John H. Thomas

John H. Thomas was born in Floyd County, Ind., February 9, 1828, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Martin) Thomas, the former a native of North Carolina, where he was born in 1807. His ancestors, he affirmed, came over in the Mayflower, making the Thomas family one of the oldest in the country. They eventually settled in Maryland, and from thence went to North Carolina, and came to this State many years ago. The latter, Mary (Martin) Thomas, was born in 1807, and was a daughter of Thomas Martin, who was a soldier under Gen. Harrison in his Indian campaign of 1811, and was with him in the battle of Tippecanoe. He came originally from North Carolina. 

John H., the subject of this sketch, was raised principally in Harrison County, and educated in the common schools –some of them very common –being of the log cabin, puncheon floor, stick chimney kind, common a half a century ago. After reaching maturity, and having obtained a fair education, he commenced teaching, and followed it through the winter seasons from 1849 to 1864, occasionally teaching a summer term also. He then engaged in mercantile business in Georgetown, having moved to this county, which he has since followed with good success. 

Mr. Thomas was married in 1854, to Miss Lavinia Zimmerman; both of her parents were of German origin, and emigrated to America in an early day, and settled in Maryland, thence to Virginia, and thence to Indiana, when in woods. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have no children –he however, takes an active interest in educational matters. Mr. Thomas was elected clerk of Georgetown township assessor for four years, and after serving a term was elected school trustee, which office he held for two or three terms; he is at present one of the trustees of the town. 

He is a member of the United Brethren Church.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the Counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana by John M. Gresham & Co., 1889. Part 2, page 115.