Family Group Sheet
NameJohn Thomas
Birth30 Apr 1888, Menifee Co., Kentucky
Marriage28 Sep 1911, Menifee Co., Kentucky
SpouseMartha Jane Staton, 2C2R
Birth5 Oct 1887, Menifee Co., Kentucky
Death21 Jun 1927, Menifee Co., Kentucky
FatherJohn A. Staton (1860-1939)
MotherLucinda Pettit (1852-~1888)
Children
1 MVonley Thomas (Died as Infant), 3C1R
Birth2 Jul 1912, Kentucky
Death5 Jun 1913, Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio
2 MCharles A. Thomas (Died as Child), 3C1R
Birth5 Jul 1914, Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio
Death14 Mar 1916, Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio
3 FBeatrice Thomas, 3C1R
Birthabt Feb 1917, Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio
4 FBernice May Thomas, 3C1R
Birth5 Jul 1919, Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio
Death3 Sep 1941, Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio
SpouseGeorge Spence
5 FMyrtle Thomas, 3C1R
Birthabt 1922, Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio
6 FElna Jewel Thomas, 3C1R
Birth13 Jan 1924, Menifee Co., Kentucky
Notes for John Thomas
Some online family trees identify his parents as William Martin Thomas and his first wife Amanda Harris, but their son was John Henry Martin born Dec 1886 who married Effie Basford. (My theory is that his most likely parents are Robert Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Staton, but I have no proof of that.)
His WW I draft registration card, filed 5 June 1917, records John Thomas, age 29, residence 533 Manhattan, Middletown, Ohio, born 30 Apr 1888 in Menifee Co., Ky, laborer, employer P. Loriland Co., Middletown, married supporting wife and child. (Notice that the street address is the same given on the death certificate for their son Charles.)
He apparently died after 1927, since that is when Martha died in childbirth, and probably before May 1930, since that is when their daughters were all listed with Martha’s family. It is possible, though, that he simply let Martha’s parents raise his children after she died.
I cannot find a death record for him in Kentucky. He may have died in Ohio, where many of their children were born.
His WW I draft registration card, filed 5 June 1917, records John Thomas, age 29, residence 533 Manhattan, Middletown, Ohio, born 30 Apr 1888 in Menifee Co., Ky, laborer, employer P. Loriland Co., Middletown, married supporting wife and child. (Notice that the street address is the same given on the death certificate for their son Charles.)
He apparently died after 1927, since that is when Martha died in childbirth, and probably before May 1930, since that is when their daughters were all listed with Martha’s family. It is possible, though, that he simply let Martha’s parents raise his children after she died.
I cannot find a death record for him in Kentucky. He may have died in Ohio, where many of their children were born.
Census
He is probably the “Jonie Thomas, age 13, b. Apr 1887” listed in the 1900 census as a boarder with the family of William Thomas and Almira Igo.
Notes for Martha Jane Staton
Her death certificate records Martha Jane Staton Thomas, age 38 years 8 months 11 days, born Oct 5 (year blank) in Menifee Co., Ky, died 21 June 1927 in Menifee Co., Ky, married, wife of John W. Thomas, father John E. Staton, mother’s maiden name Lousinda Pedit, both born in Ky, cause of death inflamation and poison caused from the death birth of child, informant J. W. Staton, Yale, Ky, burial in Leatherwood Cem, Scranton, Ky.
The reported age at death would imply a birthdate of 10 Oct 1888, which is inconsistent with the recorded birth date. The 1900 census listed her as age 12, born Oct 1887.
The reported age at death would imply a birthdate of 10 Oct 1888, which is inconsistent with the recorded birth date. The 1900 census listed her as age 12, born Oct 1887.
Census Notes for John & Martha Jane (Family)
1920 census of Butler Co., Ohio, Lemon township, enumerated 5 Jan, lists on p. 4B at 533 Manhattan St., Middletown, as family #52/63:
Thomas, John, 31, laborer at tobacco factory; Martha, 30, wife; Beatrice, dau, 2 11/12; Bernice May, dau, 5/12. John and Martha born Ky Ky Ky, the two girls Oh Ky Ky.
Of the 50 people on the page, only one was not either born in Kentucky or had both parents born there. The neighboring two pages are not quite so extreme, but they are about 90% Kentuckians as well.
In 1930 three of their daughters were living with Martha’s brother George:
1930 census of Butler Co., Ohio, Lemon township, Avalon subdivision, enumerated 21 May, lists on p. 51B at 2811 Wilbraham Rd, as family #2811:
Staton, George, 46, at at first marriage 19, laborer at paper mill; Rana, wife, 46, age at first marriage 35; Lorenzel, son, 18; Gilbert, son, 12; Thomas, Beatrice, niece, 13; Myrtle, niece, 8; Jewel, niece, 6, b. Ky Ky Ky. George and Rana also born Ky Ky Ky, the other four children born Ohio Ky Ky. (Bernice Thomas is listed on p. 41B of the same census, with Martha’s other brother Eli.)
Thomas, John, 31, laborer at tobacco factory; Martha, 30, wife; Beatrice, dau, 2 11/12; Bernice May, dau, 5/12. John and Martha born Ky Ky Ky, the two girls Oh Ky Ky.
Of the 50 people on the page, only one was not either born in Kentucky or had both parents born there. The neighboring two pages are not quite so extreme, but they are about 90% Kentuckians as well.
In 1930 three of their daughters were living with Martha’s brother George:
1930 census of Butler Co., Ohio, Lemon township, Avalon subdivision, enumerated 21 May, lists on p. 51B at 2811 Wilbraham Rd, as family #2811:
Staton, George, 46, at at first marriage 19, laborer at paper mill; Rana, wife, 46, age at first marriage 35; Lorenzel, son, 18; Gilbert, son, 12; Thomas, Beatrice, niece, 13; Myrtle, niece, 8; Jewel, niece, 6, b. Ky Ky Ky. George and Rana also born Ky Ky Ky, the other four children born Ohio Ky Ky. (Bernice Thomas is listed on p. 41B of the same census, with Martha’s other brother Eli.)
