Thomas Allen Thomas family

Thomas Allen Thomas was born on September 21, 1881 in Saline County, Arkansas, south of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was the son of William Albert Thomas and Laura Elizabeth Lansdale. William Albert owned a sawmill and due to the recession of 1890, he was forced to close the sawmill. The family moved to Horatio, Sevier, Arkansas, where Laura Elizabeth’s sister, Mattie Lansdale Slaton lived. Laura Elizabeth died on May 18, 1899 and is buried in the Horatio Cemetery, at Horatio, Arkansas. Her grave was unmarked until 1998, when some of the Thomas descendants had a memorial stone placed in the cemetery.

William Albert Thomas married 2nd Bessie Johnson and moved, with his children John A., Thomas Allen, George A., Fannie Abegale, Sarah, and William A., across the state line to Bokhoma, Choctaw Nation, now Oklahoma. He reestablished the sawmill business and prospered as the economy improved. Thomas Allen, known as Tom, worked for an Indian woman in Lukfodder. Tom and some of her Native American relatives had liquor, which was illegal in the Choctaw Nation. Tom took responsibility for the liquor and made a hurried departure across the Red River to Northeast Texas, where he had relatives.

While in Texas, he met Myrtle Mae Pillow, daughter of Ransom Dock Pillow and Josephine Lee. Myrtle Mae was born on January 19, 1884 in Milam County, Texas and came with her family to Cass County in December 1901. Myrtle Mae “walked all the way” according to much told family stories. They were married on September 19,1906 in Atlanta, Cass, Texas. They settled in the area and raised a family. Thomas worked in the timber business and used a team of oxen in the early days. He also farmed with the help of his older sons. The family lived in the Huffines and Long Bridge areas of Cass County, Texas, except for a brief period of time in the early 1900’s, when they lived in Arkansas. Their children were Raymond Lee, Hazel Edith, Paul E., James Elvin, Irene Gertrude, R.B., William Hayward, Cleo Mae, and Laura Belle “Dadie”.

Thomas Allen and Myrtle Mae’s eldest son Raymond Lee was born on September 4, 1907 in Cass County, Texas, and married Arie Claghorn on March 12, 1930. Their children were Genoa Tommie Lee, Erma Jane “Janie”, Raymond Jr., Eleanora Mae, Ida Nell, and Charlie Joseph. Raymond worked in the oilfield industry and the retail car business. Arie died on April 24, 1988 and is buried in Huffines Cemetery, Atlanta, Cass, Texas.

Hazel Edith was born on February 20, 1909 and died at 7 months of age in Arkansas.

Paul was born on October 9, 1911 in Cass County, Texas, and married Beatrice Wilkerson in Cass County. Their children are David Neal, Virginia “Sissy” and O’Neal. Paul drove a taxi in Atlanta, Texas for many years. Paul died on August 14, 1982 in Atlanta, Texas and is buried in the Smyrna Cemetery, Atlanta, Cass, Texas. Beatrice died on September 2, 1998 and is buried beside her husband. Virginia died on April 22, 2000 and is buried in the Antioch Cemetery beside her husband Virgil Cagle.

James Elvin was born on March 9, 1910 in Atlanta, Cass, Texas and married Hattie Dooley on July 9, 1937 in Linden, Cass, Texas. Their children are Betty Jean, Jimmy Allen, J.W., and Robbie Lynn. Jimmy Allen drowned on August 14, 1952 and is buried in Huffines Cemetery. James fanned and worked as a guard at the International Paper Company in Domino, Texas. He died on July 13, 1992 and is buried in Huffines Cemetery. Irene Gertrude was born on August 20, 1913 in Atlanta, Texas, and married 1st Robert McKinley Dooley on September 2, 1933. Their children are Myrtle Jane, Robert Jr., Frances Irene “Polly”, and Mary Francelle. Robert was a Baptist preacher and preached in many of the area churches. Irene was a “practical” nurse and worked in the Jefferson and Linden, Texas hospitals and nursing home, in the days before you were required to have a license.

Robert Sr. died on January 29, 1951 and is buried in Friendship Cemetery, Linden, Cass, Texas. Irene married 2”d Taylor Dooley, who was a World War II veteran. Taylor died on March 29, 1990 in Atlanta, Cass, Texas and is buried in Zion Hill Cemetery, Linden, Cass, Texas. Robert Jr., who was in the U.S. Navy for 10 years, died on August 20, 1997 in Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana and is buried in Zion Hill Cemetery. Irene died on February 8, 1999 and is buried beside her 2nd husband Taylor in the Zion Hill Cemetery.

R.B. was born on July 28, 1915 in Cass County, Texas, and married Carmel Cathrine Fenton on December 24, 1941. They made their home in Horatio, Arkansas and had two sons, Roger Dale, and Gary. R.B. was a World War II veteran and was well known for the wonderful peaches he grew. People came for miles and lined up down the road before daylight to get in his orchards. He is retired and turned the peach growing business over to his granddaughter. William Hayward was born on December 30, 1917 and married Marion Hagwood on September 5, 1945 in Bossier City, Louisiana. They had one son Donald Hayward and raised Marion’s nieces, Geraldine, and Jacqueline. William was a World War II veteran and a cattle rancher. He died on April 22, 1998, when his home on Long Bridge Road burned. He is buried in the Huffines Cemetery.

Cleo Mae was born on October 18, 1922 in Atlanta, Texas and married 1st, Theodore Bostic Willis on December 29, 1938 in Cass County, Texas. They had two daughters, Linda Ann and Luewan Juanita. Cleo married 2nd Elmer Stubblefield in 1946 and they had one child, Donace. Cleo married 3rd, Walter Bernice Monsignor on March 31, 1957 and had one son, Walter Bernice Jr.. Cleo was a nurse and worked in the Texas and Louisiana area hospitals. Walter Sr. died in October 1985 and is buried in Huffines Cemetery, Cleo died on May 14, 1998 and is buried beside her husband in Huffines Cemetery.

Laura Belle “Dadie” was born on March 18, 1924 in Atlanta, Texas, and married William “Bill” Lovett. They had no children. Bill drove a Trailways bus and Dadie was a licensed nurse. Bill died on June 9, 1970 and is buried in the Huffines Cemetery. “Dadie” died on December 13, 1981 and is buried beside her husband Bill in the Huffines Cemetery..

Myrtle Mae Thomas died on May 12, 1966 in Queen City, Cass, Texas and is buried in Huffines Cemetery. Thomas Allen Thomas died on August 29, 1968 in Queen City, Texas and is buried beside his wife, Myrtle Mae in Huffines Cemetery. A considerable number of Thomas Allen and Myrtle Mae’s descendants have stayed in this area and raised their families.

Submitted by Frances Dooley Russell Whatley and Linda Willis Clark