Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Portrait and biographical album of Newayco (sp) County, Mich. containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Michigan and of the presidents of the United States: also containing a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time. Published by Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL, 1884 Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== THOMAS, EDMUND O.: page 224 =========================================================================== EDMUND O. THOMAS was born in Onondaga Co., N.Y., Sept. 6, 1827. His paternal grandfather was a native of New South Wales; and his father, Lewis Thomas, was a native of New York. His maternal grandfather was a native of Germany, and his mother, Betsey E. (Peterson) Thomas, was born in Pennsyl- vania. Edmund O. lived at home until he attained his majority. At the age of 10 years he received an injury which disabled him from attending school, being obliged to use crutches for eight years, in consequence of which his schooling was limited. He is a self-made man; and, being of keen obser- vation, has acquired that practical education which is so essential to success in business. His counsel and advice are very often sought. When 18 years of age he commenced peddling, a business he followed 15 years. In 1852 he left New York and came to Michigan, via Lake Erie, settling in Wayne County, where he lived six years; was in Ingham County four years, and in Muskegon five years, and in the fall of 1869 came to this county and settled on 80 acres of land he had previously purchased, in Dayton Township. He built a frame house, cleared 45 acres, and lived here until the spring of 1883, when he sold, and bought a house and two lots in the village of Fremont, where he still resides. He was first married in New York, Dec. 3, 1849, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Betsey Vanauker, who was born in Monroe Co., N.Y., March 18, 1834, and they had five children: William C., born Aug. 18, 1851; Flora A., Dec. 11, 1856; Edmund O., May 18, 1863; Hiram L., Margaret A., born Jan. 1, 1855, died Sept. 28, 1861. Mrs. Thomas died Dec. 1, 1870, and Feb. 3, 1874, Mr. Thomas married Mary Tindall, daughter of Daniel and Sarah A. (Johnson) Tindall, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively, and she was born April 15, 1852. Their three children are Mary E., born Oct. 30, 1874; Charles H., Jan. 20, 1876; Freddie, April 22, 1881. Mr. Thomas --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 225 was elected Justice of the Peace in 1871, and has held that office ever since; has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1856; is a strong temp- erance man, and in politics is a Republican. ===========================================================================