JOHN H. THOMAS
The
name of Thomas has been well known in Lucas county since
pioneer times and its present representative, John H. Thomas,
is a native of the county and today one of the most
substantial and prominent agriculturists of Jackson township,
where he owns one hundred and twenty-one and one-half acres of
land. He was
born in Chariton, Iowa, May 17, 1871,and is a son of William
and Nancy (Wooley) Thomas, the former a native of Connecticut
and the latter of Knox county, Illinois. The mother came to
Lucas county in 1851, making the journey overland with ox
teams in company with her parents, and the family settled in
Warren township upon a tract of raw prairie land upon which
wild game abounded. They
were among the early settlers in this part of Lucas county and
contributed in a substantial measure to its agricultural
development. The
mother passed away in Jackson township on the 22d of January,
1908. She and
her husband had two children, both born and reared in Lucas
county: Mrs.
Addie J. Kelsey, whose birth occurred on the 9th of
August, 1868, and who is now residing in Watertown, New York;
and John H., of this review.
When
John H. Thomas was three years of age he moved from Chariton
with his mother and they made their home in Otter Creek
township, where he attended district school, at the same time
becoming familiar with the details of farm operation by
practical labor upon his mother’s property. When he was
seventeen years of ago he began his independent career, moving
to Warren township, where he cultivated the soil for some
time. From there
he moved half a mile south of Lucas and engaged in farming,
subsequently entering the coal mines in the city, where he
remained for three years.
He then purchased a farm three miles southeast of Lucas
and this he has improved and developed since that time. It comprises one
hundred and twenty-one and one-half acres of land in Jackson
township with excellent improvements, including a modern,
attractive and well furnished home. Mr. Thomas is a scientific and practical
agriculturist and has me t with excellent success in his
farming operations, he and his son having secured prizes on
corn, potatoes and timothy seed during the Short Courses held
in the immediate vicinity.
The son captured first prize in the Derby Short Course
of 1913 on a single ear of corn and second prize on the best
ten ears of corn and both have been honored with awards in
every contest in which they have entered. Mr. Thomas is also
a stock-raiser on an extensive scale, breeding and owning
full-blooded Poland China hogs and good grades of horses and
cattle. His
business interests are all carefully and capably conducted
with his success has followed as a natural result of his well
directed labor and unremitting industry.
On
the 31st of May, 1898, Mr. Thomas was united in
marriage to Miss Effie J. Hall, who was born in Stark county,
Illinois, on the 7th of November, 1880, a daughter
of Sylvester and Catharine (Harding) Hall, natives of
Scranton, Pennsylvania, the latter born April 9, 1845. They arrived in New
Virginia, Warren county, Iowa, in January, 1881, and here
remained until their daughter was four years of age, when they
moved to Jay, Clarke county, where they remained until they
took up their residence near Lucas, Lucas county, Iowa, where
the father died in 1889.
His wife has also passed away, her death having
occurred in Jackson township on the 10th of
October, 1904. In
their family were nine children: Septer, who resides near Lucas; Daniel,
deceased; Charley, who makes his home near New Virginia; a
son, who died in infancy; James, also of New Virginia; Orange,
of the same city; Mrs. Thomas, wife of the subject of this
review; Gladys, deceased; and Carrie, who makes her home in
New Virginia. The
seven eldest children in this family were born in Illinois,
and the two younger ones in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have become the
parents of three children:
Ina, born May 1, 1899; Charley C., born March 18, 1901;
and Eunice Cecilia, born August 29, 1903. All are attending
the public schools in this vicinity.
Mr. Thomas gives his political allegiance to the progressive party and has served several times on state and federal juries. He takes an active and helpful interest in the welfare of this section, for here his entire life has been spent and his many sterling qualities of mind and character have gained him the respect and esteem of all who are associated with him.