My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH THOMAS, farmer and carpenter; P. O. West Milton; he was born in Clay Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, March 4, 1835, and is a son of Isaiah and Elizabeth(Cox) Thomas, who were born in South Carolina — his father, July 30, 1791, his mother, Oct. 2, 1795; Grandfather John Thomas was born in South Carolina March 10, 1766, and was a son of Isaac and Mary (Davy) Thomas, who were also born in South Carolina. John Thomas was married to Ann Pemberton; Elizabeth (Cox) Thomas, mother of our subject, was a daughter of David and Jane (Owen) Cox, who were probably born in South Carolina; John Thomas, grandfather of our subject, came to Ohio in 1806 and settled in Warren Co., on the Little Miami River, where they resided a few years and then moved to Montgomery Co., where they resided till their death; he died March 10, 1847; his wife departed this life July 22, 1840; they were the parents of four children, viz., John, Isaiah, George and Ann, the three latter are deceased; Isaiah, father of our subject, came to Ohio with his parents, when a young man, remaining with them until his marriage; he was a farmer by occupation, and the land which he chose for his home was his dwelling place for many years; he reared a family of eight children, of whom six are living, viz., David, Ann, Elijah, Susanna, Martha and our subject; the deceased are James and Isaac. Many generations ago, the Cox family lived in the mountain fastnesses of their Welsh home, and it is not positively known where or in what locality they first settled in this country; Isaiah Thomas died May 8, 1862; his wife departed her life June 6, 1877. Our subject was reared on his father’s farm, on which he labored till his 21st year. On the 22d of December, 1855, he formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John E. and Susanna (Coppock) Pemberton; after his marriage, he engaged in farming in Montgomery Co., for ten years; disposing of his farm, he removed to near Laura, Miami Co., but only remained a few months, when he sold out and purchased 56 acres of land where he now resides; his land is all in a good state of cultivation, and his farm buildings are superior in every particular; his land was entered by his wife’s ancestors, in 1803, and is yet in the family connection; after he moved here he cut down an apple tree, which had been planted many years ago, measuring nearly four feet in diameter; he has been much engaged in carpentering since he has made this his home, the work on the farm being performed by his son, who is abundantly able to superintend all departments of the business; he and his wife are the parents of seven children, of whom six are living, viz., John, William, Emma, Clara, Francis and Sarah; Henrietta, wife of Allen McDaniel, deceased, aged 17 years 7 months and 9 days. John united his fortunes with Ada Pearson, by whom he has one child, viz., Orpha Liona.