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I have little Thomas reunion information. I see that my grandparents, (Emil and Ruth), future aunt Wilma (b. Aug. 30, 1927), and mother to be Marilyn (b. Aug. 22, 1930) attended this reunion, dated September 11, 1930. That would make Marilyn twenty days old.
Thomas Family Holds Reunion
Pleasant Gathering at Home of Elbert A. Thomas , West of City Last Sunday
The home of Mr. And Mrs. Elbert A. Thomas, just west of this city, was the scene of a family reunion Sunday when members of the Thomas family for miles around gathered to spend the day.
There were eighty-nine guests present to enjoy the day and nearly every family of the relatives was represented at the reunion, including four generations, which consisted of gray-haired great-grand-parents down to the younger children.
A pot-luck dinner was served cafeteria style at noon and the remainder of the day was spent in visiting by the ladies and baseball and other games by the men.
Not a more fitting place for the reunion could have been found for the farm where it took place, now occupied by E. A. Thomas and his family, is the old homestead and was bought from the government by the present owner’s grandfather, Andrew Thomas, in 1840, for $1.25 an acre. The first deed of the land bears the signature of Zachary Taylor, president of the United States. The journey westward from New York state was made by Andrew Thomas and his wife by team to Buffalo, thence on the lake to Toledo, Ohio, and then again by team overland to Chicago, which was then only a swamp, and on to this vicinity where he settled.
The land here was mostly prairie and he built a log house, in which they lived until it was replaced by a more comfortable frame house. Here the Indians were their neighbors and the sight of deer and other wild animals was a common one. Through nearly a century the farm has remained in the family and has been improved in keeping with the present times.
Out of the family of ten children only two are now living, Mrs. Laura Randall of Richmond and Mrs. Emma Dwelly of Woodstock, who were both present at the gathering Sunday. Everyone present enjoyed the day and are looking toward to this event another year.
Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Randall of Richmond; Mrs. Emma Dwelly, Mrs. Lucy Thomas, Merrit Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. N. Thomas, son Arthur, and daughters, Elsie and Myrtle, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Thomas and sons, Julius and Edward, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Belcher, Melwin and Edwin, Mrs. Hiley Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Fish, John Babcock, Mrs. Loverna Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Thomas and daughters, Wilma and Marilyn, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Campbell and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Whiting of Woodstock; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wattles and son, Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Miller and daughter, Agnes Belle, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Draper and daughter, Bethel, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Newman, daughter Arlette, and son, Curtis, Mrs. Alma Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Whiting sons, Arthur and Walter, and daughters, Agnes and Doris, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Sherman, son, Robert, and daughters, Laura and Edith, Mrs. C. E. Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Thomas and sons, Everett and Walter, of McHenry; Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Thomas, sons Adrian and Loren, and daughter, Hiley Jean, Mr. and Mrs. James Rainey, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Harrison, son Frank, and daughters, Helen Amy and Carol Etta of Ringwood; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Grabbe and son Donald, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Brooks of Crystal Lake; Dr. and Mrs. Foley, Mr. and Mrs. Ora Colby, and son Ora, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Thomas, son George, and daughter, Juanita, of Niles Center.
The McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry, Illinois) Thur. Sept. 11, 1930
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