Thomas Family History
Janelle's maternal grandfather, Paul Daniel Hines, was the son of Harry L. Hines, and Harriet Vetter Thomas.
-- Here are the Thomas family's research papers, and the family directory.
-- There are also a few photos from Janelle's Hine's family.
Hattie's father, Daniel Stewart Thomas, was born to Hezekiah Thomas, and Elizabeth Ann Owens in the borough of Shickshinny, Luzerne County, Pennsylvanian.
Hattie's mother was Martha Jane Kishbaugh who was also born in Luzeren County to Paul Lafayette Kishbaugh, and Mary Ann.
-- Paul Kishbaugh, Daniel Thomas, as well as all three of Daniel's sons were at various times rail road engineers.
Hezekiah Thomas Family
-- Janelle's 3rd great grandparents were Hezekiah Thomas and Elizabeth Ann Owens.
Hezekiah Thomas was born 1825 in the town of Merthyr, South Wales, present day Glamorgan County, England.
-- Here's the research paper on Hezekiah Thomas, and the and the family directory.
-- He most likely came to this country during the 1840s, living in the Black Creek Township area of Shickshinny borough, brodering Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
-- Hezekiah's regimental description indicated that was a machinist, who was 5 feet and 11 inches tall, with light hair and blue eyes.
On December 20th1846 the 21 year old Hezekiah travelled about 30 miles south of Black Creek to Mauch Chunk Carbon County, and enrolled into the Mexican War by Captain Miller. Hezekiah entered duty as a private in Company K of the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (Volunteers), who were command by lieutenant Robert Klotz of Carbon County Pennsylvania.
Several years prior to the formation of Company K, the Mauch Chuck volunteers of Carbon County were known as the Stockton Artillerists; an organized corps with a reputation for patriotism, with roots in the Revolutionary War. Company K would continue Carbon County's patriotic and illustrious service in the Mexican War.
Hezekiah mustered-out in Pittsburg on July 12th 1848, and by July 28th had returned to Mauch Chuck in Carbon County. The regiment suffered 28 killed and 132 wounded in the war. Hezekiah himself was severely wounded in the right arm, which was sustained in one of the final battles of the Mexican War; the battle of Chapultepec Castle.
-- Hezekiah and Company K of the 2ndPennsylvania Infantry Regiment (Volunteers), and movements can be read in this paper.
According to the August 7th1850 census record, Hezekiah and Elizabeth Thomas lived with George Cary, age 28 (b.1822), his wife Mary, age 32 (b.1818) and their son George Carey. John Owen, age 23 (b. 1837) was also living with the Carey family. They all lived in Hanover Luzerne County Pennsylvania.
-- John is most likely a brother of Elizabeth and Mary Cary may be an Owen or Thomas sister. The Carey and Owens names will come up in Elizabeth's application for a Civil War Widow's Pension in 1863.
However, Hezekiah and Elizabeth weren't married. But, on December 25th1850, he did marry Elizabeth Ann Owens. Gilbert Borrows, Esquire, Justice-of-the-Peace, married the couple at the Exchange Hotel in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. At the wedding were John Owen and George Carey, who in 1863 both lived in the Post Office area of Alberts, Wrights Township Luzerne County Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Owens was born about 1832.
-- Elizabeth was born August 30th 1832 to Redmond Owens and Christiana Arnold, in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
While living in the Hanover area of Luzerne County, Hezekiah and Elizabeth would start their family. Sometime after their 2ndchild, Christie Ann (Christiann) was born in 1856, and before the birth of Emily in 1860. The family moved to the post office Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois.
-- Children birth dates provided by Elizabeth didn't coincide with birth dates in the affidavit of George Carey and John Owen. Later in 1866, the children and their birth dates would result in other affidavits by Martha Carey, Martha Handling, and Elizabeth Ann Thomas.
-- An affidavit by Mary Carey, age 50 on July 23rd1867, indicated she was present at the birth of two children: Mary Martha and Christie Ann. Another pension affidavit, dated August 8th1867, by Martha Handling, indicated that she saw Melissa A. Thomas, the day after she was born. Was Martha in Illinois with the Thomas family?
-- On Elizabeth's affidavit to the discrepancies, dated September 5th1866, she explained birth dates. In this document, Emily's name, age, and birth date were crossed out. The number of children was also crossed out from 5 to 4, indicating children under the age of 16 still living. This then lead to additional issues as to Emily's status, which required Elizabeth to provide another explanation.
Except for Emma and Melisa, all of the children were born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
i. Mary Margaret Thomas was born February 13th1852.
ii. Daniel Stewart Thomas was born June 2nd1854.
iii. Christie Ann Thomas was born February 22nd1856. She was named after her grandmother Christie Ann Owens.
iv. Emma (Emily) Thomas was born April 2nd1858 in Illinois. She may have also been known as Emily, who died about two years prior to the act, which became law in July 14th 1862. Emily was in the July 31st1860 census record, but didn't return with the family to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania from Illinois about April 1862.
v. Melisa A. Thomas was born September 2nd1860 in Illinois.
In 1860 Hezekiah lived in Sterling, Whiteside County Illinois. His family may have moved or he travelled 326 miles south to enlist in Mt Carmel, Wabash County Illinois.
On February 25th1862 Hezekiah enrolled for a three year service at Mt. Carmel Illinois in Company C of the Illinois, 12thRegiment Calvary (Volunteers), commanded by Captain S. Branson. Hezekiah mustered-in as a private February 28th1862 at Springfield Illinois. The 12thwas commanded by Colonel Amos Voss and Colonel Hasbrouck Davis.
In February 1862 the Illinois 12thRegiment was assigned to guard prisoners at Camp Butler in Illinois. In April 1862, Elizabeth and the children returned to Luzerne County. This would be the last time Hezekiah would see his family; on June 25th1862 the regiment was ordered to Martinsburg, West Virginia, where they were attached to the District of Martinsburg, for duty at Martinsburg and on the Upper Potomac.
On September 19th1862, two days after the last shot was fired at Antietam, Lee began his plans to retreat across the Potomac near Shepherdstown West Virginia. Jeb Stuart of the Confederate Army remained north of Sharpsburg in Williamsport Maryland; the extreme right flank of the Union Army. Believing Stuart was mounting an attack on the river town of Williamsport, the Union Commander, McClellan, slowed his pursuit of Lee's retreat, and sent Brigadier General John Kenly's large Calvary force to Williamsport to secure the Union's flank. Kenly's Calvary troops included seven of the twelve companies of the 12thIllinois Calvary.
-- Hezekiah and Company C of the 12thIllinois Calvary Engagements, and movements can be read in this paper.
On September 20th 1862 Kenly reported that Williamsport was occupied by Stuarts 1000 man Calvary, and it would take more than his 600 Calvary troops to take Williamsport. Union command reinforced Kenly's forces with an additional 800 infantry and artillery troops bring his total strength to 1200 troops. As Kenly advanced toward the Potomac, he ordered the 12thIllinois Calvary to take the lead toward the river town of Williamsport.
Moving quickly, the 12tharrived unnoticed, and for two days Company I of the 12thwere surrounded by retreating Confederate troops. On the second day, September 19tha sharp fight took place, "...and one member of the 12thIllinois, Private H. Thomas from Sterling, Illinois was killed. Private William Henry Redman left the area of the skirmish on the dead man's horse...".
In a letter dated, September 21st 1862 by W.H. Redman to his sisters; "...Day before yesterday I had just finished writing L.K.R. a letter, not more than a half hour when we were called into action. Our Calvary was held in reserve, but then we rushed forward to meet the enemy. We were warmly received with both bullet and shell. But one man of our Company was killed and none wounded. My horse was shot with three bullets. One went through his shoulders and lodged in my saddle. Another hit him in his right side and the other in his nose. I came off the field on the dead man's horse. The man that was killed was H. Thomas. He lived near the Jordan School House on the road to Sterling. Please inform the folks on live on his farm close to Sweeney's farm.
-- Here are the Redman Letters
Hezekiah Thomas is the H. Thomas noted in the book's passage by William Redman. Hezekiah died, September 19th1862, of a gunshot wound suffered in a charge during the skirmish in Williamsport. After evading capture, Redman and his small detachment returned to Sharpsburg; camping on the Antietam battlefield, as grace diggers worked around the clock clearing the battlefield of the dead. By September 23rdthe 12th Illinois Calvary camped at the village of Jones Crossroads.
On July 9th1863, Hezekiah's wife, Elizabeth Ann, filed for a widows pension. During this time she and her family lived in the Post Office area of Alberts, Wrights Township, Luzerne County Pennsylvania. On September 14th1864, Elizabeth was provided with $8.00 per month, commencing on September 21st1862.
-- Here is the pension record, for Elizabeth's Civil War Widow claim.
By 1870 Elizabeth lived in the Mountain Top post office area of Wright Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Christiann (Christie Ann) Owens, age 81 (b. 1789) was living with the family, and must be Elizabeth's mother. Living with Elizabeth are her daughters; Christiann (Christie Ann), age 14, and Melissa, age 10. Also living with the family are two girls; Adaline Thomas, age 5 (b.1865), and Abbie Thomas, age 1 (b.1869). George and Mary Carey lived next door. Elizabeth's daughter Mary and son Daniel are living in the Solders Orphan School, in the borough of Mount Joy, Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Who are Adaline and Abbie Thomas? This still needs to be verified.
In 1880 Elizabeth Ann and her daughters Christie Ann and Melissa are still living in Wright Township, Luzerne County Pennsylvania. There is also a son named Redmond, age 16 (b.1864), and a grandson named Samuel Cleary, age 3 (b.1877). Samuel must be the son of Mary Margaret Thomas, who married a Cleary. Living down the road is Elizabeth's son Daniel Thomas and his wife Jane Kishbaugh, and their children. The live next door to George and Mary Carey and their family.
We are still researching the whereabouts of Elizabeth after 1880.
Daniel Stewart Thomas Family
-- Janelle's 2nd great grandparents were Daniel Stewart Thomas and Jane Martha Kishbaugh.
Daniel was born June 2nd1853 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
-- Family note says: Ezechaih Thomas begot a son named Daniel Thomas which lived in Shickshinny PA and married the said lady Jane Kishbach of Mauch Chuck and to their union was born 3 boys and one girl named, Steward, Wilson, John, Harriot (Harriet), and the said Harrot was born these boys, Paul, Henry and Thomas.
In 1876 Daniel lived in Shickshinny, Luzerne County, when he married Jane Martha Kishbaugh of Mauch Chuck Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
-- Jane was born August 16th 1853.
Paul Kishbaugh, and Daniel and his sons, worked as railroad engineers for some time with the New Jersey Central Railroad. Daniel was also a Nesquehoning, Carbon County, detective, which may also be related to the volatile history of Carbon County. Sometime later two of Daniel's sons went into the coal operation business.
Jane died January 7th1922. Daniel died July 19th1924. They were both laid to rest in the Evergreen Cemetery in Jim Thorpe, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
Children of Daniel S. and Jane Kishbaugh:
i. Victor Stewart Thomas was born May 1877 and died May 30th1945. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. Stewart married Elizabeth M. who died September 21st 1931. Stewart and Elizabeth were both laid to rest in the Evergreen Cemetery in Jim Thorpe, Carbon County Pennsylvania.
ii. Wilson Kishbaugh Thomas was born February 1879, and died March 16th1945. Wilson married Minerva M. Rehrig, who was born in 1879 to John C. and Hanna M. Rehrig. Minerva died May 20th1936. They were both laid to rest in the Evergreen Cemetery in Jim Thorpe, Carbon County Pennsylvania. Wilson and Minerva had Dorothy E. Thomas born February 7th1904, and died January 8th1908; and Hannah R. Thomas was born July 15th1906, and died December 11th1906. Both children were laid to rest next to their parents in the Evergreen Cemetery.<
iii. John Hezekiah Thomas was born April 4th1880, and died June 25th1943. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. John married Bessie E. Arndt who was born October 10th1878 to William H. and Mary C. Arndt.
Bessie died February 1st1961. John and Bessie were both laid to rest in the Evergreen Cemetery in Jim Thorpe, Carbon County Pennsylvania. Their children were Margaret C. Thomas was born August 6th1902, and died April 30th1904; and Ruth L. Thomas born November 11th1925, and died June 8th1920. Both children were laid to rest with their parents in the Evergreen Cemetery.
iv. Harriet (Hattie) Vitter Thomas was born June 6th1882. She was 1st married to Harry Hines.
Hattie then married Jacob A. Landis of Somerset County in 1924.
After the death of J. Landis, Hattie married Mr. Watkins of Bethlehem Pennsylvania.
Hattie only had children with her 1st husband, Harry L. Hines, and they had three boys.
i. Paul Daniel Hines.
ii. Harry Wilson Hines.
iii. John Thomas Hines.
Redmond Owens Family
-- Janelle's 4th great grandparents were Redmond Owens and Christiana Arnold.
Redmond Owens was born about 1792 in Pennsylvania. He married Christiana Arnold about 1815. Christina was born about 1795 in Pennsylvania.
-- There is a “Redmond Ovins”, who would have been 19 to 22 years old that mustered in as a Private into a detachment of the 35th Regiment Pennsylvania Militia onJune 12th 1814 in Huntington Township, Luzerne County, which was under the command of Captain Peter Hallock.
-- The regiment marched to Baltimore in response to a threatened attack by the British. After the attack was averted, the regiment marched back and was discharge on about Nov th 1814 near Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania.
In 1820 Redmond and his young family lived in the Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County. By this time the family included one boy and two girls. Also living with them were a man and female who were both born 1795-1804.
By 1830 the family had moved North of Sugarloaf to Hanover Township, Luzerne County. Their family grew to include another boy and girl. The older male and female born 1776-1794 are not with the family. In 1840 the family had moved west to Newport Township, which is on the western border of Hanover Township in Luzerne County.
By 1850 Redmond and Christiana were back living in Hanover Township. Living with them was a Redmond Jr., who in 1860 still lived with the family as Redmond Line. They all were living next door to Redmond’s and Christiana’s son Edward Owens, and his wife Mary and their children, George, and Mary L.
-- Also living next door was Redmond’s and Christiana’s daughter, Mary, and her husband George Carey, and their son George Jr. Also living with the Carey family were Hezekiah and Elizabeth A. Thomas, and John Owens. Elizabeth and John were also children of Redmond and Christiana.
In 1860 Redmond and Christiana Owens moved south of Hanover Township to the Wilkes-Barre post office area of Wright Township Luzerne County. Redmond’s age suggest his birth date is about 1792 and Christiana’s age suggest he birth date is about 1795. Living with them is Redmond Line who was born about 1840.
Redmond died 1860-1870, and was most likely laid to rest in either the Wilkes-Barre or Mount Top areas of Wright Township Luzern County.
By 1870, 81 year old Christiana was living with their daughter Elizabeth Thomas and her daughters in the Mountain Top post office area of Wright Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Living next door are Elizabeth’s brother-in-law and sister, George and Mary Carey. Also living in Mountain Top was Christiana’s son, Edward.
Christiana died sometime after 1880, and was also was most likely laid to rest in either the Wilkes-Barre or Mount Top areas of Wright Township Luzern County.
Redmond and Christiana Owens children; seven children were identified in 1883, and the names of Christiana and Hattie require more work. The 1820-1840 census records were also used to determine birth date ranges.
i. Margaret Owens (1814-1902). She married Henry Sox.
ii. Unknown Male Owens born 1816-1820. He lived with the family 1820-1840. His exact identity and location after 1840 is being researched. He may not be an Owens child.
iii. Mary Owens was born in 1818. She married George Carey.
iv. Unknown Female Owens was born 1825-1830; Christiana or .
v. Edward Owens (1825- ). He married Mary Carey.
vi. John Owens was born 1826-1830.
vii. Elizabeth Ann Owens. She married Hezekiah Thomas
viii. Unknown Female Owens was born 1831-1835; Christiana or Hattie.