Person:Forrest Thomas (2)

About Forrest F. Thomas

Forrest F. Thomas was born in July 1874 in Wisconsin, the son of William Thomas (b. 1842 in Pennsylvania) and his wife Luna J. Whaley (b. 1854 in Wisconsin).

Forrest Thomas is listed as serving with the 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry in the Spanish-American War. His name is listed as "E. Forrest Thomas - Baritone", with the Regimental Band of the unit that served between May 18-23, 1898 at Cherokee Park; a southwest suburb of Nashville, Tennessee. Forrest's service in the Spanish-American War is confirmed in the 1930 U.S. Census, listing him as a veteran that served in the Spanish-American War. He is also buried in the Angeles Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California with his gravemarker showing "3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry" in the Spanish American War Veteran's Section.

In the 1900 U.S. Census, Forrest F. Thomas and his father William and mother Luna in nearby Harriman, Roane County, Tennessee; listed in the household were: William Thomas (age 58), his wife Luna J Thomas (age 46), son Forest F. Thomas (age 26), son Ivan Thomas (age 14), Sam Whaley (age 87) [Father-in-Law], Phebe Whaley (age 77) [Mother-in-Law]. In about 1900, Forrest had married to Mary A. Helfenberger, who was born in Switzerland, which is confirmed in the 1920 U.S. Census in Miami, Gila, Arizona, which listed: Forrest F Thomas (age 45, occupation: meat cutter), Mary A Thomas (age 40), and sons William R T Thomas (age 18, born in Colorado) and Forest A Thomas (age 17, born in Tennessee).

By 1930, Forrest F. Thomas was listed in the U.S. Census in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California; age 54, occupation: meat cutter, divorced and living as a lodger with several other lodgers. He is buried in Angeles Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, but the date of his death and burial have not been determined, but likely before 1940, as he is apparently not listed in the Census records, and his wife Mary Thomas is listed as a maid. living in the house of a Nathan and Ann Glickman and their son Philip Glickman. Mary, Age 59, born in Switzerland, is listed as a "widow", working 60 hours in the previous week and with income of $500 in the preceding year.

Just seven months after he was included in the 1930 U.S. Census [enumerated 14 April 1930], Forrest F. Thomas passed away on 26 November 1930 and was buried in Angeles Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. [Source: Angeles Rosedale Cemetery Files].

1.   United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623).

   1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Name: Forest F Thomas
   Age: 26
   Birth Date: Jul 1874
   Birthplace: Wisconsin
   Home in 1900: Harriman, Roane, Tennessee
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Marital Status: Single
   Father's Name: William Thomas
   Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
   Mother's name: Luna J Thomas
   Mother's Birthplace: Wisconsin
   Household Members: Name Age
   William Thomas 58
   Luna J Thomas 46
   Forest F Thomas 26
   Ivan Thomas 14
   Sam Whaley 87 [Father-in-Law]
   Phebe Whaley 77 [Mother-in-Law]

2.   United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

   1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Name: Forrest F Thomas
   Age: 45
   Birth Year: abt 1875
   Birthplace: Wisconsin
   Home in 1920: Miami, Gila, Arizona
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Relation to Head of House: Head
   Marital Status: Married
   Spouse's Name: Mary A Thomas
   Father's Name: Donald Campbell
   Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
   Mother's Birthplace: United States of America
   Occupation: Meat Cutter
   Employment Field: Wage or Salary
   Home Owned or Rented: Own
   Able to Read: Yes
   Able to Write: Yes
   Household Members: Name Age
   Forrest F Thomas 45
   Mary A Thomas 40
   William R T Thomas 18
   Forest A Thomas 17 [19]
   Donald Campbell 70 [Note: this Donald Campbell, age 70, born in Canada is clearly NOT the father of Forrest Thomas, it is not clear if he was living with the Thomas family or alone from the Census record].

3.   United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Enumeration Date: 14 April 1930
   Name: Forrest F Thomas
   Gender: Male
   Birth Year: abt 1876
   Birthplace: Wisconsin
   Race: White
   Home in 1930: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
   Marital Status: Divorced
   Relation to Head of House: Lodger
   Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
   Mother's Birthplace: Wisconsin
   Occupation: Meat Cutter, Butcher Shop
   Attended School in prior year: No
   Reads & Writes: Yes
   Veteran: Yes
   War: Spanish/American
   Rent/home value: (Lodger)
   Age at first marriage: number crossed out
   Household Members: Name Age
   James D Reed 76
   Mary C Reed 62
   Mary Y Reed 35
   Mcgee Walker 17
   Forrest F Thomas 54
   Letty Kersten 36
   Donald C Mack 28
   Fred A Morton 31
   Earl A Evans 25
   Clifford L Evans 22
   Ernest Eusiso 21
   Frank Higgenbotham 53
   Ola A Brown 42
   Sara E Silvins 50

4. ↑ Find A Grave.

   Forrest F Thomas
   
   Birth: unknown, USA
   Death: 28 November 1930*
   Burial: 30 November 1930*
   * - verified with information in Cemetery files.
   Unit: 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
   Plot: Spanish American War Vet Section
   
   
   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=77879158