The Thomas Families of Jackson County, Minnesota

JAMES B. THOMAS (1856), deceased. In the account of the early settlement of Jackson county and of the Springfield massacre, in an earlier part of this work, is frequent mention of James B. Thomas, at whose cabin occurred the fight with the Indians during the famous massacre. It is the purpose of this sketch to give a few items concerning his earlier and later life.

James B. Thomas was born in Licking county, Ohio, in the year 1813. In that county he was brought up and resided until he was twenty-six years of age. Then he located in Cass county, Illinois, where he engaged in the milling business and where he was married. Three years after making his home in Illinois he moved to Iowa and settled near Fairfield, in Jefferson county. A few years later he and his family pushed out farther onto the frontier, locating near Webster City. There he bought and improved an eighty acre farm and prospered financially, working at the millwright's trade while improving the farm.

In the year 1850 Mr. Thomas sold his farm in Iowa and came to that part of Brown county, Minnesota, which is now Jackson county and settled with his family near the "town" of Springfield. There he stated a claim (located on the east side of the river at Jackson), built one of the best cabins in the settlement, and started in to make a new home for himself. At the massacre on March 2G, 1867, his youngest child, Willie, was killed outright, Mr. Thomas received a severe wound in the arm which necessitated two amputations, and from the effect of which he died in 1866, and in escaping from the scene of the fight his little daughter Mary contracted a cold which resulted in her death six weeks later.

Mr. Thomas and his family did not return to Jackson county, but located near Marshalltown, Iowa, where he secured a 160 acre farm and where he died in 1866.

Mr. Thomas was married in Cass county, Illinois, to Irma A. Clark, who was born November 22, 1824. They were the parents of several children. One son, Frank M. Thomas, who has before been mentioned in connection with the massacre, later, at the age of nineteen years, enlisted in the Second Iowa cavalry and served two years in the war. He was wounded in the left ankle and the limb was amputated in Andersonville prison. Blood poison set in, resulting in his death in 1873. The Grand-my Post at Marshalltown, Iowa, was named in his honor.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSEPH THOMAS (1868), deceased. For a number of years, in the very early history of Jackson county, there was one man known far and wide, who could have justly claimed title to being the "most prominent" man in Jackson county. This was Joseph Thomas, who came to the county in 1868 and settled on what has ever since been known as Thomas hill, on the east side of the Des Moines river in the village of Jackson. For years he was the only business man in Jackson county, during the time when there was not a railroad or a town in the county. He kept a hotel and postoffice on the hill, and to his place came all who were passing through the country. The hospitality of Joseph Thomas and his estimable wife were known far and wide. He played a prominent part in the county’s early history.

Mr. Thomas was born in New Jersey in 1810, and after several westward moves came to Jackson county in the spring of 1858. He and his son and one or two others drove up from Newton, Iowa, carrying their own bridges with which to cross the streams. He selected a site for his home, upon which was a desert* ed log cabin. The small children were brought up to the new home in 1859, and a permanent home was established. Mr. Thomas conducted a hotel for the accommodation of the few travelers, and a little later secured the establishment of a postoffice, of which he was the postmaster.

He and his family were obliged to desert their home in 1862 on account of the Indian massacre and subsequent hostility of the savages, and for a time he lived in Spirit Lake. Mr. Thomas continued to reside at the old home until his death, which occurred February 28, 1891.

In 1831 occurred the marriage of Mr. Thomas to Jane Van In Wegin, to whom were born nine children.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSEPH E. THOMAS (1858), now a resident of Windom, was one of the very earliest residents of Jackson county, and there are few men living who gazed upon the country of Jackson county before he did. It was in the spring of 1858 that our subject, then a boy nine years of age, accompanied his parents to the all but deserted Jackson county country and settled on the Des Moines river within the present incorporate limits of the village of Jackson. He grew up with the country and took part in many of the thrilling events of pioneer days.

Joseph E. Thomas was born in New York state March 11, 1849, the son of those well known pioneers of the county, Joseph and Jane (Van In Wegin) Thomas. When he was three years of age the family moved to Freeport, Illinois, and in 1855 they came farther west and located at Newton, Iowa. In 1858 they pushed out farther onto the frontier and settled on what is now known as Thomas hill, across the river from the business section of Jackson. For a number of years the family lived in a cabin, which had been deserted by an earlier settler.

Our subject grew up amid the surroundings of typical frontier life. Four years after the family had established their home came the Sioux war and the Thomas family were obliged to temporarily desert their home, living one year in Spirit Lake. Joseph received a meager education in the frontier school and at the age of fifteen years began driving stage. For two years he drove the Jackson-Blue Earth City stage, and for six years drove the stage between Jackson and Madelia. During these years he gained a reputation as a stage driver excelled by no one. On only one occasion did he miss a trip, and then it was not his fault, but owing to the inability to cross Elm creek in the early spring.

After growing up Mr. Thomas engaged in farming. In 1890 he moved to the vicinity of Windom, where he engaged in farming until 1906, when he retired from active life, since which time he has lived in Windom. For ten years Mr. Thomas served as constable of Jackson and for two years he was a school director. He is a member of the Episcopal church.

Mr. Thomas was married September 22, 1878, to Ella M. Miner, a native of New York state and a daughter of Aiken Miner, a pioneer resident of Jackson and later of Worthington. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been bom the following named children: Lulu, deceased; Edgar, Nellie, deceased; Mae, Alice, deceased; Eva, deceased; Francis.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.