James S. Thomas is of
Scotch-Irish descent, an agriculturist by occupation, and seems by nature to have been
designed for a planter, for he is now the owner of 1,600 acres of fine land, and has 300
acres under cultivation. He was born in Jones County, Miss., March 6, 1832, and is a son
of John C. and Sarah (Tarral) Thomas, who were born in North Carolina and South Carolina,
in 1785 and 1801, and died in Cleveland County, Ark., in 1861 and 1870, respectively. They
were married in West Tennessee, whither they bad come with their parents, and after making
that State their home for a few years, they moved to Mississippi, and until 1851, resided
in different counties of that State. At that date they moved to Drew County, Ark., and six
years later settled in what is now Cleveland County, where they spent their declining
years, both being members of the primitive Baptist Church. The father was a Democrat in
his political views, and advocated States' rights, and while a resident of Jasper County,
Miss., he was a member of the State Legislature for fifteen years, and was probate judge
and justice of the peace, for many years. Of twelve children born to him, nine are now
living: William (a farmer and minister of the gospel residing in Texas), Susanna (wife of
James Anderson, deceased), John (a farmer of Drew County, Ark.), Mary (wife of John Eager,
a farmer of Texas), Sarah (wife of John C. Covington (a farmer of Arkansas), Julia Perry
(wife of J. C. Perry resides in Texas), Martha (wife of Henry Williams, a tiller of the
soil in Texas), Jane Bawnds (wife of Berry Bawnd, resides in Texas), and James S. The
latter spent his school days in Jasper County, Miss., and Drew County, Ark., and until he
was twenty-four years of age, made his home with his parents, and being the eldest son at
home, it became his duty to assist his father in managing the home property. In 1862 he
enlisted under Col. Pastlack, in a regiment of Arkansas Infantry, and was in the service
until the close of the war, but during the latter part of the war was in the cavalry, and
was with Price on his raid through Missouri. While on detail duty during the early party
of his service, he was taken prisoner at St. Charles, Ark., but was only retained a short
time, and although he was taken captive twice afterward, he was soon released. After his
return home he found himself without means, but being determined to accumulate property,
and possessing the constitution to put his resolution into practice, he has become one of
the wealthy agriculturists of the county. January 18, 1857, he was married to Elizabeth,
the daughter of J. B. and Mary Ann Fryar. She was born in Alabama, in 1839, and died in
1863, having borne three children: John (who is in the livery business in Texas), James
(who is a farmer of Cleveland County), a child who died in infancy, and Jenette (died at
the age of eighteen years, June 22, 1877). In 1866 Mr. Thomas married Miss Bettie
Williams, who was an ornament to society; she was a daughter of Shebeck and M. E.
Williams. This wife was born in Mississippi, in 1846, and died May 20, 1884, leaving a
family of five children to mourn their loss: Daniel, Red, Charles,Mary S. and Edward;
Julia (died when a child). Mrs. Nancy Reepe became his wife in January, 1885. She was born
in Alabama, in 1846, and was the widow of Richard Reepe. They have two children: Ben and
Ara. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a
Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. |