Beers bios OH p828

IVAN B. THOMAS, farmer and grain-dealer; P.P. Kennard: was born on the farm where her now resides Jan. 30, 1832, and is a son of John and Mary Thomas; he a native of Maryland, and she of Pennsylvania. John emigrated to the Northwestern Territory, locating in what is now Ross Co., Ohio, about 1800, residing there till about 1809; then removed to this county upon the farm where Ivan now lives; there he lived and died in 1851. His wife is still living on the old home place, now 81 years of age. They were the parents of five children; two now survive—Ivan B. and F. Marion. Mr. John Thomas was first married to Anna Morris, of Southern Ohio, by who hed had thirteen children; four now survive--Ezekiel, Volney, William and Josephus. When he located here, he bought 360 acres of land from the original purchaser, with only a log cabin upon it with very little improvements, witnessing and experiencing many dangers and hardships of pioneer life, the Indians being their neighbors and wild beast thick and plentiful. He was largely engaged in the frontier troubles with the Indians during the war of 1812; was a Colonel of the militia and a prominent, active man in all public affairs of that day, holding many of the offices of the township. He was Justice of the Peace for thirty-three years, being a very energetic and useful man, and was with his father till his death, and was married, in February, 1875 to Miss Lucretia Burnett. They had three children—Edwin B., Robert P. and Mary B. Mr. Thomas has always remained upon the old home place. He and brother are now owner of 610 acres of land, and are also largely engaged in buying and shipping grain and stock, shipping last year 40,000 bushels of grain. Mr. Thomas, like his father, has been a prominent man in his community; was a commissioned officer in the militia; has been Township Trustee many years, and Justice of the Peace for nine years. The Thomas family have now lived upon this homestead place nearly three-quarters of a century.