Biography of Daniel Thomas, pages 675/676/677.  History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



The specific history of the great Middle West was made by 
the pioneers; it was emblazoned on the forest trees by the 
strength of sturdy  arms and a gleaming ax, and written on 
the surface of the earth by the track of primitive plow. 
There were strong men and true who came to found the empire 
of the West-those hardy settlers who builded their rude 
domiciles, grappled with  the giants of the forest, and 
from the sylvan wilds evolved the fertile and productive 
fields which have these many years been furrowed and 
refurrowed by the plowshare. The trackless prairie was made 
to yield its tribute under the effective endeavors of the 
pioneer, and slowly but surely were laid the steadfast 
foundations upon which has been builded the magnificent 
superstructure of an opulent and enlightened commonwealth. 
To establish a home amid such surroundings, and to cope 
with the many privations and hardships which  were the 
inevitable concomitants, demanded and invincible courage 
and fortitude, strong hearts and willing hands. All those 
were characteristics of the pioneer, whose name and deeds 
should be held in perpetual reverence by those who enjoy 
the fruits of their toil,  and among the number is the 
gentlemen whose name appears at the head of this sketch and 
who for many years has been numbered among the most 
prominent citizens of DeKalb county.  Daniel Thomas was 
born in stark county, Ohio, on October 30, 1831, the son of 
David and Anna (Bachay) Thomas. The father was a native of 
Pennsylvania, while his mother was born in the little 
republic of Switzerland from whence she came to this 
country with her parents at the age of twenty-one years. 
They settled first in Stark county, Ohio, where they 
remained until 1849, when they came to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, where they followed farming. David Thomas, who was 
reared in Pennsylvania, came to Stark county in young 
manhood, was there married and then came with his family to 
DeKalb county, settling in Richland township, where he 
remained until his death, after which his widow moved to 
Auburn, where she died.  They were the parents of the 
following children: John, Sarah, Daniel, Levi, Susan, Anna, 
David and Solomon, of whom the only survivors are Daniel 
and Solomon.  Daniel Thomas received his education in the 
district schools of DeKalb county, and was reared to the 
life of a farmer, which vocation he never forsook, 
following it with great energy and considerable success up 
to the time of his retirement from active pursuits in 1892, 
when he moved to the town of Corunna, where he now resides.  
Mr. Thomas was thrice married,  first on October 14, 1858, 
to Elizabeth Rectenwalt, the daughter of Jacob and Anna 
(Koontz) Rectenwalt, both of whom were natives of Germany, 
but who on their emigration to America located first in 
Ohio, and later came to DeKalb county, of which they were 
early and prominent settlers. To this first union of the 
subject of this sketch were born two children: Almira, 
deceased, and Milo J., who is represented elsewhere in this 
work. Mr. Thomas's first wife died in 1901, at the age of 
sixty-two years, and in 1902 he married Emmeline King, the 
daughter of John and Katherine (Rebber) King. Her parents 
were natives of Maryland, but became early settlers of 
DeKalb county, settling in Vernon township. Mrs. Emmeline 
Thomas died in 1905, at the age of sixty-two years, and 
subsequently Mr. Thomas married Sarah Rodenbaugh, the 
daughter of Adam Rodenbaugh, who was a native of 
Pennsylvania, whence he moved to Stark county, Ohio,  and 
then to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his daughter, Mrs. 
Thomas, was a successful nurse for eighteen years. Her 
death occurred on June 30, 1913, at the age of seventy 
years. Politically, Daniel Thomas has been a life-long 
supporter of the Democratic party, but has not been a 
seeker after public office, his only official service being 
a supervisor of his township, in which he rendered 
efficient service. Religiously, he is a member of the 
Evangelical Lutheran church, to the support of which he 
contributes liberally, During the long period of his 
residence in DeKalb county, Mr. Thomas has been an eye 
witness of and a participant in the wonderful development 
which has characterized this section of the state, and in 
everything affecting the general welfare to the people he 
had been deeply interested,  giving his support to those 
movements which have promised to advance the interests of 
his fellow men educationally, morally, socially and 
materially. His life has ever been characterized by the 
strictest integrity of word and action and among those who 
have known him long and intimately he is held in the most 
affectionate regard, because of his high personal character 
and his genial qualities.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com