Thomas, Herbert M. (1847-1930)

THOMAS

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/13/2016 at 13:20:03

Herbert M. Thomas
(February 24, 1847 - June 6, 1930)

HERBERT M. THOMAS, farmer, Council Bluffs, was born February 24, 1847, at Jacksonville, Vt., and is the son of R. C. and Mary Ann (BASSETT) THOMAS. He had three brothers and three sisters. Coming to Hardin Township while quite young, most of his education was obtained in the common schools of Hardin Township. His whole life has been spent on a farm. In 1857 he moved with his parents from their home in Vermont to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, his father settling on the farm where he has lived ever since. Mr. Thomas lived on the old farm till in November 1869, when he was married to Mary L. SMITH, daughter of John Godfrey and Johanna Christina SMITH. Her parents moved from Germany to Indiana; from there moved to Iowa, and are still living, and following farming. After getting married, Mr. Thomas moved to his present home, where he has a farm of 240 acres, made by his own industry. He also has three sons. Mr. Thomas is, as his father, a Republican in politics. The father of Herbert M. Thomas, R. C. Thomas, is one of the oldest citizens in Hardin Township, being born in Wilmington, Vt., in 1809, and is the son of Nathaniel and Hannah (CUMMINGS) THOMAS. His father was born in Salem, Mass., and mother in Vermont. Mr. R. C. Thomas, when only nine years old, was sent from his home in Vermont back to Massachusetts, where he learned the boot and shoe trade. He remained there till he was twenty-one years old, when he returned to Vermont and worked at his trade there till he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1857 and has been on the place he first improved ever since. In the year 1844 or 1845, he was married to Mary Ann Bassett, daughter of Jonathan and Army (MOORE) BASSETT, and was born in Vermont. Their family consisted of four sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are still living; also his wife is still alive. When they first settled in Hardin Township, there were only one or two houses between Keg Creek and Council Bluffs, a distance of about twelve miles, except now and then a log hut along some of the streams, belonging to the Mormons.

Page: 114
Submitted by: Mona Sarratt Knight, 2002.
Publication: History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa; 1883
O.O. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers, Chicago.