William Thomas

As printed in 1908

WILLIAM THOMAS, proprietor and owner of the Indian Mound Fruit Farm, in Pike Township, comes of one of the old pioneer families of Clark County. He was born in German Township, this county, March 6, 1831, and is a son of Thomas P. and Phoebe (Kiser) Thomas, and grandson of Leonard Thomas.

Leonard Thomas was born in Pennsylvania, whither his father had come from England in the days of William Penn, and he lived to the remarkable age of 100 years. Leonard Thomas resided in his native state until 1815, when he came west and located in German Township,' Clark County, Ohio, at a time when it was largely a wilderness. He subsequently moved to Preble County, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-four years, longevity being a marked characteristic of this family.

Thomas P. Thomas was born in Pennsylvania and was about sixteen years old when he accompanied his parents west to Clark County. He had, prior to that time, worked in a factory, but upon coming here turned his attention to farming, assisting in clearing the home farm. After his marriage he and his wife were given a farm of 160 acres by her father, and they moved upon it, this being the farm on which their son William now lives. He cleared the laud, assisted by his eldest son, and continued to reside here until his death in 1891. He held large landed interests in the far west, which at his death were valued at $35,000.00. He was joined m marriage with Phoebe Kiser, who was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and was very yoimg when in 1811 she accompanied her parents to Clark County, Ohio, where her father, David Kiser, became the first county recorder. Her maternal grandfather, Thomas Norman, was a member of the historical "Boston Tea Party," and was also a pioneer citizen of Clark County, Ohio. The latter came in 1812 on horseback from Virginia and carried in his saddlebags seed for one of the first orchards grown in this vicinity. Thomas P. and Phoebe Thomas reared five children: William; David K., of Iowa; Susan, widow of John Holzhauer; Simeon A., of Iowa; and Mary, wife of George Brooks, deceased.

William Thomas was born in a log cabin on his grandfather's farm and was about four years old when his parents moved to Pike Township, where he grew to maturity. He well remembers the trip, first the visit at Dayton and a few months later the coming to his present place. He attended the old log schoolhouse and later the high schools at New Carlisle and Springfield. He engaged in teaching school for a period of nine years and met with success as an instructor. As a young man he assisted his father in clearing the home farm and lived there until he was married. He then farmer for himself a short time in Pike Township, after which he spent four years at St. Paris, at the end of which time he located at Millerstown. He remained there two years during the Civil War, then moved to Auglaize County, where he still owns a farm of eighty acres. About 1894 he returned to his present farm, known as the Indian Mound Fruit Farm. Here he first set out some 200 trees and has added thereto from time to time until he now has the finest orchard in Clark County, consisting of apples, cherries, plums and peaches, in addition to berries and small fruits' of all kinds. He conducts his business along modern and approved plans.

and is frequently called upon to read a paper before the Horticultural Society, of which he is a member.

Mr. Thomas was married September 18, 1856, to Martha Moore, a daughter of John and Rachel (Tannehill) Moore. Her father was a soldier in the War of 3812, and upon one occasion killed a hostile Indian in the woods. Six children were born to bless this union, as follows: Clinton, who died young; John Charles, of Auglaize Comity, married Hulda Jane Swartz; Phoebe Jane, deceased, wife of John Hiderman; Laura, wife of Ellsworth Birt; Ida, wife of William Henning; and William, who married Harriet Lipp. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for more than forty years. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, but has never aspired to political honors.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.