STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1902, page 1, columns 6, 7

JOHN WESLEY THOMAS, 01 Mar 1829 - 23 Jun 1902

   J. Wesley Thomas, son of Rev. Jonathan and Elizabeth Thomas, was born 
in Sandusky county, Ohio, March 1, 1829, and died at his home in Hamilton, 
Indiana, Jun 24, 1902, aged 73 years, 8 months and 28 days.
   He was one of a family of ten children, six boys and four girls.  The 
father, mother and seven children preceded him to the spirit land.  The 
father, Jonathan Thomas, was a pioneer missionary and was an active 
minister of the gospel for sixty years.  Enoch, the elder brother, has 
been for many years and is now engaged in the active ministry at the age 
of seventy-six years and resides in Uniontown, Kansas.  Fletcher, the only 
other living brother, is also a minister of he U. B. church and has been 
presiding elder for thirty-five years and now resides in North Manchester, 
Ind.  His sister, Angeline Wagner, resides at the same place.  The father 
of Wesley moved to Williams county, Ohio, near what is now called West 
Unity, and from thence moved to Steuben county, Indiana, near Richland 
Center.  The county was new and thinly settled.  Educational advantages 
were very limited, and the deceased having a thirst for knowledge, after 
toiling all day in felling the forest, would by the light of lard lamps or 
the light of the fire, pursue his studies until the midnight hour.  In his 
sixteenth year he taught his first school.  At about the age of seventeen 
he entered college, and having but limited means, he paid his board by 
splitting rails nights and mornings, thus energetically working his way 
through college with high honors.  About this time he became a subject of 
divine grace, and soon felt strongly impressed with a call to the  
ministry, but owing to the hardships through which his father and mother, 
brothers and sisters had been called to pass in their early pioneer life, 
he disobeyed the call and resolved to go to California in search of gold, 
in which search he braved many dangers, but with a good degree of success.  
After an absence of nine years he returned to the society of his friends, 
intending to return to California, but owing to the earnest solicitation 
of his many friends he abandoned his purpose, and on September 3, 1860, 
was united in marriage to Miss Julia Benedict, of the vicinity of Orland.  
To this union was born one daughter, but soon death came to his happy home 
and those he dearly loved were removed from his embrace to the spirit 
land, leaving him lonely and sad.  He then with his youngest sister, 
Henrietta, entered Hillsdale college, where he soon became a teacher, and 
was by Prof. Whipple declared to be one of the best grammarians in the 
state of Michigan.  After severing his connection with the college he 
purchased a farm near Richland Center in this county, and on May 3, 1865, 
he was joined in marriage to Miss Phebe Everhart, to which union was born 
four children, the oldest a daughter, Zoe, now Mrs. Charles M. Brown, 
resides at Auburn.  Three sons, Thad W., at Summit; Frank P., at Ashley 
and Jonathan P. at Auburn, all of whom were present with a sorrowing 
mother to mingle their tears caused by the death of an affectionate 
husband and loving father.  Mr. Thomas sold his farm and engaged in 
mercantile business in Metz.  In a few years he moved to Edon, Ohio, where 
he continued in business for a number of years and then moved to Hamilton, 
where he still continued in his mercantile pursuits for about fifteen 
years, since which time he has lived a retired life.  He has served as 
justice of the peace for a number of years.  In early life he united with 
the I. O. O. F., and has been an active member over fifty years, being the 
oldest Odd Fellow in the county. He has filled all the offices of honor in 
this society and was high priest in the Encampment at the time of his 
death.  He was also a member of the Masonic order, remaining such until 
his death, also belonged to the Sons of Temperance.  All of the members of 
these organizations have lost a good counselor and a true friend.
   In his business life he was strictly conscientious and honest.  His 
intelligence, coupled with strong convictions of honor, qualified him to 
fill any position of trust.  He was a member of the M. E. church, had his 
own religious convictions and acted accordingly without regard to what 
others thought.  He loved, sacrificed and toiled for the church or his 
choice, at the same time recognized and loved the people of God in sister 
denominations.  While he had his faults, the life he lived, the spirit he 
breathed was a witness of the power of Christ to save.  He was sound in 
faith, believing that no individual or human system could answer as a 
substitute for the blood of Jesus.  In his death the beloved wife has lost 
a loving and dutiful husband, the children a kind father, the church a 
useful member, the community a patriotic citizen, but thank heaven we do 
not mourn as those having no hope.  Death found him ready.  He is now free 
from sorrow and pain and is at home at rest.
   The funeral was preached by his pastor, Rev. N. Paul Barton, and he was 
laid to rest in the Hamilton cemetery.  The text was Hebrews, 11:14, "He 
being dead, he speaketh."
(Picture included with obituary)

ITEM #2, STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1902, page 8, column 1
   At about nine o'clock Tuesday morning our little town was greatly 
shocked by the announcement of the death of our old and highly respected 
friend, J. W. Thomas, of heart failure, in his garden near the home of 
Clyde Sharp.  He had left the house in the morning for the garden where he 
had expected to work and was first noticed by Elsie Sharp to be in a 
position which attracted unusual attention, and hastening to him, he was 
found sleeping the sleep that knows no waking.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

   John Wesley Thomas, 01 Mar 1829 - 24 Jun 1902, married Juliaette 
(Benedict) Thomas, 10 Jan 1834 - 27 Aug 1861.  They had a daughter who 
died 6 months after Juliaette died.  John Wesley Thomas is buried with his 
2nd wife at Hamilton Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana.  Juliaette is 
buried at Jackson Prairie Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana.
   John Wesley Thomas was the son of Rev. Jonathan Tbomas who was born in 
1807 - no date of death, and his 1st wife, Elizabeth (Beacom) Thomas, 24 
Sep 1806 - 16 Jan 1865.  Elizabeth is buried at Alvarado Cemetery, Steuben 
County, Indiana.  No information of Rev. Thomas' burial place.  The 
Cemetery book says he married at least 2 more times.

   On 03 May 1866, he married a second time to Phebe E. (Everhart), 21 Mar 
1843 - 05 Jun 1919, buried at Hamilton Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana.  
Children born of the marriage are:
   Zoe (Thomas) Brown, on 10 Nov 1885, married Charles M. Brown.  No other 
information.
   Thad Worth Thomas, 09 Nov 1869 - 04 Mar 1936, married Olevia S. 
(______) Thomas, 08 Aug 1867 - 18 Dec 1941, buried at Hamilton Cemetery.
   Frank P. Thomas, on 23 Jan 1894, married Alice (Farley) Thomas.  No 
other information.
   No information of Jonathan P. Thomas.

   A sister of John Wesley Thomas was Clemenzy Thomas, 23 Mar 1833 - 16 
Nov 1854, buried at Alvarado Cemetery.
The U.S. Census - 1880, shows J. W. Thomas and his family living in Eden, 
Williams County, Ohio.
"Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990," by Audree Seibel Lewis, Vol 
1, pages 1818,1820.
"History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885, pages 845, 846, 847, biography 
of John W. Thomas.
Submitted by:  Mona Hilden-Beckwith
e-mail:  hilbeck123@att.net