Thomas CHILDERS, was born in 1810, in what was Miami County, Ohio, at the time. A few years later this area would become Shelby County, Ohio, as the population grew. He was the son of pioneers, John and Jane Childers, they having first settled in this wilderness area at least by 1798. He had seven known brothers and sisters. All of which lived to adulthood. Their names were that of JOHN, JAMES, JOSEPH, HARVEY, SUSAN, PHOEBE JANE, and ELIZABETH. John CHILDERS, Thomas CHILDERS' father was a veteran of the War of 1812, died in 1826, in Shelby County, Ohio when THOMAS was but 16 years of age.The Childers homestead in Ohio would later become part of the Miami and Erie canal. Thomas married Sarah Hopkins in Ohio in 1831, she was born in the state of New York about 1807. Of this union at least 6 children are known, Elizabeth J. born in Ohio in 1832, an unknown daughter born in Lake County in 1835 (died in infancy), Joseph G. born in 1837 in Indiana, George W. born 1839, in Indiana, Susan born 1841 in Indiana, and John born in Indiana as well in 1843.In 1834 Thomas, wife Sarah, daughter Elizabeth, and possibly brother Joseph G. Childers left Shelby County Ohio for Lake County, Indiana. Wife, Sarah was quite possibly pregnant at the time along with having two year old in arms. Given popular trails at the time, the family most likely traveled due north from their home towards Fort Wayne, Indiana. Then in a western direction across northern Indiana entering Lake County on the trail of what is now Ridge Road. Leaving on the end of September or the early part of October they arrived at Lake County at the end of the month. This young couple in their early 20's, settled at first on section 17 in Cedar Creek. Thomas after living his life on the frontier must have had an eye for a good home site in settling here. Unfortunately, so did the native Americans, that had lived there for time eternal. Seems that this land had been promised to the Indians by recent treaty with the United States government. Thomas would later move his family to the south of what would someday be the town of Lowell, Thomas was a member of the squatters union, and at a later date a road commissioner in Porter County. There were several epidemics of scarlet fever during this early time in history in northern Indiana, this could have been the cause of Thomas' death some time in the late 1840's.Of Thomas' children two of his youngest sons served in the Civil War, George W. and John. George would later become a successful farmer in Jasper County and active in the G. A. R. John, Thomas', youngest son would become ill shortly after joining the 73rd Indiana, and die just out side of Nashville, Tenn. of measles. As far as it is known he lies in peace there still. His widow would remarry Nicholas Haskins in November of 1850 and then later move to Kansas.

Source: Submitted by: Jack Childers - INJACK1@aol.com