Hugh Thomas

THOMAS, WILLIAMS, CRAWFORD, ARKILLS, DULY, SURFUS

Posted By: Diane Wilson (email)
Date: 5/25/2004 at 22:04:19

Hugh Thomas, residing on section 24, has been a resident of Dayton township since August, 1854. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1809. When three years of age he removed to Wayne county, Ohio, with his parents. His parents, Michael and Agnes Thomas, lived in Wayne county about nineteen years, when they removed to Hancock county, where his mother died. His father died in Indiana.
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Mr. Thomas has been three times married. His first wife was Hannah Williams, a native of Pennsylvania; his second wife was Frances Crawford, and his present wife was Miss Mary S. Arkills, a native of Ulster county, New York, who came to Clarksville with her mother in July, 1867. Mr. Thomas has three sons and three daughters. His oldest son, Hiram, was a member of an Indiana regiment, in the war of the rebellion, and died in the service. His sons, Charles N., and L. D., were also in the service.
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Mrs. Thomas’ parents, Nathaniel and Jane Ann Arkills, removed from the State of New York to Marquette county, Wisconsin, in 1861, where her father died in 1863. Her brother, Charles W. Arkills, served in the war of the rebellion, and now lives in Floyd county. Her mother resides with him. Mr. Thomas’ children are – Hiram (deceased), Asenath, now Mrs. John Duly; Charles N., Liverton D., Amanda A., now Mrs. Charles Surfus; Albert H., and Hattie R.
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Mr. Thomas has always been identified with the interests of the township, and has seen it change from a wilderness to a well-settled and prosperous county. He was the president of the first school board on its organization, and has held other local offices.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Page 580