My Genealogy Hound

Capt. G. C. Thomas, a prominent citizen, and postmaster, of Martin, is one of thirteen children, and was born in Weakley County, in 1837. His father, W. G. Thomas, is a Kentuckian, born in Henry County in 1811, and became an inhabitant of Tennessee when nineteen years of age. He is a farmer, and has been twice married. The mother, Mary Elizabeth Thomas, was born in North Carolina, in 1812, and departed this life in 1863. Her parents were eighty-four and ninety-two years of age, respectively, at the time of their deaths. Our subject was educated in the district schools near his home, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company K, Thirty-first Tennessee Infantry, C. S. A. For the first six months John Elliot was captain of the company; after that our subject himself was chosen captain. He was at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge and in many other engagements of note. July 22, 1864, he was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek and was obliged to remain in the hospital until the surrender. He returned home in May, 1865, after having rendered valuable service to the Confederacy. He was wounded eleven times and has part of the bone of one of his arms entirely gone. Mr. Thomas farmed until 1878, when he was elected sheriff of Weakley County, and being re-elected, resigned in 1880, and moved back to his farm, where he continued to reside until December, 1885. At that date he was appointed postmaster of Martin, a position he still continues to fill. In February, 1878, he married Sarah E. Gibbs, who was born in Weakley County, in 1857. Mr. Thomas is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic and K. of H. fraternities, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He had five brothers in the Confederate Army: Joseph V. (deceased), John F., a farmer of Kentucky; W. A., who was killed at the battle of Franklin; C. G., a farmer of Obion County, Tenn., and J. E., a farmer of Weakley County.