Person:William Thomas (124)

When Cecelia was only 9, in 1849, William Wiley Thomas went to the gold fields of California to seek his forturne. He rode a horse across the plains with a wagon train and while on the trail Inidans attacked the train and he received a bullet wound in the fleshy part of his hip and carried the ball part of the day before it could be removed.

He returned to Missouri on a boat, passing through Cape Horn to St.Louis, and then to Lexington. He brought back $600 to $700 worth of gold dust or nuggets in a money belt around his waist.

We are told that one day in 1859 William rode up when Cecelia was doing the family washing in a kettle in the yard. She wiped her hands, took off her apron, and rode off with him and was married, much to the dismay of her father. He did not disown her, however, and she and William inherrited the Chapman homestead.

We are told that William was bout 5'7" to 5'8" in height and had red hair. He loved to tease his wife. His neighbors called him "Uncle Billy." He had gone to Chapel Hill College. In his earlier years his mother Hannah taught him to read and write at home and didn't go to school until he was a big boy, receiving teasing, from other children. His mother was an educated woman and he could read and write well.

History of Lafayette County Misouri - page 508 - William Thomas, PO Napoleon, Mo., A native Missourian, was born in this county in 1803, where he was raised, educated, and has spent his life, except about seven years spent in California and Oregon. His parents, W.W. and Hannah Thomas, came from Tennessee to this county in 1859, he was married to Miss Cerelia Chapman, of this county, by who he has nine children, all living - John W., Flora E., James W., Joseph S., Estella G., Arthur C., Henry H., Franklin L. and Clara L. He has a fine farm of 200 acres on Texas Prairie and has been farming all his life. Church Affilation - Methodist

Buried at Bates City, MO. Cemetery. Tomestone reads "Gone but not forgotten".

1. ↑ Picture of tomestone in possession of Christine Hayden of Cedar Rapids, IA.
2.   Doris New, Tusla, OKLA.