Thomas Family - Pleasant HIll - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

THOMAS FAMILY -- Bristle Ridge / Pleasant Hill area

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 4 June 1897 p 7

NUMBER THIRTEEN. Rev. Joel Thomas is here visiting his old home,  He is quite frail.

Pleasant Hill Christian church had a line Memorial service. The pastor, Rev. D. Powell, preached an excellent sermon.

Mrs. Asa Thomas, of Brazil, lnd., died recently of heart trouble. Mr. una Mrs. Thomas lived many years near old Pleasant Hill where they were well and favorably known.

The Ministerial Institute at Pleasant Hill Christian church last week was quite well attended, but not nearly all who were on the programme were present. Rev. C. A. Brown, of Lebanon, was elected president Rev. J. W. Dudley, of Linden, vice-president, and Kev. R. II. Gott. of Mellott, secretary. On Wednesday all of the pioneer ministers of the conference were pre-ent. They had not all been together for a number of years. They were: John S. Maxwell, Joel Thomas, Thomas Quillen. Lewis Bannon and A. R. Heath. Mr. Maxwell is in his 84th year and has been preaching more than sixty years. Mr. Thomas is in his 82d year and commenced preaching in 1840. Mr. Quillen is in his 8Oth year and has been a preacher forty-five years. Mr. Bannon is 78 years old and has been preaching forty-three years. Mr. Heath is 72 years old and has been preaching more than forty years.

The THOMAS’

Thirty-five years ago there lived in this county within a circumference of five miles and within three miles of Pleasant Hill, thirteen Thomas' heads of families, as follows: Smith, Robert, Joel, Asa, George, Sol, John M., William, Abe, Mike, Ludlow, James and Silas. Today but two of middle life remain, WHH and JD. Such is the change wrought in a few brief fleeting years.

The Thomas' were of German descent and came to this country at a very early date. The great grandfather lived in Virginia and died there at a great age. His name was Michael. His son, Abram, was a Revolutionary soldier and came to Ohio at an early day. He died at the age of 88 years and is remembered by a number of the grandsons mentioned above. Marvelous stories are told of the strength and activity, courage and endurance of the early Thomas. The Thomas' came here from Ohio.

Adam, the father of Smith, Robert, Joel, Asa, George and Sol, settled three miles south of Pleasant Hill. He was a minister in the Christian church and was a preacher of some prominence in his day. He died at the age of 77 and has been dead nearly forty years.

Smith, his son, partly reared his family here, living south of town. He is now living with a son in Missouri and is 90  years old. A daughter, Mrs. John McWhinney, lives near Waynetown.

Robert was many years a resident of Pleasant Hill. He was lame and walked with a cane from boyhood. He was Justice of the Peace, worked at plastering and clerked some. He was secretary of the Western Indiana Christian Conference for thirty years. He was a good singer and was considered a leader of old-time church music. He had no family save a wife. Both have been dead a -lumber of years.

Joel, the well known minister in the Christian church, lived on a farm, two miles south of town. He has been a preacher fifty-five years and is noted for his force of character and plain practical preaching. On his second marriage he moved to Ohio where he has since lived. He is in the 82 year of his age and is in declining health. He has one son, J. W. S in Keithsburg, Ill and one. W. H.H., here on his father's old farm. Asa lived near town and was a plasterer by trade. He went away from here years ago and now lives in Brazil. His wife, who recently died, was a daughter of his cousin, Dr. Thomas.

George, another brother, lived on a farm three miles east of town. On the death of his wife he went away and now lives at Wynose, Ind.

Sol lived here a few years after his marriage and went west.

Micheal was a brother of Adam and the father of Dr. John M., William and Mike. He died in Ohio more than 75 years ago. The Doctor lived on a farm near town and was a prominent physician in his day, having a lucrative practice. He had an interesting family, the oldest of whom was Ludlow, who owned a farm two miles east of town, from whom the Lud Thomas school house derived its name. Ludlow was a prominent citizen here many years. He is dead and none of his family are near save a daughter in Mellott, Mrs. Luella Lee. His son. Dr. C. M., is in Southern Indiana. Seth, one of the Doctor's sons, was one of the most noted characters in this country. He is said to be practicing medicine in Nebraska. Fry, the youngest son, is the only representative of the Doctor's family in this county. He lives near Crawfordsville.

William lived four miles south of town, where he owned a farm. He has long since been dead. He has a son. Alonzo, in this county. Abram owned a farm near his brother William. He and his wife have both been dead more than 30 years. None of their family are here. Mike owned the farm Mr. Rust bought of W. H. H. Thomas. He went back to Ohio 30 years ago. James lived on Bristle Ridge and was a neighbor to Abe Clough, with whom he was always at political enmity, Clough being a "radical Democrat and Thomas a conservative Republican.” William, his father, a brother to Adam and Michael, spent his declining days with his son and died at the age of 83. James was a prosperous farmer and had an interesting family. He died at the age of 61. After his death his widow, as did the widow of the Doctor, lived in Pleasant Hill to a ripe old age- Representatives of his family here are Mrs. John C. Dinwiddy, Mrs. W. W. Tiffany. Mrs. Dr. Detchon, of New Richmond, and Mrs. Dr. Hurt, of Waynetown. One son, William, lives in Rossville, Ill.

Silas came here from Ohio 40 years ago. His father, Samuel, a brother to Adam, Michael and William, died in Ohio at the age of 88. He is in the 79th year of his age and is in feeble health. He has one son, J. D. who lives with him.

The Thomas' were mostly religious, many of them were devoted Christians and earnestly engaged in church work and were influential and useful members of society. Socially they were unequalled, jovial, genial, hospitable and obliging. Never were two houses in this county surpassed for mirth and social entertainment, or so noted for hilarious enjoyment as were the Jim Thomas and Dock Thomas houses. Politically the Thomas' were divided. The Doctor and his brothers were Democrats however, he was a war Democrat and captain of the home guards for a time and after the war a Republican. Ludlow was always a Republican. The Doctor, Abram and Mike each lost a son in the army. It is told on the Doctor that while he was captain of the home guards and was drilling them, he gave the command: "Double quick, march!" Two well known middle aged citizens were in the lead and at, the command started on the run and increased their speed until they were at their level best, running away from the Captain without the word of command, ran into a tree top. The Doctor caught up and somewhat enraged, ordered in his peculiar tones: "You would better march backwards out of that tree top now!"