Be careful not to confuse him with his first cousin, Thomas W. Ham born ca 1830, son of Joseph N. Ham and Nancy McClurg, who married Lucy Thacker and stayed in Kentucky. (In fact, the main reason I’m entering this family into my files is that many Rowan Co. researchers have assumed that the Thomas Ham whom married Lucy Thacker was the son of John Jackson Ham.)

In 1900 Thomas is listed as age 73, b. Sep 1926, Ky Ky Mo, widowed, with his son Calvin.

In the 1850 census Thomas and Emily are living with his parents, both listed as 23.

I have not found this family in the 1860 census. Judging by the birthplaces of their children, they should have been in Kentucky.

1870 census of Buchanan Co., Missouri, Rush township, enumerated 29 Dec, lists on p. 39 as family #284:
Ham, Thomas H., 44, b. Ky; Emely, 44, b. Va; Pondexter, 19; Holman, 17; Ammersety, 15; Marry L., 10; William, 7; Emmey F., 5. All children born in Kentucky.

1880 census of Buchanan Co., Missouri, Rushville township, enumerated 16 June, lists on p. 23 as family #214/239:
Ham, Thos H., 53, farmer, b. Ky Ky Ky; Emely, 53, wife, b. Va Va Va; Lara, dau, 19; Melvina, dau, 17; Emma, dau, 14. All daughters born Ky Ky Va.

This family is at the bottom of the page. At the top of the same page is Thomas’s brother Thornton.

Notice that in 1870 there was a son William age 7, but no daughter that would fit for Melvina. I suspect what happened is that in 1870 the census taker first took rough notes, and then when transcribing them onto the census forms, misread his own handwriting.