John Thomas, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of John Thomas
JOHN THOMAS, ex-merchant, and retired, was born in 1822, in Ohio. He was one of eight children born to William and Ann (Armstrong) Thomas, both natives of Ohio. They came from Ohio to La Porte (city) when John was quite young; here they bought land, but after about two years they came to Westchester, and with, the Morgans, were the first families to settle in the township. The Thomas's owned considerable land, including the present plat of Chesterton, of which they gave to the railroad company its present grounds, and then laid out the surrounding land in lots, which have grown into the present Chesterton. The town has grown around the old homestead, in which Mr. Thomas' sister is now living. John lived at home till nearly thirty-five years of age. The three brothers - John, William and Vincent - were partners in a saw mill, and as merchants in the building at present occupied by Taylor, Bros., and had the leading business for years. The three dissolved; then John and William were partners until the death of the latter. They also carried on a coopering business for a number of years. John carried on the milling and farming until about 1877, when, on account of ill health, he retired from business. He has been a member of both Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, and was among the founders of the lodges in Chesterton. In religious belief, he has been a Universalist. In politics, he has been a firm Democrat. He was married, November 18, 1836, to Jane Scott, a native of La Grange County, Ind. She lived for a time with Mr. Arnold's family in Constantine, Mich., a member of the noted Constantine Band; S. D. Crane, ex-County Superintendent of La Grange County, a lawyer, is a half-brother. She is in religious belief a Presbyterian. They have two children - Louis and Rose A.
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 313
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook