We first heard of Joseph H. Thomas in yesterday’s post of Charles W. Swanson. Joseph was the father of Charles’ wife, Eliza Howard Thomas. Joseph Thomas was born in Maryland February 18, 1817. September 6, 1843, he married Amanda LaRue in Hardin County, Kentucky. I can’t say what brought Joseph from Maryland to Kentucky. In the 1850 census Joseph and Amanda lived in Hardin County, with three children – LaRue, Mary H. and Eliza H. By 1860 they are in Boyle County with three additional children – Jennie, Ann and Ellen. One additional child was born in 1871 – William B. Later in life Joseph and Amanda moved to Russellville in Logan County to be close to the children that moved there. Amanda LaRue Thomas died February 10, 1897. Joseph died three years later.
Children of Joseph H. Thomas and Amanda LaRue:
- Warren LaRue Thomas, born January 25, 1845, Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, died November 23, 1914, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, married Mary Holmes Wardroped.
- Mary Helm Thomas, born August 16, 1847, Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, died October 27, 1931, Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, married Alexander Campbell Hodgen.
- Eliza Howard Thomas, born November 14, 1849, Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, died October 10, 1905, Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, married Charles William Swanson.
- Virginia Beall “Jennie” Thomas, born September 15, 1851, Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, died November 11, 1936, Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky, married Samuel Van Leer Leedom.
- Annie Brooks Thomas, born June 27, 1852, Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, died February 7, 1921, Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, married Joshua A. Coons.
- Ella Owings Thomas, born September 26, 1855, Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky, died January 16, 1940, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, married John Jay Norton.
- William Bayard Thomas, born February 14, 1861, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky, died December 6, 1917, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky, married Mary Bell Cheek.
Will of Joseph H. Thomas
Logan County Will Book O, Pages 62-64
I, J. H. Thomas, of Logan County in State of Kentucky, make and publish this instrument as my last will and testament, hereby revoking any will heretofore published by me.
First. I desire any debts owing by me at the time of my death, my funeral expenses and cost of administration of my estate to be paid.
Second. I give to Ella Brooks Leedom the bedstead and hair mattress that is in the room at her fathers she normally occupies. To my daughter Elizabeth Howard Swanson, the furniture, one bedstead, feather bed, hair mattress, wardrobe, dresser and chairs that are at her house. To my son, Col. B. Thomas, the water set given me by my brother James B. Thomas, also the large clock that is now at A. C. Hodgens. Also the large portraits of my dear wife and myself. To my daughter Annie Brooks Coons, the leather couch given me by my wife and in the room I occupy at A. C. Hodgens. To my granddaughter Amanda LaRue Norton (who was named for her dear grandmother) the set of furniture that is in the room I occupy at my daughter’s, Mrs. A. C. Hodgens, together with all the pictures in said room that I have not disposed of in this will.
Third. If I have not given to my three grandsons, Joseph L. Swanson, Henry M. Coons and Walter V. Leedom, at the time of my death, each a gold watch not to cost more than one hundred dollars each, I wish my administration to buy and give to them as stated above.
Fourth. All the rest of my estate I desire (subject to charges for advancements) to be equally divided between my children. In said division each child must account for any advancements made by me to him or her, and which advancements are evidenced by notes made by me and the amounts of said notes to be charged as advancements made by me to them. I appoint my son William Bayard Thomas of Danville, Kentucky, and my son-in-law Samuel V. Leedom of Russellville, Kentucky, executors of this will, without security. All erasures and underlinations made before signing. Witness my hand this 21st of June 1897.
J. H. Thomas
Witnessed by J. M. M. Cutchen, W. C. Sherrod
In addition to the above I give my grandson Henry M. Coons my desk and bookcase combined, found at A. C. Hodgens. Witness my hand this 26th October 1897.
J. H. Thomas
Attest H. Dandifer, J. M. Wallace
I wish this to be added to my will in addition to my son, W. B. Thomas, and my son-in-law, S. V. Leedom, I wish A. C. Hodgen to be added as one of the administrators (also without security) if all don’t want to act either one can act with my son W. B. Thomas, as what I leave, I think it will not be necessary for them to appraise, but only a list of them made out at their true value, at my death, then to divide them as near equal as possible, each share alike. The words “not” in the 8th line, “have” in 9th line and “at” in the 10th were made by me before signed.
Russellville, Kentucky, June 14, 1899
J. H. Thomas
State of Kentucky, Logan County Court
At a County Court held for Logan County at the Court House in Russellville, Kentucky, on Monday the 5th day of March 1900, the foregoing instrument of writing, purporting to be the act and last will and codicils of J. H. Thomas, deceased, was produced in open court and the original will, proved by the oaths of J. M. McCutchen and W. C. Sherrod, subscribing witnesses thereto to be the act and deed and last will of said J. H. Thomas, deceased, and the two codicils thereto, were proved by the oaths of W. B. Thomas, A. C. Hodgen and S. V. Leedom, to be wholly in the handwriting of said J. H. Thomas, deceased, whereupon the Court ordered said instruments to be recorded as and for the last will and testament and codicils of said decedent, and the same, together with this certificate, have been duly recorded in my said office. Witness my hand this 5th day of March 1900.
M. B. Morton, Clerk
Categories: Old Wills
