James S. Thomas, P. O., Arrow Rock. The subject of the following sketch was born in Clarkcounty, Kentucky, February 8, 1820, where he grew up to manhood and received his education from the country schools, and also at Whittlesey’s Academy, Harrison county, Kentucky. Moved with his father, Geo. Thomas, to Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he lived until 1870, farming. His father was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, 1799, where he was married to Susan Strode, daughter of Jas. Strode. They had five children. He afterward married a widow by the name of Thomas, and by her he had three children, all girls. After the death of his second wife he married Emily Berry, and by her he had three children. He died in 1855, in Bourbon county, and was there buried, at his home place, five miles from Paris. In 1846, James S. Thomas was married to Julia A. Thomas, of Bourbon county, Kentucky. In October, 1870, he moved to Saline county, Missouri, and settled on the farm he now occupies, two and a half miles northwest of Arrow Rock. He has ten children, five boys and five girls. While living in Kentucky he was taken prisoner by the Federal authorities in 1862-3, and incarcerated in Lexington, Covington, Mt. Sterling, and Camp Chase. As fast as he would pay his way out he would be re-arrested and imprisoned. In earlier years he engaged in intimate acquaintance with Henry Clay, whose hospitality he many times enjoyed. The names of his children are: James M., George A., H. Clay, William S., John T., Mrs. Susan E. Haggin, Mrs. E. M. Piper, Mrs. Phoebe M. Webb, Mary Lee and Emma D.
