MATTHEW "MATT" LAFAYETTE THOMAS
MARIAH BROWN (THOMAS)) 1870 - 1887 (Married 1885)
ETTA JULIA BROWN (THOMAS) 1875 - 1909 (Married 1888)

FATHERS: WILLIAM JACKSON THOMAS 1820 - 1872
MOTHER LUCY JANE [POWERS] THOMAS 1841-1913

Matthew "Matt" Lafayette Thomas was born to William Jackson Thomas (birth 1820 Tennessee)) and Lucy Jane Powers (birth 1841 Mississippi). William Jackson Thomas was a son of William Thomas and Nancy Young .Lucy Jane Powers was a daughter to Josiah Powers and Nancy Halton.

William Jackson Thomas and Lucy Powers Thomas's children:

1. Mira Elizabeth Thomas: Birth 1858 - Death 1870 Panola County, Texas. Burial unknown.

2. Nancy Jane Thomas: Birth October 17, 1859 - Death November 29, 1941, Denton, Texas. Married Amaziah Hilman Latham November 28, 1878 Panola County, Texas. She lived with her daughter in Denton, Texas after Hilman died. Both Miller Cemetery, Clayton, Panola County, Texas.

3. Mary Catherine Thomas: Birth February 18, 1861 Panola County, Texas - Death March 14, 1897 Panola County, Texas. Married John Thomas Capps October 8, 1879 Panola County, Texas. John Thomas Capps: Birth September 9, 1856 Georgia - Death March 5, 1927 Panola County, Texas. John Capps (2) married Nancy Cloree Hudson in 1900. All Antioch Cemetery, Panola County, Texas.

4. Elijah Stonewall Jackson Thomas: Birth March 22, 1863 Panola County, Texas - Death October 21, 1940 Shelby County, Texas. William Jackson Thomas named his son to honor his brother Elijah Carroll Thomas, whom was killed in action during the Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana April 8, 1864. Married Clara Elizabeth Wall. Clara Elizabeth Wall: Birth July 1782 - Death May 2, 1948 Shelby County, Texas. Both Bethel Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Elijah Stonewall Jackson Thomas and Matthew Lafayette Thomas lived with their twice widowed maternal grandmother Nancy Halton Powers Wilkerson after their parents died in 1870s.

5. Matthew "Matt" Lafayette Thomas: Birth September 14, 1866 Panola County, Texas - Death March 16, 1933 Bronson, Sabine County, Texas. Cause of Death: Malaria. Reared by his maternal grandmother Nancy (Halton) Powers Wilkerson after his parents deaths early 1870s. Nancy's daughter Lucy Jane (Powers) Thomas was Matt's mother.

6. Alice Beatrice Thomas: Birth: 1867 - Death: Unknown Texas. In 1880 US Census, Panola County, Texas, Alice, age 13, resided with older sister Nancy Jane Thomas Latham and her husband Amaziah "Hilman" Latham after parents death. Married John Pinkney Kern. John Pinkney Kern: Birth October 7, 1867 Texas - Death March 11, 1945 unknown Texas. Burials unknown. Their daughter Nettie Kern - Birth: 1895 Texas - Death: 1970 Texas is buried Corinth Cemetery, Timpson, Shelby County, TX.

7. James Harvey Thomas: Birth November 25, 1868 Panola County, Texas - Death January, 1919, Gary, Panola County, Texas. Uncle James Harvey Thomas, brother to William Jackson Thomas, reared his namesake nephew James after both parents Jackson and Lucy died leaving 7 living children. 1880 US Census Panola County, Texas lists James Thomas, male, 11, as a laborer on his Uncle's census record. James Thomas married Mary Williams. Mary Williams: Birth April 1874 Texas - Death April 28, 1937 Navarro County, Texas. Brushie Prarie Cemetery, Navarro County, Texas. James Harvey Thomas burial unknown, possibly Thomas Cemetery with no headstone where his Uncle James and Aunt Caroline are buried.

8. John Henry Thomas: Birth Jane 21, 1871 Panola County, Texas - Death March 28, 1957 Gregg County, Texas. Married Rhonda "Rodie" Ella Harris. Rhonda Ella Harris: Birth September 22, 1880 - Death November 2, 1959 Upshur County, Texas. Both New Summerfield Cemetery, Longview, Gregg County, Texas. John Henry Thomas's date of birth is last known record of his parents Jackson and Lucy being alive.

Mexican Texas was from 1821 - 1836. Sam Houston defeated General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto April 21, 1836. Santa Anna signed document May 1836 agreeing to recognize and recommend Texas be independent. After election October 22, 1836 Sam Houston took oath of office President of The Republic of Texas. Jackson Thomas, who was 18, father of Matthew "Matt" Lafayette Thomas is listed in the Texas Compiled Census and Census Substitute Index, 1820 - 1890.
Name: Jackson Thomas
State: TX
County: Texas Territory
Township: Shelby District
Year: 1836
Database: Texas Tax List Index 1830 - 1839
This compiled Census record is on Ancestry.com
U.S. Census Shelby County, Texas, October 1, 1850
family 270/270
Nancy A Sheres, age 55, f, birth NC
Sary Sheres, age 24, f, birth Texas
Jane Sheres, age 20, f, birth Texas
Geo Sheres, age 18, m, birth Texas
Mary Sheres, age 16, f, birth Texas
Rachael Sheres, age 14, birth Texas
W. Jackson Thomas, age 30, m, farmer, value of real estate :1000, birth Tenn
Elijah Thomas, age 28, m, farmer, value real estate: 1050, birth Tenn
Note: William Thomas was the father of James Harvey Thomas, William "Jackson" Thomas and Elijah Carroll Thomas. He died before 1825 in Tennessee. Nancy Thomas, their widowed mother, married Miguel Shires. The family migrated to Mexican Texas where they were living by 1832 according to a land record in Shelby County. She appears to be widowed again by 1850. This is the last year a record appears of Nancy their mother.
William Jackson Thomas and Lucy Jane Powers
Married October 30, 1856, Panola County, Texas

US Census Panola County, Texas, Beat Number 5, October 5, 1870: W. J. Thomas, age 52, male, white, farmer, value real estate 800, value property, 800, born Tennessee, male citizens 21 years of age or up: 1. Lucy Thomas, age 26, female, white, born Mississippi. Nancy Thomas, age 9, female, white, born Texas. Lena Thomas, age 8, female, white, born Texas. Elijah Thomas, age 7, male, white, born Texas. Alice Thomas, age 4, female, white, born Texas. Matthew, age 4, male, white, born Texas. James, age 2, male, white, born Texas.

William Jackson Thomas and Lucy Jane (Powers) Thomas both died sometime after birth of son John Henry Thomas June 21, 1871 in Panola County, Texas. Matthew is listed as an orphan in 1880 census. Jackson and Lucy possibly died in the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1873 that swept the area from Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, killing hundreds of people. Panola County, Texas is near Caddo Parish.
In U.S. Federal Census 1880, Panola County, Texas, Precinct 1: Nancy Wilkirson (phonetic spelling for Wilkerson), Head, Farmer, age 63, born in North Carolina. Matthew Thomas, Male, born 1866, Age 14, ORPHAN, born in Texas, Asst. Farmer, Father born Tennessee, Mother born Mississippi. Matthew's parents were both dead. He was an orphan living with his mother Lucy's mother, his twice widowed grandmother Nancy (Halton) Powers Wilkerson.

In 1933 when Matthew "Matt" Thomas died from malaria. his daughter Essie gave information for his death certificate. Being his grandmother Nancy (Halton) Powers Wilkerson reared him after his parents died, he probably thought his mother's Lucy Jane Powers maiden name was Wilkerson. Nancy Wilkerson's children by husband Josiah Powers were listed on some census records with last name of Wilkerson after Nancy remarried, possibly to assumption of census enumerator, or perhaps Nancy's children went by last name of Wilkerson after their mother remarried. Lucy's marriage record has her name listed as Lucy Powers.

Nancy Halton Powers Wilkerson and her orphaned grandson Matt Thomas were friends of the William and Emerline Brown family. Matt began helping them when he could find time from farm work, and slowly visited with their daughter Mariah. The Browns liked Matt. He worked hard, was mature and kind hearted. They were not surprised when he asked permission to marry Mariah. Matt Thomas, 21, and Mariah Thomas, 17, married October 17, 1887, in Panola County, Texas, surrounded by their loved ones. Within two years Mariah became deathly ill and died. Matt was inconsolable for many months. His only refuge was to talk with Mariah's parents and Etta, her sister. They all shared their grief and in time Matt and Etta became close.

Matt was twenty-four years old when he when he married Etta , who was about fifteen years old. She had flaming red hair, a warm smile, and a gentle manner. William Henry Brown and Elizabeth Emerline Hough gave their approval. Matthew Thomas and Etta Brown married August 18, 1890, Gregg County, Texas.

Matt Thomas worked hard at farming to provide for their growing family of seven children. Etta had asthma which worsened and became chronic through the years. Living in the damp East Texas winters did not help her health, and her condition was frail from several child births.

Willie was born in 1891; when he became strong enough he helped his father by working in the fields on their farm. The other children were Lucy, born in 1892, Bessie, born in 1896, Etta Bea born 1898, Essie, born 1901, Ira Mae born 1904, and Horace born 1907. The girls learned to cook from watching and helping their mother.

Matt and Etta were poor and had to stretch every dollar for necessities. They lived in a plain unpainted wood house, heated with hot, cracking fire from the logs in winter, with food on the table, and their joy was their children. Matt and Etta raised their children in the Christian faith; they were Methodists. Their children developed an abiding faith that carried them through the trials of life in the years ahead. As parents they believed in love and discipline of their children. Their children were polite and they were honest. They were devout Christians and remained close to their brothers and sisters.

Matt was heartbroken when Etta died from the effects of asthma in her thirties. He mourned quietly to himself; there was grief and sadness in their home for a long time after Etta died. The older girls helped their father with the younger girls and Horace, as when their mother had been alive and with maintaining their home.

When Lucy and Bessie were in their teens the young Smith brothers began courting them. Lucy married Charlie Wesley "Wes" Smith, and Bessie married Marshall "Lee" Smith. He was a great sportsman, knew the area well, and became a well known fishing guide in East Texas. Matt came to the realization that his remaining three daughters would be wanting to get married young because the young men in the area were coming to visit them, and he did not like it. He made up his mind to move his family. Matt had the girls pack only what could be carried in the wagon, and they loaded their belongings in the oxen pulled wagon, suddenly moving. They traveled for a few days in those times, about sixty miles away to a small farm house in the piney woods, Sabine County, near Bronson, Texas.

In a few years one by one his each of his three daughters married fine young men who lived in their community. Horace remained a bachelor through his life and resided with his father in Bronson, Texas in their later years. Matt Thomas, widower, much loved father and grandfather, contracted malaria in 1933 and died. Matt Thomas is at rest in Centerview Cemetery with a simple headstone adorning his grave. Several of his children, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren are there. His beloved wife Etta Julia (Brown) Thomas was buried in Walnut Creek Cemetery, Diana, Upshur County, Texas. Their daughter Bessie Thomas Smith wife of Marshall "Lee" Smith is also buried in Walnut Creek Cemetery beside her husband.
Bio by Mary Wright Davies