... starts with the Thomas Family - William Alexander Thomas - UPDATED!

A Holiday postcard from William Alexander Thomas to his brother Joe Thomas & his wife Ellen Callison.
I especially love how he "hid" the gifts for them in the ends of the tobacco!

William Alexander Thomas, son of Edward G Thomas and Sarah A Lucas, was born 5 Dec 1852 and died 30 Jan 1934 at the age of 82. He was married (1) to Emma Puckett (line77) on 10 Oct 1878 in Greenbrier County and (2) to Ida Smith (have not found a marriage record for them, but according to the 1910 census they were married 5 months as of May 1910). Once again, the sources include a scrapbook of Mary McNamee, and also "Nellie & Juanita." I have updated this section considerably as I found some mistakes on this Family Group Sheet!

William and Emma had 4 known children:

1. Mamie, b 3 Jan 1882 in Dennis, Greenbrier, WV; d 15 Mar 1971 in Monroe Co, WV, married Frank Rodney Upton (d 1956) on 18 Dec 1901 in Monroe County, WV. Marriage License  Marriage Register 
2. May, b 16 Aug 1879 in Greenbrier County, WV; d 28 Mar 1980 in Peterstown, Monroe, WV; married Oscar A Still on 22 Oct 1902 in Alderson,  "Oscar (died) age 82 Upton Cem, Alderson, WVa" Marriage License, Marriage Register line 74 
3. Rev Cary Houston, b 15 Aug 1894 in Alderson, Monroe, WV (see Delayed Certificate of Birth); d 17 Apr 1976 in Denver, Denver, Colorado; married Florence Gertrude Lair on 20 Jul 1921 in Cabell County, WV (see line 8 *Clary H Thomas*); was in the Army (according to Delayed BC, he was "Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army on 26 Jul 1918."). Cary and Florence can be found in the 1930 census in Chapman, Merrick, Nebraska and in the 1940 in Bridgeport, Morrill, Nebraska.
4. Irene, b 20 Jul 1891 in Dennis, Greenbrier, WV; d 20 Mar 1980 in the Masonic Home, Jefferson County, Kentucky; married John Robert Ray on 8 Sep 1920 in Monroe County, WV Marriage Register, Line 50 Marriage License

Wiliam and Ida had 1 known child together: 

1. Willie Watts Thomas (daughter!), b about 1912 (the WVCulture collection currently has birth information for most counties up to 1911, hopefully 1912 will be included next year), I would guess her birth location to be somewhere in the Wolf Creek, Monroe, WV vicinity as that is where William is living for the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census. Willie married Frank Benjamin Foster on 18 Dec 1929 in Lewisburg, Greenbrier, WV.

Buried at Upton Cemetery in Alderson, Monroe, WV are: W A and Emma Puckett Thomas, Frank and Mamie Thomas Upton, and some of their children (Emma Lucille, Fred Roy). As well as Mae and her husband Oscar Still. 

On the next page is the FGS of Mamie Thomas and Frank Upton. Frank is listed with a death date of 1956, buried at Upton Cemetery, Alderson. (No death record listed on WVCulture as of 26 May 2012, but I have found another researcher who lists Frank's death date as 18 May 1947 with a citation of OBIT, and quite a bit more information on this family). Here is Frank's memorial on FindAGrave.com 

Children of Frank and Mamie Thomas Upton:

• Noka Fanstine, b 17 Nov 1902 d 22 Mar 1996, married Walter Henry Schmidt 2 Jun 1930 in Alderson, Monroe, WV
• Ruth, married Harry Valma Holliday 14 Jun 1926 in Union, Monroe, WV
• Fred Roy, b 10 Sep 1905 d 10 Nov 1956, married Vivian Wikel
• Hubert Orville, b 16 Jul 1907 d Dec 1979
• Glenn R, b 30 Mar 1909 d Sep 1982
• Emma Lucille, b 10 May 1911 d 10 May 2005, OBIT - Emma Lucille Upton
• Haven Hersey, b 10 Jan 1913 d 25 Aug 1990
• Elizabeth S,  married J W Propes 16 Jul 1942 in Hinton, Summers, WV
• Frank Melvin (not listed by Letha, but his OBIT clearly puts him in this family as well) b 6 Jan 1917 in Monroe County, WV d 29 May 2003 in Gaffney, Cherokee, South Carolina.
• Charles H, b 7 Nov 1918 d 19 Mar 1992
• Rosalie (Rosa Lee), b 27 Dec 1920 d 20 May 2009, married Harold Stennett OBIT - Rosalie Upton Stennett

How strange for a single card to have survived, but no photo of William or his family for the collection? I hope that one day photos and stories can be added to the skeletons of dates... 

...is a shared dream.

"1982 - May 1983


Dear Family, 


The information presented here is more of a compilation of "notes" than a history of the family. Over the years my insatiable thirst for information about our forefathers has prompted me to ask questions - of everyone. Unfortunately, I have not always retained the answers so freely given, but I have kept some notes showing dates, places, etc.


I did not want the information to remain in my "Family History" file when some effort could be made to preserve and share as much of it as possible. It was then, in February, 1982, that I began asking different members of the family to provide what they could. It is that information, plus my notes, you will find here. 


It is my hope that some person or persons will share my "dream" to delve deeper into records to find more information on "our ancestors", and will share that information. I know my search will continue as I find new leads. 


My only regret is that I did not begin this project 30 years ago. 


This is a labor of love for me. I hope it will be of interest to all the members of the family.


My thanks to all those who have answered my numerous questions; those who responded so willingly; and a special thanks to my Harry who has supported and advised me along the way.


Juanita C. (McNamee) Auer"

I found this in the Thomas family binder. I have never met Juanita, and I wish that I could. I feel as though this was written for me. Is it strange that her motivation for this letter started 1 month after I was born? What a coincidence! I found that her beloved Harry sadly passed away a year after she wrote this, in 1984. My heart goes out to her, even though he's been gone nearly 30 years.

The next several pages (12 total) after this letter are typed notes and a list of the known family descendants of Edward Gilmer Thomas and Sarah Lucas that Juanita had found and their dates of birth, and their last known location. For privacy reasons, I will not be posting any of those, but I will post the notes.

"THOMAS / SIMS

The "notes" on the THOMAS / SIMS segments were compiled after many questions over the years with my mother, MARY JANE (THOMAS) McNAMEE, and my great-aunt, LUCY (THOMAS) FRANTZ. My aunt, NELLIE VIRGINIA THOMAS, continues to be a great source of information. She mailed clippings and scrapbooks for me to use in my research.


While working on this "labor of love" I have found that several people in the THOMAS family are also working on the family history. I have been in touch with LETHA THOMAS OSBORNE, who has done some research and provided me with additional information as well as some sources to be explored. 


Much of the information has been taken from the obituaries and clippings which I mentioned above, thus the "last known address" of survivors might not be the current one, but might help in a follow-up f needed by someone who wishes to pursue the "history".


The extensive information on the SIMS family comes from MYRTLE McCLUNG JOHNSON. She has done much research much more than I could ever hope to do. We are grateful for her part in providing insight into our forefathers. She responded to my question concerning the possibility of there being Indian ancestors in our family history history as follows:

  "If there were Indian ancestors in our SIMMS branch of the family it was back of Joseph Simms as I heard my grandmother, Mary C. Simms, (who was a woman of great integrity) discuss with one of her nephews, Ed Smoot. She knew Joseph and his wife very well and it was far back of them. Some of the early settlers did take squaws for wives, for instance, John Smith and Pocahontas were married and their family history gives more than 50 families who can trace ancestry back to them, but so far I have not been able to find any connected with the Simms in that list, tho there must have been many other such marriages not so well publicized."

 I have found the SIMS name spelled with 2 "M's" in many instances; witness Myrtle's references. Except for the direct quotes, I have used the the "SIMS" spelling, as that is the way it is used in references to our grandmother, ELIZA ELLEN SIMS THOMAS. 


As additional information becomes available it will be sent to you to up-date your records."

... starts with the Thomas Family - Edward Daniel Thomas

I introduced Edward and Sarah Lucas Thomas a few posts ago, their children are:William Alexander, Elizabeth Margaret, James Franklin, Rachel Jane, Sarah Amanda, Edward Daniel, Joseph Andrew, Martha Alice, Adam Henry, Lucy Ellen, Mary Emma, and Angeline.

Edward Daniel Thomas - note the picture of his parents, Edward Gilmer and Sarah Lucas Thomas behind him.

Edward Daniel Thomas was born 11 May 1863 in Goshen, Rockbridge County, Virginia.  He passed away at age 94 on 14 Sep 1957 in Fayette County, West Virginia. He is buried at Sims Cemetery on the Loops Rd in Fayette County. Ed was married to Eliza Ellen Sims on 3 Jan 1895 in Fayette County. Eliza was born to Henry Sims and Mary Dwyer on 15 Jan 1867 in Big Sewell, Fayette County, WV. She passed on 8 Jul 1918 from chronic Brights disease. She is also buried at Sims Cemetery on the Loops Rd. 

Edward Daniel Thomas

Eliza Ellen Sims

Ed and Eliza had 2 daughters:
Mary Jane was born 31 Oct 1895 (line 278) in Dennis, Greenbrier, West Virginia, and died 5 Mar 1974, she is buried at Wallace Memorial - End of the Trail Cemetery in Clintonville, West Virginia. She married William Gregory McNamee on 23 Sep 1917 in Thayer, Fayette, West Virginia.

Cornellia Virginia "Nell/Nellie" was born 24 Aug 1901 (line177) and entry #240 here, Little Sewell Mountain, Fayette County, West Virginia. Nell never married. She passed away 17 Oct 1994 in a Nursing Home in Rainelle. She is buried at the End of the Trail Cemetery in Clintonville.

William Gregory McNamee (11 Jun 1889 - 6 Jul 1976, buried at Wallace Memorial - End of the Trail Cemetery) and Mary Jane Thomas had 2 children: Elizabeth Ellen (1919-1997) married John Alexander Cummings (1918-1975), Letha lists 7 children for them. Juanita Carol (b 1924) married Harry Victor Auer, Jr, Letha lists No Children for them. Juanita is a frequent source of information for Letha, and I believe there is a stack of letters to be gone through at some point... I cannot thank the people who helped Letha out, like Juanita, enough!

Edward Daniel Thomas' sister Lucy Ellen Thomas is living with him in both the 1920 and 1930 census.

... starts with the Thomas family - Rachel Jane Thomas.

I introduced Edward and Sarah Lucas Thomas a few posts ago, their children are: William Alexander, Elizabeth Margaret, James Franklin, Rachel Jane, Sarah Amanda, Edward Daniel, Joseph Andrew, Martha Alice, Adam Henry, Lucy Ellen, Mary Emma, and Angeline.

L. A. and Jennie Thomas Martin

Next up is Rachel Jane "Jennie" Thomas, born 20 June 1858 in Rockbridge County, Virginia, died 8 Feb 1934 of Broncho Pneumonia at the age of 75. She married Leonidas Rosser "Ross" Martin on 14 Jan 1880 in Greenbrier County (marriage registry here, line 10).  Leonidas was born in December 1858, to Perry W. and Martha R. Thompson Martin in Greenbrier County, see line 211 here. He passed away from chronic nephritis on 29 June 1935 in Alderson, Greenbrier County. He is listed as buried at Alderson Cemetery. I can only assume at this point that Rachel is with him. Does anyone know for certain? They are not found on Findagrave.com.

Leonidas and Rachel do not appear to have had natural children, but they were able to help raise 3 children (according to Letha's notes, with references to Mary McNamee, Aunt Cora, and Juanita):

L.A. and Jennie, date unknown.

• Georgia Adela (Idela) Bahr, b 16 Jan 1878 d 14 Jul 1969, buried at Alderson Cemetery. "Never adopted, took her when 13 mos. old. She stayed with Mary & Bill McNamee in later years. Georgia's real parents were John & Martha Miller Bahr" Georgia married James Berman Canterbury (1873-1953, buried at Comer Cemetery in Greenville, "James had 1 dau. by former marriage - Nann Emmett (Maryland)"  ) on 6 Nov 1945 in Alderson, she was 67 years old and he was 72.  Their marriage license is here, right-side of the page. 
• Henry Martin - a foster son.
• Ashby Snyder - a foster son.