U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas, Jeremiah (1862-1934) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 744-746, JEREMIAH THOMAS. In Colonial times, three brothers from England bearing the name of Thomas came from Wales and took up their abode in the United States, and one of them was at Yorktown, under the command of General Washington when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to the American forces. Their names were Alexander, who settled in Pennsylvania; William, who went West, and Lewis, who settled in the Southern part of Ohio. Of these brothers it is supposed that General Thomas of Civil War fame, descended from Lewis. From Alexander, who located on a large farm in Lancaster county, near Philadelphia, descended the Thomases of Preston county. He was a large and successful farmer, but lost all he had by selling his farm for Continental money, which proved valueless. His son Michael settled in Conemaugh Township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He was the father of seven sons and three daughters. The sons were Jacob M., Michael M., Joseph M., Daniel M., John M., and Christian M., the letter "M" being taken in each case in honor of their father's name. The names of the daughters were Magdalena, Anna and Barbara. The seven sons settled in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and other western states. Jacob M., born March 15, 1795, lived in Preston county and died there November 21, 1881. He had four sons: John J., Levi, Jacob, Andrew and daughters, Barbara, Magdalena, Mary, Anna, Sallie, and Catherine, ten children in all. The homestead was four miles east of Brandonville, and still in possession of the family. His wife, Mary Fike, whom he married August 8, 1816, died April 27, 1840. Jacob M. Thomas was an evangelist, and preached the gospel without price or compensation. He was in love with ministerial work; could preach in German and English, and would be gone on missionary tours throughout the states sometimes for three and four months. He traveled on horseback, held meetings at the homes, sometimes in barns, and often times preached in Court Houses at the invitation of the Judges, who frequently turned their halls of justice into meeting houses for his accommodation. He was a large man, somewhat of muscular build, was capable of great endurance, and when about sixty years old retired from the more active duties of a farm life and devoted all of his time and attention thereafter to Gospel work. That he might not be at the expense of others of the church, he reserved a competence out of his own life's earnings, including a horse. His children were John J., who married Lydia Maust, about 1840, and to whom were born four sons and three daughters. Levi married Eva Myers, and had two sons and four daughters. Jacob married Nancy Lambert, and had five sons and five daughters. Andrew, born May 4, 1836, died February 2, 1907, married twice. His first wife was Barbara Boger, born May 3, 1840, died February 22, 1879. She was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Boger. They lived on the home place and took care of the father. Afterwards the home place was divided between the two sons, Noah and Scott. To Andrew and his wife were born one daughter and three sons. Elizabeth, the daughter, married Ervin Wilson, to whom was born four daughters; Etta, Delila, Stella, Cora and one son Victor. Jeremiah Thomas, born June 20, 1862, attended the public schools and the University of West Virginia until 1881. He then taught school twenty-seven years; and on and off for about twenty years he surveyed lands in different counties of West Virginia, and other states; and also followed in the footsteps of his grandfather's work taking charge of the church organized by him. This has been since 1888. At the present time he preaches in six different church houses in his congregation, having a membership in toto of over three hundred. He is also active in business, having been a charter member of the Bruceton Bank, was made its vice-president when organized, and is now also its president. In 1908, he became cashier and held that office until January, 1913 when he was elected president. In 1908 he moved from the farm to the village. He is also president of the Bruceton Milling Company, which he also helped to organize, was also one of the charter members of The Farmers' Union Association and Fire Insurance Company, an institute started in 1901, and holding insured in Preston county, alone; five hundred policy holders carrying $600,000.00 insurance. Mr. Thomas is also Secretary of this company. May 25, 1882, Mr. Thomas was married to Susanna Seese, daughter of John and Mary Ann Umbel Seese. She is a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and born December 19, 1861. Two sons and one daughter are the fruit of this union. Walter H., born March 18, 1883, is the cashier in the Bruceton Bank. He married Mary E. Collier, July 17, 1906. Their children are Lena I., born December 4, 1907; Beulah E,. born December 13, 1908; Dwight, born July 4, 1911. Chester A. Thomas, born March 25, 1886, married Grace P. Wolfe, May 9, 1909. One child, Pauline, born July 30, 1911, came of this union. He is a farmer and a school teacher. Ethel M. was born May 15, 1897. Noah Thomas, born September 13, 1864, married Lavina C. Barnes, May 3, 1885. They have one child, dead, and live on part of the home place. He is a director of the Bruceton Bank and president of the Farmers' Union Association and Fire Insurance Company. Andrew Thomas' second wife was Hester Wilson, married June, 1880. They had one child, Scott, who lives on one part of the home- place. He was born, February 12, 1881, and married Nora Glover, January 1, 1908. They have two children, Ersel and Glenn. Ira Thomas was born, August 24, 1867. He was reared on a farm, and has become one of the successful and scientific farmers of the State. His farm, a very rich body of land, consisting of over 300 acres lies in the valley bottom of Big Sandy Creek, mostly, and was formerly the homestead property of John Forman. In 1900, Mr. Thomas bought it of John H. Feather. In 1910, he erected his large barn, which for arrangement and capacity is one of the best bank-barns in the county. The farm is well adapted for grazing purposes, as well as for raising crops, and stock of the blooded kind, only, is raised. Mr. Thomas' first wife was Ella B. Barnes. She was born July 16, 1886, and died April 25, 1895. His second wife was Dora Fike, born October 2, 1876. She was the daughter of Samuel and Malinda Fike, both parents dying when she was young. The children of this marriage are Edna Grace, born May 14, 1898; Bertha Marie, born January 31, 1900; Ward Fike, born February 6, 1906. Mr. Thomas is one of the charter members and organizers of both the Bruceton Milling Company and the Bruceton Bank. He is a stock owner in the Englehart Woolen Mill Company, and is a member in the Farmers' Union Association and Fire Insurance Company, of Preston County. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #9783 FULL-NAME: Jeremiah Thomas BIRTH-DATE: June 20, 1862 BIRTH-PLACE: W.Va. DEATH-DATE: July 12, 1934 DEATH-PLACE: Bruceton Mills, Grant District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Minister FATHER: Andrew Thomas (born in W.Va.) MOTHER: Barbra Boger (born in W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Valvular Insufficiency BURIAL: Thomas Cemetery --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------