http://www.uh.edu/~jbutler/gean/jamesmurdered.html James Dye II was born in 1812 Greene County, Pennsylvania and died in 1862. He married Cassandra Thomas the daughter of Joshua Thomas and Catherine Livengood. They had nine children, including James Dye III (b. 1832) who served in the 21st Missouri Infantry (Union), was captured at the Battle of Nashville (Eastport) and sent to Andersonville Prison. James II was a soldier in the Anti-Mormon "War" at Nauvoo Illinois. There are two versions of the death of James II...the "Official" one (as reported in the History of Adair Co MO): On the evening of 5 August 1862 (Colonel) Porter's (Confederate) Troops picked up James Dye, a farmer who lived a half mile west of the Westenhaver Place. Dye was doubtless a Union sympathizer since he had two sons with the Federal Troops (James III and Samuel - who was with the 39th Missouri Mounted Infantry at the Battle of Centralia). Some of the Union troops knew Dye to be a Union sympathizer and as one who would know the movement of the Union Troops in the area. Dye would tell them nothing and Porter ordered Dye to be taken along as a prisoner as Porter's troops moved toward Kirksville. Dye, after being kept prisoner all night, was brought before Porter early the next morning, and was told to "get going" for home. As Dye started off on a run, he was dropped by two bullets which lodged in his skull...supposedly from Colonel Porter's own pistol. The Family version (from a hand-written report by James family in the custody of Eugene Dodge, A Missouri historian and Dye researcher) ....James was on his way from home with a team of horses. Riding with him was his son John Julius Dye. They were stopped by Confederate forces. He was asked to produce the whereabouts of several Union sympathizers and when he would not do so, the tropps turned the team and wagon around and sent the boy John Julius toward home. Then they stood James up against the tree and while begging not to be shot, they shot him in the head "and tore the head all to pieces". (As an aside, I was raised in Kirksville and Colonel Porter's family was well known in those parts. They started one of the first schools there...Porter School...which was still operating up to my childhood. It was, of course, an all-white school. The schools were not integrated in Kirksville until right before World War II.)
1850 Census shows Susan, age 18.
Sister Inda married Isaac Eisiminger, Susannah's husband's brother.
Info found at www.wonderly.org/family/fam01065.htm
1850 Census shows name as India, age 15.
Sister Susannah married Abraham Eisiminger the brother of Inda's husband.
Sue Herbine has photo of tombstone.
1850 Greene Co., Center Twp Census shows Isaac Thomas age 50, farmer, born in PA, Mary age 47, Sarah age 16, Nancy age 12, Maria age 7, Caroline age 2.
Note - This Caroline marries Nelson Thomas. They lived next door to Nelson in 1850.
According to 1860 Census, Isaac and Mary lived with their son Eli.
Listed in the Miller Family Bible in possession of the Traylor Family in Topeka Kansas. (grandson of Sarah Thomas). shows Isaac born in the year 1800.
Listed in Miller Family Bible as born in 1790 and died 1885.
Death Source: Civil War pension record.
1861-1862 Served in Capt. Morris' Co. F 85th Penna. Reg. Volunteer/Infantry
1850, PA, Greene Co, Center Twp Census shows William Thomas age 37, farmer, estate value of 850, Julian age 27, Hariet age 6, Joshua age 4, Jese age 3, William age 1. All born in PA. Notes - house number was 69, 69. Neighbors below were Jese Stewart, Rachel, mary, jese, peter, rachel, catherine, margaret, zeakel, spencer, eliza.
1860, PA, Greene Co., Center Twp, Rogersville Post Office, image 84 shows Wm Thomas age 41, Tenant farmer, real estate value of 1,100 and personal estate value of 500, born PA, Julia A. age 40, Hariet age 17, Joshua age 15, Jese age 13, Nat. age 11, Asa age 7, J.M. age 2 male. Notes - According to this census it would make William born around 1819. House numbers were 995, 978. Neighbors above were Andrew Wilkinson and below were Zeke Stewart age 68. William lived 4 houses down from Eli and Kesiah Thomas. Notes - according to this census would make Julia born 1820.
Huffman website - Thomas Cemetery, Pursley Creek, Greene County, PA
1880 Census, Center twp, Greene Co, PA image 15 of 37 shows An Thomas age 53, widowed, keeping house, parents born PA, cannot read or write, Harriet age 37, single,Jesse age 33,single, unemployed for 3 months, Nathaniel age 31, single, unemployed for 3 months, Asa age 26, single, Franklin age 21, single cannot write, Eagon age 18, single, cannot write, Henry age 12, George Good age 17, grandson, Haddie Good age 6, grandaughter. Notes - according to this Census, would make Julia Ann born 1827.
according to 1880 census would make Franklin born in 1859. He could not write at age 21.
1920, PA, Greene Co., Center twp, Ed #121, image 12 of 21 shows Hagan Thomas age 58, home owned and free (not mortaged), Asa brother,age 57 single, Frank, brother age 62 single, Harriet sister age 76 widowed.
according to 1880 census Hagan could not write at age 18.
Huffman website - 1900 Census is listed as a nephew of Julia. He was single.
Greene County Death Register 1 Pg 166, Ln 15 states his name as Reecy, age 75 yr, 3 mos, single, born in Center twp, Dod April 3, 1899, Pod South Franklin, died of paralysis, illness duration 2 wks, buried at Pleasant Ridge.
1850, PA, Greene Co., Franklin Twp Census shows Rees Thomas as head of household, age 28, farmer, Priscilla, age 30, Joshua age 3, Joseph age 2, Thurman age 9 months.
1860, PA, Greene Co., Franklin Twp, Post Office Waynesburg, image 177 shows Reece Thomas age 37, Farmer, born in PA, Porcilla age 39, Joshua age 14, Joseph age 12, Sherman age 10, Samuel age 9, Reece F. age 7, John age 4, and Harriet age 11 months. Note - Shows Reece's number as 1284, 1317. Joshua and Margaret Hunnell lived next door. According to this census would make Reece born 1823, Precilla born 1821, Joshua 1846, Joseph 1848, Sherman (not Thurman) 1850, Samuel 1851, Reece F. 1853, John 1856, Harriet 1859
Teresa Kisko has copy of will.
Greene County Court House Will Book 8, No. 4669, pages 230, 231, 232. Will of Reese Thomas Registered April 11, 1899.Know all men by these Presents, That I Reese Thomas, a resident of Franklin TP Greene Co., Pa being of sound mind and in common health, do on this 17th day of December A.D. 1897. execute this my last will and testament.
1st I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Haddie Twenty two {22} Acres of the farm upon which I now reside, said portion being bounded and dexcribed as follows: on the west by Ten Mile Creek, on the north by land of Mrs Sally Morris, on the south by land of Samuel C Thomas, and onthe east by the remaining portion of my land, a Straight line to ___ surveyed parallel with the fence which now runs north from my barn, said line to begin at a point __the line of Mrs Sallie Morris and to terminate at a point on the line of Samuel C. Thomas.
2d. I give and bequeath to my son Joseph and my son William P. the remaining portion of my land, said portion being bounded and described as follows: On the west by land hereby bequeathed to my daughter Haddie, on the north by land of Mrs Sallie Morris, on the east by land of Henry Church, and on the south by lands of Thos E. Fry and Samuel C. Thomas, said portion containing Fifty {50} Acres more or less, but should my son Joseph die without issue, his share and portion to go to my daughter Haddie and my son William P.
3d. I give and bequeath to my daughter Haddie all of my household and kitchen firniture.
4th I give and bequeath to my son William P. the use of the house in which he now resides, he to have it free from rent as long as he shall reside therein. Also he to have ____ garden, and a one half interest in the use of the barn free. If he shall remove from the house in which he now resides, thereafter he shall have no use of said house, barn or garden unless granted to him by my daughter Haddie.
5th I give and bequeath to my son Thurman T. Thomas the sum of One Dollar.
6th I give and bequeath to my son Samuel C. Thomas the sum of One Dollar.
7th I give and bequeath to my son Fordyce Thomas the some of One Dollar.
8th I give and bequeath to my son John B. Thomas the sum of One Dollar.
9th My funeral expenses are to be apid by my daughter Haddie Thomas and my son Joseph Thomas and William P. Thomas.
10th I hereby appoint John Fry of Franklin T.P. Greene Co., Pa and my daughter Haddie the executors of this my last will and testament.
Witness my hand and seal the day and year first above written.Reese X Thomas
his mark
Signed and sealed in presence of
Thos E Fry
M. G. InghramGrene County ss:
Personall came Haddie Thomas who, being duly sworn according to law, says that Reese Thomas late of said County, died on the 3 day of April 1899 at 2 o'clock, A. M. and further saith not.
Greene County Death Register Pg 166, Ln 09 states Joseph was 50 when he died, single, unknown cause of death.
According to Joshua Thomas' will, Fordyce lived with his grandfather, Joshua, and grandmother Margaret.
record found at www.wonderly.org shows a Fordyce Thomas married to Elizabeth Mary Martin on Aug 2 1874 with children: Cora b. 1875 and Maggie b.1879. Shows Elizabeth's parents as David Martin and Elizabeth Eisiminger Elizabeth born on March 5 1857 at Franklin Twp, Green Co. PA.
tk-info sent to me shows name as John L. Thomas married Mary Emma Crago on Dec 24 1881, Monroe WI. Mary born abt 1861
