A Leaf on the Family Tree: James Jasper Thomas -- Teacher, Farmer and Civil War Soldier

James Jasper Thomas

James Jasper Thomas, Sr. was born on March 19, 1833 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the fourth of eleven children born to Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas. Starkie was born in Bertie County, North Carolina and had migrated to Trigg County in 1806 with James and Mary Standley Thomas. Mary was born in Trigg County and was the youngest child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.

James’ siblings were William Bridges Thomas, born in 1825 and married Nancy Jane Rogers and later married Sarah Elizabeth Light; Stanley Thomas, born in 1828 and married Emily Ann Light; Adeline Thomas, born in 1830 and died at the age of seven; Peachie A. Thomas, born in 1834 and died at the age of four; Alfred Marshall Thomas, born in 1835 and married Eliza Anne Martin; Francis Marion “Fant” Thomas, born in 1839 and married Mary Forrest Rogers; Bluford Mills Thomas, born in 1841 and married Peachie Ann Martin; Perry Curlin Thomas, born in 1843 and married Mary E. Carter; Starkie Armstead Thomas, born in 1844 and married Inez Miller; and Mary Jane Thomas, born in 1847 and married William Thomas Armstrong.

James married Mary Magdaline Cunningham on July 14, 1856. Mary was born on December 4, 1838 in Trigg County and was the daughter of John “Duck” Cunningham and Mary “Polly” Gresham Cunningham. John was a native of Charlottesville, Virginia and Mary was a native of Halifax, Virginia. Both had settled in Trigg County with the large Cunningham family.

James and Mary settled into their home which was located on the Old Dover Road south of Cadiz. While growing up, James had received a generous education for his day and as a result for a few years, he taught school. He later became a farmer and continued to reside in the family farm house for his entire life.

On July 6, 1861, James was mustered into the militia of the Confederate Army. He was stationed at Fort Donelson, Tennessee which was located only a short distance from his home. He was granted a leave to return home to visit his family and while he rode home, he was trailed by a group of Union soldiers. To keep from being captured after he arrived at his home, his wife, Mary hid him in a cellar which had an opening in the floor inside the house. Mary placed a bed over the cellar door opening, laid in the bed and pretended to be sick. Not wanting to disturb her, the Union soldiers did not locate the hidden door, nor find the hidden James. However, they did steal horses and meat from the nearby smoke house.

Mary raised a slave baby whose mother had died. She had named the child Lewis. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, Lewis was given the option to leave the family. However, he chose to continue to reside on the James J. Thomas farm, where he lived his entire life.

James and Mary were the parents of nine children, Seldon Trimble Thomas, born in 1857 and married Martha Elizabeth Bridges; Joseph Cullen Thomas, born in 1860 and married Onie F. Thomas; James Jasper Thomas, Jr. born in 1863 and married Lula Maye Crews; Ophelia Thomas, born in 1867 and married Charles H. Pursley; Starkie William Thomas, born in 1869 and married Julia Louise Sumner; Ella May Thomas, born in 1871 and married Clarence Winston Wilson; John Spurlin Thomas, born in 1874 and married Hattie Lee Ricks; Cicero Berter Thomas, born in 1880 and married Edward Seymore Spurlock; and Edgar Clyde Thomas, born in 1881.

James died on January 23, 1903 at the age of 69 at his home on the family farm. He was buried in the Starkie Thomas cemetery in the Oak Grove community. Mary died on November 19, 1911 at the age of 71 and was buried in the Starkie Thomas cemetery.