Thomas Edison Bridges -- Survivor of an Arctic Shipwreck

 

Thomas Edison Bridges

Thomas Edison Bridges was born on February 19, 1916 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the third of six children born to Garland Drew Bridges and Annie Lurline Thomas Bridges.  Garland was a farmer in Kentucky and later worked as a hospital employee after moving to Arizona. Both he and Annie were natives of Trigg County.  Edison was a descendant of both Drewry Bridges and Starkie Thomas.

Edison's siblings were Troy Hughie Bridges, born in 1910 and married Isabel Mary Wilde and later married Dorothy May Kerr; Peachie Shirley Bridges, born in 1913 and married Benjamin Franklin Futrell and later married T. J. Owens; Garland Drew Bridges, Jr., born in 1924 and married Johnnye Faye Buth; Anna Louise Bridges, born in 1926 and married Edward Thomas Foose; and Willa Dale Bridges, born in 1929 and married John Wesley Mathis and later married Arliss Worley.

Edison grew up in Trigg County and when he was eighteen years old, in May of 1934, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the Navy Recruiting Station in Nashville, Tennessee.  He was then transferred to the Naval Training Station in Norfolk, Virginia where he received twelve weeks of recruit training.  After two years in the Navy, Edison was discharged and he joined the Merchant Marines and served on commercial ships. Edison's career ultimately led him to serve as an engineering officer in the Merchant Marines. He served in the Merchant Marines until his retirement in 1976.

After World War II, Edison almost lost his life after being shipwrecked in Arctic waters.  During the war when Russia and Germany were involved in many battles, and Edison was serving with the Merchant Marines, his ships were involved in carrying supplies to the hottest European spots including the Russian city of Murmansk. Murmansk is, one of the largest cities north of the Arctic Circle and nicknamed the “Gateway to the Arctic.” Edison’s fleet was later honored by the Soviet government for their services to Russia. Edison was shipwrecked on three earlier ill-fated voyages and was successfully rescued.

Following the war on February 5, 1946, Edison who had been serving at sea for more than a year when he was among seventeen survivors of the sixty-man crew of the American liberty ship, SS William H. Webb, sank in the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea after a voyage to the city of Murmansk.  Two lives were known to be lost at the time with Edison being one of the fortunate survivors.  A Russian patrol vessel rescued the seventeen men from the cold Arctic waters and later transferred them to Greenock, Scotland.  The 7,176-ton ship which was built in Baltimore in 1943 broke into two sections and quickly sank in the cold Arctic waters. The lifeboats got away from the wreck, two of them being picked up soon afterward by the Russians. The third whose occupants included the skipper W. R. Schlining of Baltimore was swamped in the surf of an uninhabited island.  "We only managed to scramble ashore" Schlining said “Snow was several feet deep on the Island and we plowed through this to an old hut We knew we could not live long there without food and we decided to set the hut on fire. We knew it would put some heat into us and hoped the blaze would be seen by the Russians"  Schlining and his companions were rescued after spending 24 hours on the island The captain said some of the men were taken to a Murmansk hospital for emergency treatment.

In 1947, Edison married Mary Henrietta “Dolly” Armstrong.  Dolly was born on July 22, 1923 in Trigg County.  She was the daughter of John Starkey Armstrong and Nora Pearl Sumner Armstrong. Both John Starkey and Nora Pearl were natives of Trigg County.  Dolly worked as a nurse.

Edison and Dolly were the parents of one daughter, Gretchen Bridges, born in 1949 and married Stanley C. Kronenberger.  Gretchen was adopted by Dolly’s second husband and was known as Gretchen Green.

Edison and Dolly were divorced and in 1972  Edison married his second wife, Caroline Fox Harned.  Caroline was born on June 13, 1924 in Binghamton Broome, New York .  She was the daughter of John Fox and Anna Kozup Fox who were both natives of Poland. Thomas and Caroline had no children.  Caroline worked at the Norfolk Naval Supply Center for over 25 years.

Edison died on January 3, 1993 at the age of 76 in the Dupaul Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.  He was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County, Kentucky.  His wife, Caroline, died on June 27, 1999 at the age of 75 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  She was buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

Edison tombstone

 

Caroline tombstone

LINEAGE: (Thomas Edison Bridges was the son of Garland Drew and Annie Lurline Thomas Bridges. Garland was the twelfth child of Drewry and Nannie Gresham Bridges.  Drewry was the fourth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Annie Lurline was the fifth child of Wesley Gunn and Eliza L. Henderson Thomas.  Wesley was the sixth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Mavis Lorene Ford Wolfe -- Elementary School Teacher

 

Mavis Ford Wolfe

Mavis Lorene Ford was born on September 20, 1909 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the third of seven children born to William Albert Ford and Annie Emmaline Bridges Ford.  William was a farmer and he and Annie were both natives of Trigg County.  Annie was a granddaughter of Simco Bridges.  Mavis’ siblings were Henry Kirklin Ford, born and died as an infant in 1906; Betty Earle Ford, born in 1907 and married Thomas Odell Adams; Willie Glenn Ford, born in 1915 and died at the age of one; Elaine Marie Ford, born in 1917 and married Troy Amos “Dave” Calhoun; Howard Blane Ford, born in 1919 and married Irma Maxine Williams; and Nida Merle Ford born in 1924 and married James Burwick Downs.

In 1927, Mavis was in the first graduating class of the Rogers High School in Linton, Kentucky.  The following fall she entered Murray State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Only one year later in 1928, she began her teaching career by teaching in a one-room school. Among the one-room school where she taught were Saline Creek, Lower Donaldson, Delmont and Graham schools.  She went on to teach for fourteen years at the Linton Graded School.

On October 17, 1931, Mavis married James Franklin Wolfe.  Frank was born on October 23, 1906 and was the son of Napoleon B. Wolfe and Ida Martin Hughes Wolfe, both natives of Trigg County.  Frank was also in the first graduating class of the Rogers High School in Linton. He attended Murray State University and was a teacher for twenty-six years in Trigg County.  In 1954, he retired from teaching and became a full-time farmer.

Mavis was transferred from the Linton Graded School to the Cadiz Graded School in 1957.  She taught there until 1962 when the Trigg County school district consolidated all of the 1 through 12 classes into one single school center.  She taught in the new consolidated schools until her retirement in 1975 ending a career of more than 45 years teaching the school children of Trigg County.

Frank and Mavis were the parents of three children, Billie Frank Wolfe, born in 1932 and married Robbie Dell Johnson; Elizabeth Ann Wolfe, born in 1936 and married Rex Allen Thompson; and James Dwight Wolfe, born in 1949 and married Linda Sue Clark and then married Sharon Ezell Birdsong.

Mavis died on September 6, 1987 at the age of 77 in the Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky.  She was buried in the Lawence Cemetery in Trigg County.  Frank had died on January 16, 1983 at the age of 76 at his home in Trigg County.  He was also buried in the Lawrence Cemetery.

Frank Wolfe

 

Mavis and Frank tombstone

LINEAGE: (Mavis Lorene Ford Wolfe was the daughter of William Albert and Annie Emmaline Bridges Ford. Annie was the third child of Alfred Franklin and Lou Ella Turner Bridges.  Alfred was the fourth child of Simco and Emeline Martin Bridges.  Simco was the third child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

James Judson Patterson -- Farmer and State Representative

 

James Judson Patterson was born on January 25, 1852 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the third of nine children born to George Alexander Patterson and Margaret F. Carloss Patterson.  George was a prominent Baptist minister., as well as his father, and both he and Margaret were natives of Berkley County, Virginia, now West Virginia.  They had settled in Trigg County as early as the 1820s.

James grew up on a farm in Trigg County and on January 24, 1877, he married Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Thomas in Trigg County.  Sallie was born on November 12, 1849, one of nine children of Allison William Thomas and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas. Allison was a farmer and a native of Trigg County. Catherine was a native of Sumner County, Tennessee.  Sallies’ siblings were Benjamin Clay Thomas, born in 1852; Charles Edgar Thomas, born in 1854 and married Fannie Quick; Martha Jane Thomas, born in 1856 and married John Carr Quick; Tommy Wilson Thomas, born in 1858; John Quincy Thomas, born in 1860 and married Catherine Moore Bruff; Mary Allison Thomas, born in 1862 and married James. Henry Carloss; Kate Eliza Thomas, born in 1864 and married John Howard and later married James Watson “Pete” Bruff; and George Prentice Thomas, born in 1869 and married Annie Laurie Meacham.  Sallie was known as an ardent scholar and before her marriage, she taught school in Trigg County and was well remembered as being a fine instructor.

James was a prominent and well-known farmer in Trigg County.  He desired to be a public servant and in 1923 he ran for state representative for Trigg County as the Democrat candidate.  He was successful and served in the 1924 session of the Kentucky General Assembly.  He ran for re-election and served a second term in 1926.  Several of the main roads of Trigg County were placed in the primary road systems through his efforts in that body and he served on many prominent committees during his terms in the Legislature.  James did not shy away from controversy as a legislator.  In the 1924 session he was one of the legislators who helped to put through a controversial anti-parimutuel bill through the state house. The legislative controversy over parimutuel betting still exists even up to the current time.  In February of 1926, the House of Representatives was enlivened when he endeavored to put through a bill to punish teachers who taught anything concerning the Darwin Theory. The bill was killed when the speaker of the house ruled against it.

James and Sallie were the parents of three children, Anna Olivia “Annie” Patterson, born in 1877 and married William Samuel Wade; Allison Thomas Patterson, born in 1880 and married Nancy “Nannie” Quick Fort; and George Alexander Patterson, born in 1883.

James died on October 3, 1933 at the age of 81 at his home near Cadiz.  Four years earlier, he had suffered a stroke and been paralyzed.  He was buried in the Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Trigg County.  Sallie died on October 20, 1944 at the age of 94 at her home in Trigg County. She had suffered a recent fall resulting in a broken hip which was listed as the cause of death.  She was buried in the Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery next to her husband.

 

James and Sallie tombstone

LINEAGE: (James Judson Patterson was the husband of Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Thomas.  Sallie was the daughter of Allison William and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas.  Allison was the third child of Perry and Elizabeth Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Eliza Dell Hughes Gentry -- Farmer's Wife

 

Eliza Hughes Gentry

Eliza Dell Hughes was born on August 31, 1904 in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the oldest of three children born to Mason Hamilton Hughes, Jr. and Mattie Pearl Thomas Hughes. Mason was a farmer, and a “horse trader.”  Mason and Pearl were both natives of Trigg County.  Pearl was a descendant of Starkie Thomas.

Eliza;s siblings were Hazie Irbell Hughes, born in 1911 and married John Clayton Light and Twyman Mason Hughes, born in 1914 and married Eldo Myra Boyd and later married Nora Ambie Bridges.

Eliza grew up in the Oak Grove community and attended the local schools.  On December 25, 1924 Eliza married Thomas Perry Gentry in a ceremony in Hopkinsville, Kentucky officiated by Rev. John T. Cunningham. Their marriage was on the  22nd anniversary of her parents wedding which was also officiated by Rev. Cunningham in 1902.  Thomas was born on May 5, 1894 and was the son of Robert Henry Gentry and Lillian Hicks Jefferson Gentry. Robert was a native of Dover, Tennessee and Lillian was a native of Trigg County. Robert was a farmer and had served as a deputy sheriff in Cadiz.

Thomas was a veteran of World War I.  He was inducted into the U.S. Army on February 25, 1918 and received his initial training at Fort Zachary Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. He was assigned to Company D, of the First Pioneer Infantry where he served for his entire tour of duty.  He served overseas in Germany and France from July 9, 1918 to July 7. 1919.  He was stationed on the Rhine River when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Thomas received an honorable discharge with a rank of corporal.

After Eliza and Thomas were married, they purchased a farm from Eliza’s parents which had been part of the original Stanley Thomas property.  They were engaged in farming on this property in the Oak Grove community for their entire lives.

Eliza and Thomas were the parents of five children.  They were Thomas Hughes Gentry, born in 1925 and married Nellie Evelyn Thomas; Lillian Pearl Gentry, born in 1927 and died at birth; Rachel Louise Gentry, born in 1931 and married Robert William Erath; Clara Dell Gentry, born in 1937 and married Ernest Ronald Lawrence; and Mary Jo Gentry, born in 1939 and married Carol Wayne Whitmer and later married Eugene Carrol Riley.

Thomas died on September 9, 1980 at the age of 86 at the Jennie Stuart Medica Center in Hopkinsville.  He was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County.  Eliza died on January 19, 1986 at the age of 81 at the Jennie Stuart Medical Center.  She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery next to her husband.

 Thomas Perry Gentry

 

Eliza and Thomas tombstone

 

Thomas military tombstone

 

Eliza foot tombstone

LINEAGE: (Eliza Dell Hughes was the daughter of Mason Hamilton Hughes, Jr. and Mattie Pearl Thomas Hughes.  Pearl was the first child of Wesley Gunn and Eliza L. Henderson Thomas.  Wesley was the sixth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Carmon Aubrey Cunningham -- Carpenter

 

Carmon Aubrey Cunningham was born on April 7, 1907 in the Maple Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky, the fourth of seven children born to Elmer Ellsworth “Ell” Cunningham and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham.  Ell and Rosa Lee were both natives of Trigg County and Ell was a farmer.  Rosa Lee was a daughter of Cullen Thomas Bridges and Virginia Thomas Bridges and a granddaughter of William Bridges.

Carmon’s siblings were Myrtie Mable Cunningham, born in 1898 and married Burnett Finley; Olive James “Ollie” Cunningham, born in 1900 and married Lillie Roberta Williams; George Clyde Cunningham, born in 1904 and married Robbie Bell Bridges; Maureen Ell Cunningham, born in 1909 and married Grover Douglas “Bubby” Creamer; Earl Wayne Cunningham, born in 1912 and married Lois Velma Page; and Ivy Mavis Cunningham, born in 1915 and married Robert “Jack” Rowen, Jr.

Carmon attended the Trigg County schools and after leaving school became a carpenter.  He practiced carpentry in Cadiz and Trigg County in his early years and in 1939 he moved to Detroit, Michigan.  In the early 1940s, he returned to Cadiz when his wife became ill.  In 1947 after her death, he returned to Detroit where he worked as a construction worker for the O. W. Burke Company. The company was a Michigan corporation engaged as a general contractor in commercial and industrial construction work. Carmon worked for the company until his retirement in 1967. After his retirement, he moved back to Cadiz where he lived the rest of his life.

On December 10, 1928, Carmon married Ora Noel.  Ora was born on March 15, 1908 in Trigg County, the daughter of Quint Tyler Noel and Arminta Harris Noel, both natives of Trigg County. Carmon and Ora were the parents of two children, Dorris Aubrey Cunningham, born in 1929 and never married and Alven Roy Cunningham, born in 1934 and married Trixie Aileen Shortridge.

In 1946 Ora became ill when the family was living in Detroit. Her illness caused the family to move back to Cadiz. Several weeks after their return, Ora died on November 11, 1946 at the age of 38, at the home of her mother.  She was buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in the Blue Spring community of Trigg County.

On June 18, 1953, Carmon married Belvie Lee Ricks Dixon.  Belvie was born February 18, 1907 in Trigg County and was the daughter of Henry Luther Ricks and Fredonia Isabelle Turner Ricks, both natives of Trigg County.  Carmon and Belvie had no children, but Belvie had two children from her first marriage to Thomas Lloyd Dixon. Belvie died on April 18, 1977 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky at the age of 68.  She was buried in the Dixon Cemetery in Trigg County next to her first husband.

Carmon died on May 25, 1969 in the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz at the age of 62. He was buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery next to his first wife.

Ell and Rosie Bridges Cunningham family 1929

Carmon and Ora Cunningham tombstone

LINEAGE: (Carmon Aubrey Cunningham was the son of Elmer Ellsworth and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham. Rosa Lee was the seventh child of Cullen T. and Virginia Thomas Bridges.  Cullen was the twelfth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Virginia was the third child of Peyton and Sarah Ethridge Thomas.  Peyton was the third child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.  Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Bluford Clyde Bridges -- Centenarian

 

Bluford Clyde Bridges

Bluford Clyde Bridges was born on February 6, 1891 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the oldest of five children of Alfred Franklin Bridges and Minnie Lancaster Bridges.  His father had an earlier marriage to Ella Turner who had provided Bluford with three half siblings.  Alfred was a farmer and both he and Minnie were native Trigg Countians.

Bluford’s siblings were Alfred Claud Bridges, born in 1895 and married Ethelene Bonner; William Hopson “Willie” Bridges, born in 1899 and married Sarah Ellen McCoy; Ambie Lois Bridges, born in 1900 and married Amos Ira Guier and Denny Lee Bridges, born in 1901 and married Margaret Nolan.  Bluford’s half siblings were Charlotte “Lottie” Bridges, born in 1883 and married Harry Winfield Lancaster; John Madison “Matt” Bridges, born in 1884 and married Huewell Tandy Lawrence and Annie Emmaline Bridges, born in 1888 and married William Albert Ford.

Bluford grew up on his father’s farm and became a farmer and lived on a farm in the Linton community of Trigg County for his entire life.

On December 27, 1912 when Bluford was 21 years old, he married Birdie Hopson Calhoun in Stewart County, Tennessee.  Birdie was 18 at the time of their marriage.  She was born in Trigg County and was the daughter of Arthur Griffin Calhoun and Nancy Augusta Herndon Calhoun, both native Trigg Countians.

In 1991 when Bluford reached the age of 100, he was interviewed about becoming a Centenarian. Once a week at that age he would ride a community services bus, usually on a Thursday, to the Senior Citizen Kitchen in Cadiz.  There he would talk to his friends, eat a hot meal and smoke his cigarettes.  When told that smoking was not good for him, he said, “They ain't, I don't smoke as much as some people."  Smoking was a habit that Bluford had had for 84 years at the time.  Bluford recalled living without electricity. The only way he had to travel was to walk or ride one of his good saddle horses. "I can recollect when I wore dresses, too," he said.  "I was six or seven years old and as far as I know all boys wore dresses then."  Bluford talked about his fox hounds and fox hunting expeditions. “I fox hunted a long time.  I'd blow my horn.  Stay out all night.  Go to work the next day,” he said. Fox hunting has apparently been one of his greatest pleasures in life. "I love to hear them dogs run about as good as I do anything," he said.  When asked if he had any advice on how to live to be 100, he didn’t have much to say, but he did have a message for young people. "Be honest," he said.

Bluford and Nancy were the parents of five children, Eda Glenn Bridges, born in 1913 and died in 1915 at the age of 1 ½ years old; Obie Clyde Bridges, born in 1916 and married Mary Jane Crews; Arlie Amos Bridges, born in 1918 and married Lois Alene Dunning; Robert Garnett Bridges, born in 1921 and married Macy Louis Oakley and Annie Grace Bridges, born in 1929 and died in 1930 at the age of one month.

Bluford died on March 3, 1993 in Cadiz, Kentucky at the age of 102.  He was the oldest resident of Trigg County at the time of his death. He was buried in the Green Hill Memorial Gardens in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  Birdie died on June 3, 1964 in Cadiz at the age of 67.  She was buried in the Green Hill Memorial Gardens.

Bluford, age 92,  and friend L. L Pope, age 95, relax on the benches in front of the Trigg County Courthouse in Cadiz, Kentucky

Bluford and Birdie Bridges tombstone

LINEAGE: (Bluford Clyde Bridges was the son of Alfred Franklin and Minnie Lancaster Bridges.  Alfred was the fourth child of Simco N. and Emeline Martin Bridges.  Simco was the third child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Carroll Thomas -- Early Trigg County Pioneer

 

Carroll Thomas

Carroll Thomas was born on December 31, 1831 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the second of four children who grew to adulthood of James Thomas, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James, Jr. had been born in Bertie County, North Carolina and traveled with his father’s family to settle in Trigg County.  His mother, Margaret, was a native of Davidson County, Tennessee.  James, Jr. owned a farm in the Donaldson Creek community. Carroll’s siblings were Edwin C. Thomas, born in 1830 and married Amanda C. Brandon; James Clark “Muck” Thomas, born in 1835 and married Mary Elizabeth Lawrence and then married Mary Ann “Mollie” Fowler Meeks; and Amanda Jane Thomas, born in 1838 and married Bayliss Print Vinson. James, Jr. and Margaret also had one unnamed infant and Pollie S. Thomas, who died in childhood.

Carroll grew up on his father’s farm which was near the present-day Donaldson Creek Baptist Church.  He attended school at the Upper Donaldson one-room school house along with numerous members of his kinfolk. Carroll was an accomplished musician, especially adroit on the violin.  On one occasion he was called before the church deacons to explain why he had played the violin at a square dance, which was frowned upon by the church.

On February 10, 1859, Carroll married Margaret Jane Reid.  Margaret was born on August 2, 1842 in Stewart County, Tennessee, the daughter of Matthew Milton Reid and Martha Ann Vinson Reid, both natives of Stewart County.  Carroll was 28 years old and Margaret was 19 at the time of their marriage. They moved into his father’s two-story frame home where all eight of their children were born and raised.  The eight children were Sarah L. “Sallie” Thomas, born in 1860, and married James Edmond Sumner; Jesse Milton “Bud” Thomas, born in1862 and married Lula Augusta Shelton; Robert Henry Thomas, born in 1867 and married Lillie Belle Thomas and then married Ora Agnes Bridges; Martha Thomas, born in 1870 and died at the age of two; Richard Ellis Thomas, born in 1872 and married Nannie G. Hendricks and then married Effie Sivills, with a third marriage to Ora Crute Wills and a fourth marriage to Ada Justice Smith; Margaret “Jennie Thomas, born in 1874 and married George Walton Thomas; Charles Major Thomas, born in 1879; and Edward “Edd” Clark Thomas, born in 1882 and married Augusta “Gustie” Arbelle Carr.

Carroll’s wife Margaret died at the age of 48 on February 13, 1890.  She was buried in the Carroll Thomas Family Cemetery which was located at the rear of the site of their family home.  On January 1, 1891, Carroll married his second wife, Frances “Frankie” Wills Vinson.  Frances was born on June 20, 1857, the daughter of Jospeh Patrick Wills and Harriett Duncan Wills.  Frankie was the widow of Ezekiel Vinson.  Carroll and Frankie were the parents of three children, one who died in infancy; and two who grew to adulthood, John Cullen “Taylor” Thomas, born in 1891 and married Myrtle Green Chewning and James Carroll “Pat” Thomas, born in 1899, and married Bessie Elizabeth Satterfield.

Carroll spent his entire life on Donaldson Creek in the family home built by his father on the farm that he had acquired in 1825.  He died at that home on February 12, 1922 at the age of 90.  He had incurred a fall several weeks before his death which had resulted in a broken hip and because of his advanced age, his death was not unexpected.  He was buried in the family cemetery near the rear of his family home.  His wife, Frankie, outlived him by 24 years and continued to live in the family home along with his family until her death on January 31, 1946, at the age of 88.  She was buried in the family cemetery behind the home along with her husband and his first wife.

Carroll Thomas home place on Donaldson Creek

Carroll and Margaret tombstone

Frankie Thomas tombstone

LINEAGE: (Carroll Thomas was the second child of James, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James, Jr. was the sixth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)