James Peyton “Buck” Thomas was born on January 26, 1878 in the Donaldson Creek Community of Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the oldest of four children born to James Dillard and Sarah Armentia Sholar Thomas. Both James Dillard and Sarah were natives of Trigg County and James Dillard was a farmer. Buck’s siblings were Grace Day Thomas, born in 1880 and married Joseph Alvin Sumner; Willie Mae Thomas, born in 1882 and married Dallie Brown Thomas; and Alfred Herman Thomas, born in 1886 and married Maggie Lee Emma Carr.
Buck grew up in the Donaldson Creek community and like his father, he became a farmer. On January 2, 1901, he married Avia Frankline Eggner. Avia was born on July 25, 1885 and was a native of Marshall County Kentucky. She was the daughter of Franklin P. Whitford and Telitha Jane Dunn Eggner. Frank ran the ferry over the Tennessee River in western Trigg County. In 1932 when the bowstring truss bridge across the river was opened it was named Eggner’s Ferry Bridge. This bridge was replaced by a new four lane arch bridge in 2016 and the new bridge was also named Eggner’s Ferry Bridge. Telitha was a teacher and also served as postmistress in Aurora, Kentucky.
Buck was known for his sense of humor and love of a good laugh and he and Avia were a welcoming couple to their home. They often opened their home to people who were traveling. They boarded a school teacher who taught at Upper Donaldson Creek School and several ministers who preached at Donaldson Creek Baptist Church spent their weekends at the Thomas home. Avia was also an excellent seamstress which included crocheting, embroidering and making quilts. She made clothes which she would sell, a job she turned into an occupation after Buck’s death.
Buck and Avia were the parents of six children. They were Charles Wilford Thomas, born in 1902 and married Piccola R. Stafford and later married Neva Brown; Preston Hoover Thomas, born in 1904 and married Mary Pauline Bridges; Lila Beatrice Thomas, born in 1908 and married William H. Downs and later Fred William Kottman; James Frank Thomas, born in 1910 and married Mary Mavis Barnes; Eugene Eggner Thomas, born in 1916 and married Audra Elizabeth Sisk and later Juanita Mildred Cooke; and Barbara Nell Thomas, born in 1922 and married Frank Albert Potter.
James Peyton died on August 23, 1946 at the age of 68 at his home. He was buried in the Peyton Thomas Cemetery in Trigg County. Avia died on July 28, 1980 at the age of 95 at the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz. She was buried in the Trigg Memory Acres cemetery in Trigg County.
Buck tombstone
Avia tombstone
LINEAGE: (James Peyton “Buck” Thomas was the son of James Dillard and Sarah Armentia Sholar Thomas and the grandson of Peyton and Sarah L. Ethridge Thomas. Peyton was the third child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas. Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)
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