Record News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
June 12, 1903

Mr. Davis E. THOMAS was born in Middlesborough, Massachusetts, May 5, 1827 [the son of Davis THOMAS (1799-1889) and Temperance (LeBARON) THOMAS (1801-1854)]. Mrs. THOMAS [Harriet A. (RICHMOND), was born at Providence, Rhode Island, December 12, 1832. They were married at Providence, January 24, 1851. [They] lived at Bedford, Massachussetts, till 1858, whence they removed to Mount Ayr, Iowa, where they have lived ever since.

There have been born to this couple five children, the last of whom died six years ago, they have no grandchildren.

In early life, Mr. THOMAS was a seaman, being in the business from the sage of seventeen till twenty, since that time his occupation has been a teacher and a bookkeeper. He is an old-time democrat, casting his first vote for Franklin PIERCE in 1852.

Both Mr. and Mrs. THOMAS are members of the M.E. Church. They are hale and hearty.

Mr. THOMAS has been an Odd Fellow for fifty-four years and is now the permanent secretary of the Mount Ayr lodge, his daily occupation at present is bookkeeping.

Children of David Erastus and Harriet A. (RICHMOND) THOMAS:
1) John C. Richmond THOMAS, b. 24 Feb 1852, MA; d. 28 Oct 1873, aged 21y
2) Harriet Ann THOMAS, b. 04 May 1861, IA; d. 17 Apr 1863
3) Lucy M. THOMAS, b. 24 May 1864, IA; d. 24 Sep 1865
4) Lois E. THOMAS, b. 04 Nov 1867, IA; d. 05 Jul 1892, aged 24y
5) Ira LeBaron THOMAS, b. 01 Jul 1869, IA; d. 12 Aug 1870

Record News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
June 2, 1911

Mr. D. E. THOMAS, of this city [Mount Ayr], completed his eighty-fourth year of life on May 5, 1911, and is now working on his eighty-fifth year. He came to Ringgold County in 1858, and left it once or twice, but did not care to stay away.

He was born in Massachusetts in 1829 and on coming to years first thought of being a sailor, but his mother objected. That vocation appealed to the curious imagination of the average boy on the Atlantic coast in that day.

He loved to travel and did so, visiting many strange lands. He visited many of the Pacific Islands and says that they were then inhabited by savages and half-savages. In modern times they have been almost entirely changed.

He spent some time in California. He has grown old pleasantly and has many friends. His relatives are all dead and at times he feels lonely. He still has a high admiration for New England, the home of his youth.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010