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   The Goodspeed Publishing Company,
   History of Tennessee, 1887

      JAMES W. THOMAS, farmer, was born July 25, 1851, the son of FREDERICK
   S. and HANNAH (WORLEY) THOMAS, the former born in the First District of
   this county in 1803, the son of JOHN and SUSAN (WEAVER) THOMAS.  JOHN
   was born in this county, the son of JACOB, a Pennsylvanian, who became
   a pioneer of Sullivan County, over a century ago. The father was married
   in 1832, to a daughter of NATHAN and SUSAN (HOLTSAPLE) WORLEY, and who
   was born in 1814, near Bristol. The three ancestors were all farmers.
   The father died January 4, 1862, and the mother December 10, 1885. Our
   subject, the sixth of ten children, received the usual country advan-
   tages, and has been a successful farmer, now owning an estate of 300
   acres.  His farm is well stocked with improved sheep, shorthorn red
   Durham cattle and fine horses.  He drives a span of bay mares, for which
   he has been offered $500.  There is a magnificent mountain view, and
   attractive rural scenery from which his residence derives the name of
   “Magna Vista.”  In 1875 JENNIE D. KELLER became his wife. She was born
   near Abingdon, in Washington County, in 1853, the daughter of JOSEPH
   and DORCAS (LOWERY) KELLER, both Virginians.  Their children are JOSEPH
   KELLER, born November 5, 1876, and JAMES FREDERICK, born January 8,
   1879.  He and his wife are Presbyterians.

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