Biography - Washington Thomas
WASHINGTON G.THOMAS was born April 8, 1822, in Sumner County, Tenn., and is now a well-known resident of Simpson Township, Johnson County. He is a son of Henry and Sarah (Mungle) Thomas, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. Henry Thomas reared his family in Tennessee, and afterward bought land in Kentucky, following farming very successfully there for twelve years. He then sold out and went to Missouri, and purchased another tract, on which they remained two years, after which time he emigrated to Illinois, in 1839. He crossed the Missouri at Richmond and the Mississippi at St. Louis, the entire journey being made by wagon and requiring about three weeks. They, like all overland travelers of those days, camped and cooked by the way. His father took up Government land in Burnside Township, but remained there only a short time, and then sold out and bought in Simpson Township. He soon afterward disposed of this farm and purchased other land in the same township, which he also finally sold, locating in Burnside Township, and he here passed his last days.
Washington G. Thomas remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age, when he married and entered land in Simpson Township, on section 3. He however sold this in a very short time and bought land on section 9, where he still resides. He at one time owned two hundred acres, but has since divided with his children, and now owns only one hundred acres. His early education was obtained in Kentucky, where he attended school fifteen months. This was conducted on the subscription plan, in a schoolhouse which was of the same style of architecture so frequently described and referred to in these pages, with puncheon floor and seats without backs or desks.
Our subject was married to Mary Simpson, January 22, 1846. She was born in Johnson County, May 9, 1827, and is the daughter of William Simpson, a native of Kentucky. Washington G. Thomas and wife have the following children; William H., Josephus B., Cynthia, Melinda, John L., Mary and Robert. He always votes the Republican ticket, and is a member of the church of the Latter-Day Saints. Mr. Thomas is a gentleman in every respect, industrious, and honest to a fault, and has many warm friends in this community.
Extracted 08 May 2002 by Rick Girtman from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, page 352.
