920
Children: Mary Lou
1.7.5 James Earl Thomas
Birth: 3 Aug 1896, Gosper, Nebraska
Death: 25 Jun 1989, Bentonville, Arkansas
Burial: 30 Jun 1989, San Diego, San Diego, California
James was born near Arapahoe on the family farm. He is found in the 1900
Nebraska census, Gosper County, East Muddy township, age 3. He is found in
the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy township. He is age 13
and in school. He was a WW1 US army veteran. He lived in Cotter, Arkansas
for 45 years where he was a crane operator for the US Army Corps of
Engineers. He and his wife moved to El Cajon, California when he retired.
After Minnie died , he moved to Bentonville, Arkansas to live with his
daughter Jackie Wade of Bentonville. His services were held in California
and committal services were at Cryptside Greenwood Bible Mausoleum. His
family gave a $100.00 to the playground equipment fund in Arapahoe because
he loved children.
Spouse: Minnie Jessie Krubeck
Death: abt 1987, El Cajon, California
Marr: 21 Apr 1922
Children: Glen, William, James, Joy, Jacqueline, Dixie
1.7.6 Anna Caroline Thomas
Birth: 11 Feb 1898, Nebraska
She is found in the 1900 Nebraska census, Gosper County, East Muddy
township, age two. She is found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county,
East Muddy township. She is age 12. She lived in Arapahoe all her married
life. Anna moved to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Arapahoe when her
mobility became limited.
Spouse: William Harold Faw
Birth: 9 Jul 1901, Holdredge, Nebraska
Death: 5 Sep 1962
Marr: 12 Sep 1921, Nebraska
Children: Calvin Harold, Barbara Ann, Carol Dee
1.7.7 Edith Elsie Thomas
Birth: 4 Jul 1900, Gosper, Nebraska
Death: 17 Sep 1983, Cambridge, Nebraska
Burial: Arapahoe, Nebraska
She is found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy
township. She is age 9. Edith grew up on the farm in Gosper County and was
only 17 when her mother died. She helped keep house for her father for a
while and married Stacey in 1921 at the Methodist parsonage in Arapahoe.
They lived on the Peg-Leg Thomas place (no relation) and farmed. They moved
in to the brick house on Nebraska avenue with J. O. when Etta died and Stacy
worked at the Equity Store. They then moved to the Morris place owned by Ben
Phillipson, north of Hendley or one half mile south of the Overholser's
large barn. This barn is a local landmark. They stayed there until August of
1939, when they moved south of Arapahoe. The family belonged to the
Methodist Church in Arapahoe. In 1944, they moved into town. Stacy and Edith
were divorced in 1952. Edith who had not worked outside the home went to
work at the Jerpe chicken plant in Oxford, later she took a nursing course
and worked at the Brewster Hospital in Holdrege. She liked working with
preemies, since her first was very premature. After retirement she assisted
elderly people in their home. She also lived for a time with her brother
Percy. She is buried in the Arapahoe cemetery next to ER and Jerusha but on
the other side from Stacy.
Spouse: Stacy Bligh McCoy
Birth: 8 Nov 1899, Trumball, Nebraska
Death: 23 Jul 1978, Memphis, Tennessee
Marr: 23 Jan 1921, Nebraska
Children: Lelia Ann , Stacy Leon, James Doran "Jake", Lucetta Elaine
1.7.8 Retta Irene Thomas
Birth: 22 Apr 1902, Nebraska
Death: 2 Feb 1960, Nebraska
Burial: Beaver City, Nebraska
She is found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy
township. She is age 8. She and Guy farmed in Gosper county.
Spouse: Guy Bly
Birth: 2 Jan 1898
Marr: 22 Jul 1923
Children: Betty Jane, Alfred (Twin), Thomas (Twin), Shirley Ann
1.7.9 Ruth Mildred Thomas
Birth: 27 Apr 1904, Nebraska
She is found in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy
township. She is age 6. She and Guy had a turkey farm in Oxford, Nebraska
for many years.
Spouse: Glen Thulin
Birth: 4 Feb 1902
Death: 13 Aug 1967
Marr: 18 Aug 1929
Children: Milton E , Tony Erastus, Eldon Glen
1.7.10 Mary Esther Thomas
Birth: 5 May 1907, Gosper, Nebraska
Death: Oct 1994, Cleveland, Texas
Burial: Cleveland, Texas
Mary was born in Gosper County, the youngest of a large brood. She is found
in the 1910 Nebraska census, Gosper county, East Muddy township. She is age
2. They moved south of Arapahoe in 1916, just north of the Muddy Creek
Bridge. Her mother died when she was quite young and her sisters helped to
bring her up. Mary graduated from the Arapahoe High School in May of 1924.
She and Carl had no children but her niece Eva Thomas lived with them for a
time. After Carl died she became a home health aide and worked until well
after 80 years. She always said that she was "taking care of old people".
She liked to travel and see new sights. She died of lung cancer in 1994.
Spouse: Carl Forney
Birth: 15 Sep 1904
Death: 13 Mar 1982, Cleveland, Texas
Marr: 1 Mar 1925
1.8 Elwood Thomas
Birth: 18 Apr 1856, Knox, Illinois
Death: 20 Jun 1950, Galesburg, Knox, Illinois
Burial: 22 Jun 1950, Lafayette, Stark, Illinois, Lafayette
Elwood is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township.
He is age 4, born in Ohio. He is found in the 1870 Illinois census, Knox
county, Victoria township. He is age 14 and living at home. Elwood, Nebraska
in Gosper County was named after him. At their centennial, his nephew Percy
was in the parade. He married Salome Keiser and they had one child John W.
R, plus at least two others. Ellwood came to Nebraska from Illinois with his
brothers Erastus R. and Lincoln and his cousins John and Beecher Thomas.
They squatted on the land in Gosper County that later became the homestead
of E. R. Elwood settled on land about a mile and a half north and one mile
west of E. R. However he was again living in Galesburg when E. R. died. He
died at 94 and had lived with his daughter in Galesburg at 162 W. Berrian
for 18 years when he died. He died in the Cottage Hospital of Myocardial
failure. Milo G. Reed was the doctor. Mortuary was the Foley Mortuary in
Galesburg. He had retired from grain farming in 1932. He was a long time
member of the First Methodist Church. He was born in the first log cabin
erected in Knox County.
Spouse: Salome Keiser
Birth: 1867
Death: 1920
Marr: Beatrice, Nebraska
Children: John W Ray, Herbert Elwood (-1974), Harry R, Margaret Phoebe
(1894-1992)
1.9 Ruth E Thomas
Birth: 4 May 1858, Victoria, Knox, Illinois
Ruth is found in the 1860 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township.
She is age 2 and born in Illinois. She is found in the 1870 Illinois census,
Knox county, Victoria township. She is age 12 and living at home .She is
found in the 1880 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township. She is
age 21, living at home. She married a man named Guild and had one child
Ellison. She lived in Los Angeles, California when E. R. died. Lewis Guild
was a minister and Ruth had a nephew named after him. She was still living
in Los Angeles when Elwood died in 1950 at age 90.
Spouse: Lewis T Guild
Birth: abt 1862, Rising Sun, Iowa
Marr: 21 Jun 1884, Galva, Henry, Illinois
Children: Ellison
1.10 Abraham Lincoln Thomas
Birth: 8 Jun 1860, Victoria, Knox, Illinois
Death: 15 Feb 1933, Victoria, Knox, Illinois
Burial: Knox, Illinois, Victoria
He is found in the 1870 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township. He
is age 10 and living at home. He is found in the 1880 Illinois census, Knox
county, Victoria township. He is age 19 and living at home. He came to
Nebraska with his brothers E. R. and Elwood but was too young to file for
land. By the time he was old enough there wasn't land available. He settled
near Wallace, Nebraska. He went to Nebraska in the 1880's and lived in
Marysville, Missouri in 1929. When he died, he had returned to Victoria
Township in Illinois, where he had been born. The car he was riding in was
struck by another automobile and he died 2 and 1/2 hours later. He died in
St. Mary's Hospital. There is no obit but an article and later a funeral
announcement. He was buried the following day from the Methodist church. His
death certificate says that he farmed until 1917. He died at age 72 years, 8
months and 7 days. G. S. Bower was the coroner and an inquest was held. The
undertaker was V.P. Atherton of the Dean Undertaking Company in Galesburg.
His wife survived him. They are both buried in the Victoria Cemetery,
section A.
Spouse: Olive Embrey
Birth: 1869
Death: 1949
Marr: 31 Dec 1887, Lincoln, Nebraska
Children:
Melvin Dilley (1891-1974)
Allen Leroy (1893-1974)
Perry E (1895-1973)
Maude Myrtle (1897-1980)
George C (1902-1976)
Marjorie (1904-)
Ralph (1906-1981)
1.11 Samuel Thomas
Birth: 24 Jun 1862, Victoria, Knox, Illinois
Burial: Greeley, Colorado
He is found in the 1870 Illinois census, Knox county, Victoria township. He
is age 8 and living at home. He is found in the 1880 Illinois census, Knox
county, Victoria township. He is age 19 and living at home. Samuel was
living in Greeley, Colorado when E. R. died.
Spouse: Laura Murphy
Submitted by Pat Thomas, descendent.
