... starts with the Thomas Family: Carl Vernon Thomas

Of all the people I have come across in this Thomas Family binder, Carl Vernon Thomas is the most intriguing to me. I would love to have known him, or had 5 minutes to speak with the man he was, especially in the 1940s. 

Carl Vernon Thomas was the youngest child of Joseph Andrew Thomas and Mary Ellen Callison. Carl's birth certificate (which Letha has in the binder) lists his birth date as 10 Oct 1913 in Springdale, West Virginia, the back side of the certificate states that "The original of this certificate was not filed until Jan. 3, 1941." His birth record is not currently available through the WVCulture website, as Fayette County births are only available for the years 1852, 1861-1911 (as of this writing 28 Sep 2012). 

James Elzie Thomas (kneeling with dog) and
Carl Vernon Thomas (boy with cap)

Carl had an unfortunate accident as a child that left him with a handicap, his right arm was left a stump (at what I believe was) just above the elbow. I've heard that it was possibly from a fall out of a tree, but I'm not entirely certain. Despite the disability, Carl went to school at the West Virginia Business College (does anyone know where this college is/was?). 

Carl Vernon Thomas, back row on the far left.

Due to his handicap, Carl was unable to participate in World War II, but he aided the United States military as a civilian. In Letha's binder are 3 letters that speak volumes to Carl's hard work, loyalty, and character. The first is dated 1 October 1945, written by none other than the Major General of the Office of the Air Surgeon, David N. W. Grant (wikipedia entry with photo).

The second, dated 27 July 1947, written by Lt. Colonel William H. Perkins:

The last, 14 November 1947, written by Major General Malcom C. Grow (who would become the first Surgeon General of the United States in 1949, wikipedia entry).

These letters are, to me, priceless. They tell the story of Carl in ways that I may never have heard otherwise. The story ends sadly with the loss of his position (due to it being given to a government employee with "veteran's preference"), but the absolutely glowing recommendations and the image I am  left with of Carl are truly awesome. I wonder how Carl felt... he had served the office, according to the letters, since at least 1943. After he left the Office of the Air Surgeon, Carl worked for a catering service. I am so very pleased to have these letters available to me, and to be able to share them.  

Carl lived with Letha (his niece) and her husband Jim Osborne, so it is no wonder that she saved these important documents for us to know Carl. He passed away on 29 Nov 1986 in Indialantic, Brevard, Florida. Further evidence of the character and life of Carl Vernon Thomas is in the eulogy that Letha saved (written by Rev. James Allen). 

Obituaries of Carl Vernon Thomas (1913-1986)

... starts with the Thomas Family: Bessie Jane Thomas

Bess, circa 1934

The  sixth child of Joseph Andrew Thomas and Mary Ellen Callison, and the only daughter, was Bessie Jane, or simply Bess. Bess was born 19 Nov 1907 either in Smoot (as seen here on line 34), or in Dawson (as submitted by L. H. McClung, Physician), both being in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. These communities are extremely small, and are only about 5 miles apart.

Bess married a man by the name of Seymour Stickler on 11 Nov 1936 in Maplewood, Fayette, West Virginia. According to their Marriage Record, Seymour was 33 years old, a widower (his first wife died in 1933), a miner, and was born to W. L. and Delphia Stickler in Lockbridge, Summers County, WV. Bess is listed as 29 years of age at her marriage.

Seymour's first marriage, on 17 Sep 1927 in Fayetteville, WV, was to a Dorothy Spade, daughter of Letcher Esco Spae and Vernie Lee Sanner, born about Feb 1908. She is listed in the Friday, Nov 3, 1933, Charleston Daily Mail (page 5 - found on Ancestry.com)...

Funeral Services were held Monday for Mrs. Seymour Stickler, 23 years old, of Lockbridge, who died Saturday en route to a Hinton hospital.

Upon further investigation, her death certificate is on the WVCulture website. Her cause of death is listed as "Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy."

My heart hurts for her, Seymour, and their entire families.

Bess and Seymour's marriage was not a long one, and it would appear that they divorced before 1941.  Seymour is listed (as D for divorced) marrying a Martha Rorke (age 32, born in Pocahontas County, WV) on 18 Oct 1941 in Summers County, West Virginia. Seymour and Martha had at least six children together, one dying in infancy.

Gene Stickler and his mother, Bess Thomas Stickler

Bess passed away on 17 Jan 1996, at the age of 89. She is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, in Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio. There is a memorial on FindAGrave.com for her.  Seymour died in Aug 1975, in Lockbridge, Summers County, West Virginia. I've posted his Obit (below) from the Beckley Post-Herald on 18 Aug 1975.

Bess and Seymour had one child, Gene Thomas Stickler. He also has a memorial on FindAGrave.com, which can be seen here.











Writing and learning about Bess, and even more about her husband Seymour, is intriguing to me. As it turns out, I was somehow destined to have a connection to Seymour. In a strange set of coincidences, Dorothy Spade, Seymour's first wife, was my Great Grand Aunt as she was my Paternal Great Grandfather's sister. Bess Thomas, Seymour's second wife, was ALSO my Great Grand Aunt being my other Paternal Great Grandfather's sister. This blog follows the research of my Paternal Grandmother's family by my Grand Aunt (my Paternal Grandmother's sister). Does that make any sense? Here's another way to explain it... My Paternal grandparents were Oather Spade and Glenna Thomas. Dorothy Spade was my Grandfather Oather Spade's Aunt. So Seymour was my Grandfather Oather's uncle by marriage. Bess was my Grandmother Glenna's Aunt, so Seymour was also my Grandmother's uncle by marriage. 

Weird enough yet?

No? 

Well, you're in luck! Because, while the details are still sketchy, my MOTHER's brother married a Stickler. In Northwest Ohio. My Aunt by marriage is indeed also related in some way to Seymour Stickler.

...starts with the Thomas family: James Elzie Thomas

On to James Elzie Thomas's family... I discussed he and his twin brother's birth on this post, so on to Elzie's life, what little I know of it.

Elzie was first married to Anna Mae Bowyer, my great grandmother, on 27 Feb 1929 in Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. He was 23, she 18. Elzie was a coal miner (someone was kind enough to keep and share some of his papers with me) and Letha lists his church affiliation as Methodist. Together the couple had nine children between 1929 and 1947. Letha was the second child, first daughter.  Elzie and Anna Mae divorced 24 Apr 1951. Elzie passed away on 18 Sep 1980 at McPhearson Hospital in Howell, Livingston, Michigan. He was buried on 22 Sep at Wallace Memorial Cemetery in Clintonville, Greenbrier, WV.

Anna Mae will be portrayed at greater length on a future post, but here is what is written on their Family Group Sheet: Anna Mae was born 27 Jan 1911 in Danese, Fayette County, WV to Ernest Russell Bowyer and Ruby Stella Legg. She passed on 14 Aug 1996 at her home in Brighton, Livingston County, Michigan. She was buried 17 Aug 1996 at Brighton Hills Cemetery in Brighton.

Elzie and Anna Mae

It grieves me greatly to read, and subsequently type, this information. I was 14 years old when Anna Mae passed. I have no memories of this woman, and certainly should remember my great grandmother's funeral. My parents divorced when I was 3, so my ties to my extended family, on either side, was tenuous at best, but far weaker on my father's side due to custody, visitation, and geography. 

Both Elzie and Anna Mae moved on to other relationships. Elzie's second marriage was to a widow named Iva Mae Sanford Bowyer. Yes, Bowyer. Strangely enough, it appears he married his ex-wife's widowed Aunt (Anna Mae's father's brother, Ora L Bowyer's wife). They married on 1 Jan 1961 in East Rainelle, Fayette, WV. Iva was born 8 Apr 1909 in Greenbrier County, WV. She passed on 26 Feb 1963 in Fayette County, WV.

Anna Mae had 3 had more children, so the siblings are 12 in total, several have passed on, but for privacy, I will leave it at that.

...starts with the Thomas Family: Thomas twins, Olney and Elzie

The Twin sons of Joseph Andrew Thomas and Mary Ellen Callison were Olney and James Elzie Thomas. Elzie was my great grandfather. Sadly, he passed away not long before I was born. What I know of him is sparse, mostly the data that is in Letha's files, and thankfully some photos. I wonder if any of my aunts, uncles, or cousins might help shed light on who he was as a grandfather, father, person in general...

James Elzie Thomas, better known as Elzie, was born on 25 Sep 1905. He was a twin, unfortunately the other baby, Olney, is listed as passing away on 25 Oct 1905 on Letha's information (no death record matches that on WVCulture website as of today, 9 Aug 2012). I'm not sure where Olney is buried. There are two records on WVCulture that record the birth(s) of these Thomas children. It gets a little confusing...

This record (click to enlarge), entry 104, records the birth of Twin Males, children 4 & 5, born to Mary E. Callison Thomas and J. A. Thomas on 25 Sep 1905 in Dawson, Greenbrier, WV. The record was returned on 1 Oct 1905 and lists the Medical Attendant as L. H. McClung of Dawson. Neither of the boys' names are listed, just Thomas.

Line 25 of this record lists an Eliza Thomas, female, born 26 Sep 1905  to J. A. Thomas and  Mary E. Thomas. The birth place is blank with a line through the box. The box after Mary E Thomas's name is "How Many At A Birth" which is listed as one...  

My thought is that the child that survived (James "Elzie") is the child referred to in the second birth record listed above. I believe that the person recording the information put in Eliza (instead of Elzie) and therefore listed the child as a girl... The first record lists only childs 4 & 5, not 4, 5 & 6 for the couple, so I am not sold on the thought that there was somehow a triplet birth that, having been recorded 6 days later, they would have misreported. Its hard to determine when the information for the "Eliza" record was submitted, either. If it was after Olney's death in October, it would make sense. What do you think?

There is a death record that I found on the WVCulture site that I cannot get out of my head... is it the death record of our Olney? Is there any way to be certain, either yes or no?

See Line 49 on this record.

Thomas, Jem (Jim?), death recorded on 30 Oct 1905. Date of death is listed as 27 Oct 1905 (letha lists Olney's death date as the 25th. His age is listed at 27 years (which quite obviously does not match our Olney, who would have been around 1 month old, 31 days old on 27 Oct 1905). His place of death is listed as Smoot (an area that our Thomas' were known to be living). He was buried in Smoot on 28 Oct 1905. The Physician returning the certificate is L.H. McClung of Dawson, the medical attendant from the Thomas twins' birth, not abnormal for a small rural area. His cause of death is listed as Cholera Infantum... would a 27 year old man have died from this? Wouldn't it just be listed as cholera? So therein lies the crux... which is right? The age or the cause of death? Is it possible the recorder simply put the 27 in the wrong column? Is there still an original form provided by L.H. McClung that might be available?

I've only seen the baby's name listed as Olney, but all the rest of the children have two names, a few of them known by their middle names. What was Olney's full name?

My heart aches for Joe Andy and Ellen's loss for their infant son.

...starts with the Thomas Family: Joseph Berton "Bert" Thomas

The third child of Joseph Andrew Thomas and Mary Ellen Callison was Joseph Berton "Bert" Thomas.

Joseph Berton (center) with two of his brothers,  Lester Robert (left) and James Elzie (right)
- does anyone know where Bert was headed off to in this picture?

Bert was born on 25 Jan 1904 in Dawson, Greenbrier, West Virginia, his birth record has no name attached, and Joseph's name is incorrect (listed as Jacob Thomas), but all else points to this entry being Bert's birth record. Bert died in Mar 1974 in Danese, Fayette, WV. He is buried at Wallace Memorial Cemetery in Clintonville, Greenbrier, WV.

Brothers, James Elzie Thomas and Joseph Berton Thomas

Bert married Nancy Evelyn "Nannie" Shuck on 20 Jun 1941 (according to Letha's notes, I have been unable to confirm this through the WVCulture site's marriage records, or searches on Ancetsry.com). The couple is listed as having no children.  Nannie was born 16 May 1913 in Fayette County, WV (according to the Social Securty Death Index (SSDI)) to Henry Madison "Matt" Shuck and his wife Rebecca A Shuck. The Shuck family plays heavily in Letha's research, as we also have Shuck roots. So I'm sure I will be referencing this post when I get to the many pieces of Shuck info included in the Legacy (books, binders, folders, letters, etc...). Because of this, Letha has also noted Nannie's lineage in the notes on this Family Group Sheet.

Rebecca A Shuck - daughter of Mose II and Liz Shuck

Nannie - descendant of Mose I -> George -> Perry A -> Henry Madison -> Nannie 

Nannie remarried in 1976 to a Harry Wolford. Their marriage license is mentioned on page 7 of the Beckley Post-Herald, Beckley, WV from 22 Jun 1976:

FAYETTE MARRIAGE LICENSES ISSUED - ... Harry Oscar Wolford, 71, of Danese, son of Henry Wolford and Mary Susan Flanagan, and Nannie Evelyn Thomas, 63, of Danese, daughter of Henry M. Shuck and Rebecca Shuck.

 Nannie passed away on 5 Jan 1981 and is also buried at Wallace Memorial Cemetery.

... starts with the Thomas Family: Lester Robert "Lec" Thomas

The next child of Joseph Andrew and Mary Ellen Callison Thomas was Lester Robert "Lec" Thomas.

Lec was born on 26 May 1902 in Little Sewell, Greenbrier County, WV (see line 180/384, also here on line 19). He passed away on 1 Jul 1978 at the Beckley Hospital in Raleigh County, WV and is buried at Sewell Valley Church Cemetery in Rainelle, Greenbrier County, WV. Lec married Mary Susan "Sudie" Puckett on Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1931 in E. Rainelle, Fayette County, WV. Sudie's parents were William Austin Puckett and Dorcas Crookshanks, Letha lists her as born on 17 Dec 1906. Lec was employed as a woodsman in the marriage record. Sudie died on 15 Apr 1988, and is also buried at Sewell Valley Church Cemetery.

Lec and Sudie

Their children:

• William Andy (1932-2004)
• Evelyn June
• Lester Eugene (1935-2007)  
• L. Eugene Thomas, 72, of Danese died Dec. 2, 2007. Service will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Clintonville. 

L. Eugene Thomas

DANESE — L. 

Eugene Thomas, 72, of Danese, passed away Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital in Beckley, following a short illness.

Born Nov. 7, 1935, at Oswald, W.Va., he was the son of the late 

Lester Robert and Mary Susan “Sudie” Puckett Thomas.

Mr. 

Thomas was a precision sheet metal assembler in a manufacturing plant.

Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a stillborn son, Merlin 

Thomas; and a brother, William “Bill” Thomas.

Survivors include two sons, Marvin 

Thomas of Monrovia, Md., and Melvin Thomas of Hagerstown, Md.; two sisters, Evelyn McComb of Danese, and Frances Simms of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and two grandsons, Jason and Russell.

Service will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Wallace & Wallace Chapel in Rainelle with Pastor Allen Whitt officiating. Burial will follow at Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Clintonville.

Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace of Rainelle.

• Frances Ellen 

Thomas Brothers - Lester Robert, Joseph Berton, and James Elzie -
wonder where "Bert" was headed off to all dressed up and packed... 

Lester Robert "Lec" Thomas

... starts with the Thomas Family: Earl Gilmer Thomas

The eldest child of Joseph Andrew and Mary Ellen Callison Thomas was Earl Gilmer Thomas.

Earl was born 28 Nov 1900 in Crawley (Letha lists Smoot but the birth record states Crawley, line 102), Greenbrier, WV. He died on 23 Jun 1972 at his home in Danese, Fayette County, WV. Earl married Cora May Hoke on 3 Jul 1923 in Lewisburg, Greenbrier County. Cora May was born 21 Feb 1901 in Tincher, Greenbrier County to a W.F. and Sephronia Hoke, and died 19 Jan 1994. They are both buried at Sewell Valley Church Cemetery in Rainelle, Greenbrier County.


Their children* were: 

• Mae Lucille (24 Jan 1924 - 13 Nov 1970, buried at Sewell Valley Church Cemetery), married Raymond Thompson in 1952, they had no children.
• Elmer Roy (1925 - 1999)
• Howard Gilmer 
• Murline Catherine (remember the little girl on the Thomas Home's porch?)
• Robert Earl Thomas (26 May 1932 - 26 Dec 1952, buried at Sewell Valley Church Cemetery) "Crushed to death in car accident" noted on death certificate. Letha's notes say: "Car wreck at Danese, Earl Jr driving, Ellis Wells also killed, Jay Small and Eddie Narren were unhurt." Ellis' death certificate notes that the impression was that the "car missed bridge, hit a large stone." Ellis was taken to Raleigh General Hospital where he passed from a severe contusion of the brain due to a fracture at the base of his skull.

Earl Gilmer Thomas

Earl, Lester, and Elzie Thomas
Howard Gilmer Thomas and May Lucille Thomas (Earl's children). 

*For privacy, unless the child is now deceased, I will only give names.