Biography

John was born in September, 1847. ^[1] He was born in Georgia, probably in Henry County where his family lived in 1850. He grew up in Henry County, and lived in Clayton county and the surrounding area his whole life.

He was first married to Louisiana Tankersley on January 12, 1873 in Clayton County, Georgia. ^[2] They had three children. It is not clear what happened to Louisiana, but by 1880, the children were living with their Thomas grandparents.

On February 22, 1883, John remarried, this time to Elizabeth Ann Whaley in Clayton County. ^{[3] [4]}

In December, 1883, John W Thomas executed a guardianship bond with his father, John T. Thomas, for care of his children from his first marriage.

In an 1889 deed record, he is acting as guardian for his children Estelle, Walter and Cooper, who are heirs of A. J. Tankersley, deceased. ^[5]

John W and Elizabeth Ann Thomas had six children (see Elizabeth Ann’s 1910 census answer: 6 children, 3 living). ^[6]

He died on February 15, 1920 in College Park, Fulton County, Georgia at age 72. ^[7]

This was his death notice in the newspaper:

J. W. Thomas, 73 years of age, died Sunday morning at his residence In College Park. He is survived by his widow, three sons, William and A. C. Thomas, of Summerville, Ala., and J. L. Thomas; of Atlanta, and three daughters, Mrs. W. E. Mayo, Mrs. Gertrude Creel and Miss Emma Thomas.^[8]

He is buried in an unmarked plot at College Park Cemetery. (Lot 60, block 4). ^{[9] [10]}

Research Notes

Difficulty Finding Census Records

We don’t have a record of him in the 1880 census. Finding such a record might clarify why his children were living with their grandparents in 1880.

We don’t have an unambiguous record for him in 1870, although this record ^[11] might be him. John Thomas is such a common name it is difficult to be sure. Spalding county is adjacent to Henry and Clayton counties.

His 1900 census record was very difficult to find. The census taker apparently mistakenly recorded the THOMAS family under the surname of JONES. ^[1] This is not a transcription error — the handwriting clearly says Jones. Ordinarily, this type of error would be difficult or impossible to prove, but because this is the 1900 census, we have the birth years and months for additional verification. The first names, birth years and birth months for the four “Jones” children in the record match exactly those known for the Thomas children from other records. His wife’s birth year has a +/- 1 year discrepancy from other records. The “Jones” family is in Clayton county, where we expect to find John W. Thomas from other records.

Burial Location

The day after his death, his son, John L. Thomas, bought Lot 60, Block 4, at College Park Cemetery. Although the plot is unmarked, this is probably John W. Thomas’ final resting place. From cemetery records, it appears that his wife and granddaughter are also buried in that plot.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3NQ-VR1 : accessed 16 August 2018), John W Jones, Militia District 1088, Jonesboro (excl. Jonesboro city), Clayton, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 8, sheet 10A, family 168, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,188. SEE RESEARCH NOTES
2. ↑ Marriage Books, Clayton County Ordinary Court, Georgia Archives 1870-1881; pg 127.
3. ↑ Marriage Books, Clayton County Ordinary Court, Georgia Archives 1877-1894; pg 159.
4. ↑ ”Moore, Joseph Henry Hightower, and Alice Copeland Kilgore. 1983. A History of Clayton County, Georgia, 1821-1983”. Roswell, Georgia: WH Wolfe Associates. pg 544
5. ↑ Deed record: "Clayton. Deed Books 1883–1888, 1888–1891"
   > image 509 of of 668
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C3Q5-W9DZ-6 (accessed 22 August 2024)
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLVT-T56 : accessed 16 August 2018), Ann E Thomas in household of John W Thomas, Red Oak, Campbell, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1, sheet 7A, family 133, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 175; FHL microfilm 1,374,188.
7. ↑ Death Certificates, Vital Records, Public Health, RG 26-5-95, Georgia Archives; Certificate number 4824, J. W. Thomas
8. ↑ The Atlanta Constitution, February 17, 1920, page 8. "J. W. Thomas 73 years of age, died Sunday morning residence In College Park. He is survived by his widow. three sons, William and A. C. Thomas, of Summerrille, Ala., and J. L. Thomas; of Atlanta, and three daughters, Mrs. W. E. Mayo, Mrs. Gertrude Creel and Miss Emma Thomas."
9. ↑ College Park Cemetery Records
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #115273614
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC35-RV1 : 12 April 2016), John Thomas in household of Nancy Dorsey, Georgia, United States; citing p. 119, family 829, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,672.

See also:

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYR-WQK : 12 April 2016), J W Thomas in household of J T Thomas, Henry county, Henry, Georgia, United States; citing family 488, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• ”United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZM8-L9S : 13 December 2017), John W Thomas in entry for John Thomas, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLVT-T5D : accessed 16 August 2018), John W Thomas, Red Oak, Campbell, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1, sheet 7A, family 133, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 175; FHL microfilm 1,374,188.

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJDK-JH7 : accessed 25 July 2017), John W Thomas, College Park, Fulton, Georgia, United States; citing ED 172, sheet 36A, line 20, family 802, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 253; FHL microfilm 1,820,253.[1]