Balaam and Susan Allen Thomas

Some Cass County Thomas families came to Texas from Campbell County, Georgia. Family legend is that they traveled by boat, arriving at Jefferson, in Marion County, Texas. They would have had to sailed well over a thousand miles after leaving their home, going south on the Chattahoochee River in Georgia to Florida, then on the Apalachicola River to the Gulf of Mexico, across that body of water to the mighty Mississippi River. There they navigated upstream through Louisiana, until they reached the winding Red River. They proceeded up it until they reached Shreveport, then westward on Big Cypress River into Texas to Jefferson.

It is uncertain how many chose to travel that route, but it has been said that Balaam Thomas family did about 1870. They were living in Miller County, Arkansas, across the state line from Cass County, when two of their children were born.

Records show his name spelled Balam, Baalam, and Balaam; I am choosing to use the latter, the Biblical version, as it was intended.

Balaam Thomas born October 8, 1824, probably in Anson County, North Carolina, where his father appears to have been Joel Thomas. Known siblings were John, born August 4, 1817; Jenny Brock, born June 12, 1819; Lydia Chestnut, born February 12, 1821; Thomas, born September 12, 1822. There were likely others. The Thomas family migrated to Campbell County, Georgia between 1830 ana 1836. Balaam’s wife was Susan Melvina Allen born January 26, 1836, in Georgia. Her parents were William M. and Permelia Allen.

Confederate Army records of the Civil War show Balaam Thomas enlisted March b, 1862, Americus, Sumter County Georgia, age 30, a Private in the Infantry. He served until he was taken prisoner at Tallahassee, Florida, May 10, 1865; he was paroled at Thomasville Georgia, May 18, Description of him gives his height as five feet five inches, having dark hair and brown eyes. It is presumed he is the same man as the subject of this story, my husband’s great grandfather.

Children of Balaam and Susan Thomas were Permelia E., who may not have lived past early childhood; Mary F, known as Polly, married William Philpot; William M. Buck married Sarah Emma Hemperly; John James, married Sarah Elizabeth Vansant; Martha Blender (Mattie) married Elias Eargle; Joel Tazewell (Bud) married (1) Ann Graves (2) Sarah Graves Lummus; S. Rebecca (Becky) married Jake Beene; Balaam Dempsey (Demps) married Sarah M. Long; Ann J.; Lula A.; and Emily J.

Balaam Thomas died about 1882, about fifty-eight years old. Susan Thomas married second Joseph M. Davis, January 2, 1895 in Cass County, by C.W. Powell. It is indefinite just when she died, but about 1898, when she would have been about sixty-two years old. She and Balaam are believed to be buried in Macedonia Cemetery, Miller County, Arkansas. It is thanks to Warren B. Steed, grandson of Martha Thomas Eargle, for information and research of this family.

By Laurel Bryan Stockton

JOHN JAMES THOMAS

It was John James Thomas, the second son of Balaam and Susan Thomas, who was my husband’s grandfather. He was born January 10, 1856, in Campbell Co., Georgia. Johnny Thomas was a teenager when his family made that long move from the state that had suffered so much from the onslaught of the Yankee troops during the Civil War less than a decade before. Ravaged Atlanta was just across the horizon from their home. On May 18, 18?6, in Cass County, John James married Sarah Elizabeth Vansant, a pretty blue-eyed young lady from Campbell County, Georgia, by W.N. Porterfield, M.G., witnessed by P.M. Thomas and J.B. Miller. John was small in stature, however strong, with laughing dark brown eyes. He was a farmer for many years.

In 1890 John Thomas went west over three hundred and sixty miles to Cottle County, Texas, newly opened public land, to acquire one hundred sixty acres that he homesteaded. In 1891 he moved his family there, where they lived the first year in a “dugout” before John hauled lumber from Wichita Falls, by wagon, to build their home. In 1894 he received full title for having occupied, cultivated and improved the land for three years.

John and Sarah Thomas’ marriage was blessed with 10 healthy children, who have all lived past 70 years of age, and nine lived past 78 years; of the latter, six lived past 80 years. Their first six children were born in Atlanta, Cass County. Their children were Lucilla Jane “Lou”, Berry Wilson, Arbella Angelina “Belle”, James Bentley, William John Balam, Flora Elizabeth (my husband’s mother), Addy Modessa “Dess”, Pertie Emma, Carrie Frances and Virgil Earnest “Ernie”. Ernie Thomas, the only surviving one, was 81 on January 26, 1982 and he lives in Childress, Texas.

On May 18, 1926 in Cottle County, TX John and Sarah Thomas celebrated their Golden Wedding with a Thomas Family Reunion. Thomas Reunions are still happening every year in late August in Childress, Texas.

Sarah Vansant Thomas died in Cottle County February 7, 1928, 68 years old. Nine months later, on November 10, John James Thomas, age 72 years, died in Hardeman County, Texas. They lie at rest in Tennessee Valley Cemetery, Kirkland, Cottle County, Texas. My husband did not know any of his grandparents.

— By Laurel Bryan Stockman