Mary Jane (Bragg) Thomas (1849 - 1929)

Born 16 Apr 1849 in Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio, USA

Wife of Asa Thomas Jr — married 14 Jul 1867 in Iroquois, Illinois, United States

Died 22 Oct 1929 at age 80 in Milford, Iroquois, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Mary Jane was born in 1849. She married Asa Thomas. She died 22 Oct 1929 in Milford, Iroquois, Illinois of bronchial pneumonia. Mary Jane was buried in the Maple Grove Cem, Milford, Iroquois County, Illinois

Research Notes

from the Iroquois Stalker Vol. XXXV, No. 3, 2005 page 18-19

Asa Thomas was born in Adams County, Ohio, on the 14th day of August 1824 making him 77 years old today. He came to Iroquois county in the year 1831, with his father who settled on and improved a farm one mile south of Milford, where Mr. Thomas now resides on a part of the old homestead. He was married to Miss Mary Jane Bragg of near Rossville, Ill. on the 14th day of July 1867. To them have been born ten children, seven of whom are now living.

Like all others coming to this state in the early day, Mr. Thomas has passed through many days of weary toil and with muscles trained amid primitive scenes he fought a hard fight with nature and today in this city he can feast his eyes on the little log cabin reared in the camp grounds and imagine himself again a boy.

PIONEER OF EARLY DAYS IN MILFORD PASSES BEYOND

Mrs. Mary Jane Thomas Came Here Before Creeks Were Bridged

In the passing of Mrs. Mary Jane Thomas early Tuesday morning at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Stratton, another of the pioneers of Milford Township has departed this life.

Mrs. Thomas had not been in good health for forty years and the last eight years had been nearly blind and afflicted with paralysis.

Although she came to this community at the age of 17, she and her husband, the late Asa Thomas, soon after their marriage in 1867, moved into the house, still standing, on the tract of land which deceased owned at the time of her death.

In this house seven of their eight children were born and there they endured many of the hardships of the early pioneer days. There was not a house between their and Milford and no bridges over the two streams they had to cross.

Mary Jane Bragg was born in Barnesville, Ohio, April 10, 1849 and was 80 years, eight months and 12 days old. She came to Illinois with her parents when 17 years old and in July 1867 was united in marriage to Asa Thomas. To this union eight children were born and all grew to maturity. Mrs. Rhuie Martin, the oldest child died in 1914. The husband died in 1902. Mrs. Thomas had lived with her daughter Mrs. Stratton for the last eight years.

The seven children surviving live in Milford and are as follows: Mrs. Carrie Davenport, Ben Thomas, Mrs. Rose Allen, Leroy Thomas, Mrs. Vina Rader, Mrs. Pearl Allen and Mrs. Ollie Stratton. A brother, John Bragg, of Hamden, ND, 32 grand children and 210 great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services were held at the Stratton home on Lyle street this afternoon with Rev. L. F. Davis in charge. Burial was in Maple Grove cemetery.

Sources

• "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KF2M-9PW : 19 February 2021), Asa Thomas and Mary J. Bragg, 14 Jul 1867; citing Iroquois, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,321,548.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Carrol Paul for creating WikiTree profile Bragg-322 through the import of Charles Elmer Paul ancestors.ged on Feb 20, 2013.

Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Carrol and others.