David Velandingham Thomas (1864 - 1953)

Born 1 Feb 1864 in Marion, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ida May (Spurgeon) Thomas — married 10 Jul 1887 in Marion, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 29 Jan 1953 at age 88 in Marion, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Dave Thomas [send private message] and Wendy Scott [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Thomas Name Study.

David Velandingham Thomas was born on February 1, 1864 in Marion, Illinois, United States, son of James H Thomas (1844–1913) and Mary E Tinkler (1844–1907).^[1]

David (23) married Ida May Spurgeon (17) (born on July 14, 1869; daughter of Jacob Henry Spurgeon and Mary Francis (Ward) Spurgeon) on July 10, 1887 in Marion. Their children were:

• Maggie Laurel Lucy Jane Thomas (1888–1888)
• Barshabee Ethel Thomas (1889–1920)
• Martha Mary Thomas (1891–1891)
• Cora E Bell Thomas (1892–1912)
• Jacob John Thomas (1893–1894)
• Kirby Thomas (~1895–~1985)
• Francis Thomas (~1895–~1975)
• Laura Thomas (~1895–~1955)
• Roy Calvin Thomas (1896–1967)
• Maude Eula Thomas (1902–1975)
• Della Thomas (~1905–~1975)
• Cloyd Vernon Thomas (1906–1969)
• Ina Mae Thomas (1909–1909)
• Mary Thomas (1910–1910)
• Lela Thomas (1911–1995)
• Hershell Electrik Thomas (1914–1914)

David died on January 29, 1953 in Marion, aged 88. He was buried in Bell Cemetery, Iuka, Marion County, Illinois.^[1]

Research Notes

Newspaper article from 1945 Uknown Journal Name

For the past 100 years a Marion county family by the name of Thomas has kept farmers from Cairo to Arcola and Mt. Carmel to St. Louis supplied with baskets and hampers of all types in addition to weaving countless split bottom chair seats. David Thomas (above), who will soon be 83 years old, is the last of the family of basketmakers. He has been splitting white oak and shaving it down for 67 years.

His father, Jim Thomas, was a lifetime basketmaker as was his grandfather, Ward Thomas, who settled north of Iuka many years ago. His brother, John, who lived east of Slapout until his death three years ago, was also a basketmaker.

Mr. Thomas for the past 40 years had lived on his 7 4-acre farm about two miles southwest of Iuka, and although his eyesight is failing he still works 10 hours a day with deft fingers turning out two or three of the large type 11 hog corn baskets, " as he calls them, or more of the smaller egg baskets. The bundle of baskets shown in the picture was tied up and ready for shipment to a merchant in St. Louis. With a backlog of orders on file, Mr. Thomas figures that he has enough work to keep him busy for the rest of his life. Farmers all over the state like his tough, sturday baskets, and for a number of years he and his father covered the south half of Illinois in a wagon, selling their wares.

The father of sixteen children, eight of whom are living, Mr Thomas has always farmed quite heavy along with his other work but insists that basket making always provided him with enough money "to make the shoes match on his children s feet. " His only regret is that none of his boys learned the basket making trade to carry on the family tradition.

His living children are: Maude Daniels, Route 3, Iuka; Della Wemmer, Chicago; Laura Stanford, California; Leila Howell, Harvey; Roy St. Louis; Curbie, Hammond, Ind.; Cloyd, Little York, Ill.; Matthew of St. Louis.

From obit: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24289743/david-velandingham-thomas David is the father of sixteen children Maggie Laurel Lucy Jane, Barshabee Ethal, Mary, Cora E., Jacob John, Roy Calvin, Laura E., James Kirby, Maude Eula, Frances Matthew, Cloyd Vernon, Della Altress, Ina Mae, Martha, Lela, Hershel "Electrick" Thomas.

David's parents are James H and Mary Elizabeth "Tinkler" Thomas. David's wife is Ida Mae "Spurgeon" Thomas. David was a basketmaker. His father, James Thomas was a basketmaker as was his father Ward Thomas.

from Ida May's cemetary obit: Children

Barshabee Ethel Thomas Runion 1889–1920

Martha Thomas 1891–1891

Francis Earl Thomas 1895–1970

Laura E. Thomas Stanford 1898–1957

James Kirby Thomas 1899–1985

Maude Eula Thomas Daniels 1902–1976

Cloyd Vernon Thomas 1906–1969

Ina Mae Thomas 1909–1909

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24289743/david-velandingham-thomas: accessed), memorial page for David Velandingham Thomas (1 Feb 1864–29 Jan 1953), Find a Grave Memorial ID 24289743, citing Bell Cemetery, Iuka, Marion County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Gerald white (contributor 46972493).

See also:

• Source: #S13 Quality or Certainty of Data: 0
• Source: #S13 Quality or Certainty of Data: 0
• Source: S13 Author: Ancestry.com Title: OneWorldTree Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc. Record ID Number: MH:S13
• Self reported

freepages.rootweb.com 04-19-2023 see photos

• a comprehensive history of Iuka Illinois 1867-1992 fairly interesting read!
• https://www.iukaschool.com/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/4ffde7dfc0645/IUKA_VILLAGE_HISTORY_1.pdf

Acknowledgments

• Thomas-11983 was created by Wendy Scott through the import of 53jcb5_012673d3b05lh2c34r5du9.ged on Mar 24, 2014. This comment and citation can be deleted after the biography has been edited and primary sources are included.