THOMAS, George C.

THOMAS, STROWBRIDGE, NANCE, HORNBUCKLE, BLAKE, CLARK, STORMS

Posted By: Kristi Murdock (email)
Date: 11/2/2002 at 19:56:06

From "History of Boone County" Volume II. Chicago. Pioneer Publishing Company. 1914

George C. Thomas, deceased, was one of the most esteemed and respected residents of Woodward. He was born in Canada. June 8, 1850, and was a son of George C. and Elizabeth (Strowbridge) Thomas. His father died in Arkansas and his mother in Woodward, Iowa. In their family were four sons and two daughters: John, a resident of Kansas; Harvey, now residing in Des Moines; Richard; George C., of this review; Anna, who died at the age of eighteen; and Mrs. Elizabeth Blake, of Chicago, Illinois. All of these children were born in Canada.

George C. Thomas, Jr., moved with his parents to Dallas county, Iowa, the family locating on a farm. There he grew to manhood and subsequently became one of the first business men of Woodward, conducting a restaurant with increasing success for a number of years. He was actively engaged in business until shortly before his death, which occurred in Woodward, October 29, 1905, causing sincere sorrow among his many friends.

On February 25, 1890, Mr. Thomas was married in Woodward to Miss Dora Nance, who was born in Peoples township, Boone county, September 23, 1866, and has been a continuous resident of this locality with the exception of a short time which she spent at Ames. Her parents, L.M. and Harriet M. (Hornbuckle) Nance, were among the pioneers of Boone county. Her father was born in Green county, Kentucky, May 18, 1827, and died in Woodward, Iowa, May 28, 1897. On leaving his native state he removed to Petersburg, Menard county, Illinois, and in 1855 he and his family came overland to Boone county, Iowa, arriving in what is now Peoples township in August of that year. He secured his first forty acres of raw prairie land for two hundred dollars. At that time the country was very sparsely settled and his nearest markets were at Marshalltown and Oskaloosa. The famous Indian chief, John Green, as well as members of his tribe, was a frequent visitor at the Nance home and was always welcome. In this county, March 8, 1855, Mr. Nance married Miss Harriet M. Hornbuckle, who was born in Petersburg, Illinois, June 20, 1832, and died at Woodward, Iowa, June 2, 1912, in her eightieth year. Her parents were among Boone county's pioneers, her father having settled here in 1853. He named the first postoffice in this part of the country, giving it the name of Prairie Hill, and he also operated the first sawmill on the Des Moines River at Elk Rapids. To Mr. and Mrs. Nance were born five children, all of whom received good educational advantages in the public schools of Boone. They were: Mrs. M.E. Storms, born December 24, 1855, now a resident of Woodward; Thomas F., born June 20, 1858, whose home is in Madrid; Mary Lydia, deceased, who was born December 29, 1861; Dora, now Mrs. Thomas; and Mrs. L.E. Clark, who was born January 8, 1873, and resides in Des Moines.

Mrs. Thomas was educated in the common schools of her neighborhood, particularly in the Oak Grove school of Peoples township. In April, 1914, there were gathered at the home of Mrs. Wade in Woodward a class of ten women, including Mrs. Thomas, who attended that school, and their old school teacher, A.C. Smith, now a prominent resident of Woodward, participated in the celebration. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas was born one son, George Wayne, whose birth occurred in Woodward, September 1, 1892. He attended the public schools there until fourteen years of age, when the family removed to Ames, where for four years he attended high school. He is at present holding a responsible position with the electric light and power plant at Woodward.

Mr. Thomas was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his widow also adheres to that faith. He was sincere in his professions and was the teacher of a Bible class for fifteen years. Politically, he was a democrat and fraternally a member of Woodward Lodge, No. 460, I.O.O.F., belonging to the famous I.O.O.F. drill team of Woodward, which attended the Baltimore conclave of that lodge and own the championship not only of Iowa and the nation, but of the world. Mr. Thomas died October 29, 1905, at the comparatively early age of fifty-five years. He had many friends in Woodward and Boone county among the business men, among the agriculturists, among political leadres and more especially among his lodge brothers. All turned out to do honor to his memory on the occasion of his funeral. In a quiet and modest way he contributed toward development and advancement and he has left Woodward and his county the better for his having lived. His widow now resides with her son in a well-furnished home in Woodward and she also owns a well appointed residence in Ames. All who know her esteem her for her high qualities of character, and she is ever ready to extend a helping hand to those who are less fortunate or who find themselves in affliction or in need.