Miles W Thomas1

#711, (15 May 1858 - 11 August 1943)
Father*David Thomas2 (c 1813 - 1864)
Mother*Mary A Knowles2 (c 1825 - 1864)

Family

Mary Jane Lewis b. 1860, d. 1934
Children 1.Lewis W Thomas+1 (1880 - 1942)
 2.Mary Elizabeth Thomas16 (1889 - )
 3.Thompson Thomas+1 (1900 - 1984)
Entry in History of Posey Co. (Leffel.)3 
Birth*15 May 1858He was born on 15 May 1858 at Posey Co., IndianaG.1 
14 June 1860He appeared on the census of 14 June 1860 in the household of David Thomas and Mary A Knowles at Mount Vernon, Posey Co., IndianaG, age 1.4 
Marriage*6 November 1879He married Mary Jane Lewis, daughter of Thompson Price Lewis and Elizabeth Jane Green, on 6 November 1879 at Posey Co., IndianaG.5,6,7 
12 June 1880He and Mary Jane Lewis appeared on the census of 12 June 1880 at Marrs Twp., Posey Co., IndianaG.8 
18 June 1900He appeared on the census of 18 June 1900 at Black Twp., Posey Co., IndianaG.9 
23 April 1910He and Mary Jane Lewis appeared on the census of 23 April 1910 at Mount Vernon, Black Twp., Posey Co., IndianaG.10 
3 September 1919In Thompson Price Lewis's will dated 3 September 1919, Miles W Thomas was named as co-executor.11
31 January 1920He appeared on the census of 31 January 1920 at Black Twp., Posey Co., IndianaG.12 
3 April 1930He appeared on the census of 3 April 1930 in the household of William Woodward and Mary Elizabeth Thomas at Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IndianaG, age 71; also niece Betty A Thomas.13 
16 April 1940He appeared on the census of 16 April 1940 in the household of Mary Elizabeth Thomas and William Woodward at 1505 N. Main Street, Evansville, Pigeon Twp., Vanderburgh Co., IndianaG, age 81, widowed.14 
Death*11 August 1943He died on 11 August 1943 at IndianaG at age 85.15 
Burial*circa 13 August 1943He was buried circa 13 August 1943 at Bellefontaine Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Black Twp., Posey Co., IndianaG.15 

Citations

  1. [S46] John C. Leffel, History of Posey County (Leffel) (Chicago IL: Standard Publishing Company, 1913).
  2. [S46] John C. Leffel, History of Posey Co. (Leffel), 274-275: "Miles W. Thomas... was born on his father's farm near the city of Mt. Vernon on May 15, 1858, the son of David and Mary (Noles) Thomas. David Thomas was also a native of Posey county, his wife a native of Kentucky. Both died in 1864, when Miles was a lad of six years of age."
  3. [S46] John C. Leffel, History of Posey Co. (Leffel), 274-275: "Miles W. Thomas, influential citizen, successful farmer and trustee of Black township, was born on his father's farm near the city of Mt. Vernon on May 15, 1858, the son of David and Mary (Noles) Thomas. David Thomas was also a native of Posey county, his wife a native of Kentucky. Both died in 1864, when Miles was a lad of six years of age. He was reared in the family of his brother-in-law, John M. Gregory, a farmer of Black township, who removed in 1874 to Illinois. In the last named year, Miles Thomas became self supporting. He secured employment as a farm hand and continued in this occupation until 1876, when he rented an eighty acre farm in Marrs township. He remained a renter until 1893, when he purchased 180 acres of land in Marrs township, and which he has brought up to a high point of cultivation. He also owns forty three acres in Black township, three miles east of Mt. Vernon, which he purchased in 1897. Since attaining his majority he has taken an active part in the political life of his township, and has been a consistent supporter of the policies of the Democratic party. He was elected to his present office, that of trustee of Black township, in 1908, and in the administration of its affairs he has proven the possession of sound business judgment and keen financial sense. Since taking up the duties of the office, he has built three modern school buildings, one in 1911, one in 1912, and one in 1913, at a total cost of $13,800; besides putting all of the older buildings in a thorough state of repair. The roads of Black township are conceded to be the best in the county, and represent close attention to this essential of the farmer by the trustee. A drainage ditch, costing $3,200, has also been completed under his supervision, and is one of the important improvements of the township under his administration. His election was by a majority of 176 in a township normally Republican by 100; a highly complimentary evidence of his standing as a citizen and reputation as a man of affairs. Mr. Thomas married in 1879 Miss Mary Lewis, the daughter of Thompson P. Lewis, farmer and influential citizen of Marrs township. To them have been born seven children, four of whom died in infancy, and the others are as follows: Lewis W., born July 3, 1880; Elizabeth, born November 27, 1888, and Thompson, born October 12, 1900. The family became residents of the city of Mt. Vernon in 1909, and are well and favorably known."
  4. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census. David (47), farmer b. IN; Mary A (31), b. IN.
  5. [S198] Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941 [database], Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research and Works Progress Administration, compilers, online Ancestry.com, Miles Thomas and Mary J Lewis; Marriage Date: Jun 1879, Posey Co.; other entry has 6 Nov 1879.
  6. [S30] Indiana Marriages 1780-1992 [index], online FamilySearch.org, Mary J. Lewis and Miles W. Thomas, child Thompson M. Thomas.
  7. [S46] John C. Leffel, History of Posey Co. (Leffel), 275.
  8. [S17] 1880 U.S. Federal Census. Miles (22), farmer; Mary (20).
  9. [S5] 1900 U.S. Federal Census. Miles A (42), b. IN May 1858, father b. IN, mother b. KY, farmer; Mary J (40), b. IN May 1860, parents b. IN, 6 children, 2 living; marr. 19 yrs.
  10. [S8] 1910 U.S. Federal Census. Miles (51); Mary (48), 7 children, 3 living; marr. 30 yrs.
  11. [S1434] Posey County Record of Wills, 1816-1923, index and images, online Ancestry.com, Indiana, Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, Will Records Vol. 3-4, 1904-1923, p.491, img. 362/413. Names wife Elizabet J sole heir; names as executors Jacob M Harlem, Miles Thomas and James Lewis; witnesses Wm. Espenschied and Daisy L Maulding; signed 3 Sep 1919.
  12. [S11] 1920 U.S. Federal Census. Miles (61); Mary J (59).
  13. [S7] 1930 U.S. Federal Census. William (42), painter in automobile factory; Elizabeth (40), saleslady in clothing store.
  14. [S346] 1940 U.S. Federal Census. Wm E (57), b. IN, painter (Protestant hospital); Mary Elizabeth (50), b, IN, floor manager (ladies ready to wear); Miles Thomas (81), father-in-law, widowed, b. IN.
  15. [S1628] FindAGrave.com, online findagrave.com, small grave marker. "Thomas / Mary 1860–1934 / Miles W 1858–19__"; Bellefonatine Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Posey Co. IN, sec. CC. Narrative: Mary J Thomas, d. 26 Dec 1834. Memorial 66360539, created by and photo added by Crystal G.
  16. [S5] 1900 U.S. Federal Census. Miles A (42); Mary J (40), 6 children, 2 living.