Thomas was a successful farmer but never married. He was listed inonl y 2 census records, both with other families, so if he had apermanent a ddress, it would have been Vermilion Co, IL, exactlocation unknown.
Residences & events:
Vermilion Co, IL. Thomas bought 20 pieces of public domain land atvar ious locations there between 1834-1854 and another in McLean Co,IL. T he smallest was 2000 acres, the largest was 16,000 acres witheverythin g in between for a total of 130, 876 acres. He possiblybought more in p rivate sales. Now whether he owned all that at thesame time is unknow n but considering the size of the pieces, it'spossible he put relative s on them to tend them, besides giving themplaces to live & work. The n he traveled among them as landlord.
Relatives said he owned several farms including that of sister, BettyW oods, which he purchased when she decided to leave the area between186 0-1870. He owned a farm near Alvin, IL, one at Gilbert Stationand 3 s mall farms east of Bismark.
2/28/1841 He mentioned in his diary on the 46th anniversay of thisdat e, that he broke his leg "holling wood on Brother Jos. old farm."
1860 Newell Twp, near Danville, Vermilion Co, IL. The census thatyea r listed him with the Frances Dines household, which may have beena bo arding house considering the various names and ages there.Thomas, 48, w as a farmer with property valued at $7000/3000. Twodoors down was nie ce Susan and C D Henton.
8/17/1870 Ross Twp, Vermilion Co, IL. was where the next census takerf ound him with the John & Sarah Davidson family. Thomas was 54 and are tired farmer with a fair amount of property for the day worth$7800/370 0. The census says he was born in PA. Next door was buddyJames David son, 64, with an even larger estate of $25,000/3000.
He was mentioned in the local history:
"He has been remarkably prosperous in all respects. He had, however,n ever aspired to offical position, though he has been occasionallypress ed into township office. He has seen this county grow from awildernes s to a fruitful field."
According to his 1887-1888 diary he spent most of his time travlingaro und visiting relatives and friends. It seems the Davison family(in-la ws of brother Joseph) were great friends as he went there oftenfor mea ls and visits.
Itinerary of one of his trips in the diary:
7/21/1887 Went to Danville, went to Decatur ticket 2.21cts, all nighta t (nephew) Thomas Bivans.
7/22/1887 Went to Keokuk (IA), ticket 4.17cts. from Springfied 128mil . Dinner at Keokuk Went to Crawford Station (MO), at (nephew)Josh Kig hts all night, ticket 1.55 cts.
7/23/1887 Went to brother Jacobs at noon.
7/28/1887 Went to Memphis (MO) with (nephew) Joseph Gundy in wagon.
7/30/1887 Still at Brothers
8/11/1887 Went to Peoria, ticket 1.80. 11 o'clock at Peoria.
Went to Danville, ticket 3.60 cents, at Danville 4 o'clock 10 minutes.
Two months later, he again made the trip to Crawford Station, andtwice i n 1888.
11/23/1887 Thomas left for Little Rock, AR to visit the families of WmN ichols and Samuel Moyers (nephews & nieces) and stayed until Feb22nd. I t is unclear whether he meant to stay that long or if he wasdelayed du e to winter weather or the unnamed illness for which hedoctored at lea st 3 weeks.
Thomas listed his birth date in his diary.
In his diary on 7/4/1887 he "went to celebration at Crawford Stationwi th Brother Jacob in his 89th year of age. I was in my 76th year."(alt hough he would not be 76 for 6 weeks)
He died intestate, leaving a large estate. Estate papers in VermilionC o. Circuit Court, Oct 1892, listed 138 descendants entitled to shareit .
