Elder David Price THOMAS, Sr. was born 23 Feb 1822 in Danville, VA or Roane Co., TN, and died 30 Sep 1882 in Young Co., TX.

He married Talitha Isabel (Isabelle) INGRAM 07 Jun 1845 in Roane Co., TN, daughter of Garland INGRAM and Johanna MAYES. She was born 04 Jun 1821 near Raleigh, Chatham, NC, and died 30 Sep 1912.

Children of David Price & Talitha Isabel Ingram Thomas:

1) Garland Ingram (Garl) THOMAS, born 22 Mar 1846 in Roane Co., TN; died 08 Jul 1916.

2) Solomon Alexander (Dud) THOMAS, born Jul 1847 in Roane Co., TN; died in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto, TX.

3) Eliza Hanover THOMAS, born 03 Dec 1848 in Perry Co., TN; died 25 Oct 1937.

4) Melinda Jane THOMAS, born Aug 1850; died 1936 in Willow, Greer, OK.

5) Rev. Henderson Wheat THOMAS, born 28 Feb 1853 in Roane Co., TN; died 20 Dec 1921 in Bells, Crockett, TN.

6) Sanford Nelson (Tamp) THOMAS, born 03 Jan 1854 in TN; died 10 Jun 1914 in Thomas, Union, NM.

7) George Turner THOMAS, born 13 Feb 1855 in Nona, Obion, TN; died 18 Jun 1932 in Oney, Caddo, OK.

8) Elizabeth (Betty) THOMAS, born 1857 in TN; died in TN.

9) Serena Ellen THOMAS, born 01 May 1858 in Humphreys Co., TN; died 31 May 1950.

10) Claborn Hobbs (Cabe) THOMAS, born 21 Feb 1860 in Waverly, Humphreys, TN; died 25 Jun 1944 in Canute, Washita, OK.

11) Davey Grey THOMAS, born 21 Feb 1860 in Waverly, Humphreys, TN; died 10 Apr 1860 in Waverly, Humphreys, TN.

12) David Price (Dave) THOMAS, Jr., born 17 Mar 1863 in Waverly, Humphreys, TN; died 11 Sep 1933 in Willow, Greer, OK.

13) Talitha Isabel (Tina) THOMAS, born 17 Mar 1863 in Waverly, Humphreys, TN; died 19 Jan 1898 in Canute, Washita, OK.

Please contact me for LOTS more info on my ggg-grandfather!

Janie Healer Davis
([email protected])
**************************************************

This letter of obituary was located in November, 2006 (thanks to Robert Webb, curator of the Primitive Baptist Library, located in Carthage, Illinois):

MESSENGER OF PEACE
Vol. 9, No. 2
December 1, 1882

Alvarado , Texas
Nov. 6, 1882

Dear Bro. Goodson:

It is with a broken heart that I, by request of my mother and many of the brethren and sisters, inform you and the readers of the beloved MESSENGER OF PEACE, of the death of my dear father, Elder D. P. Thomas, who died at his home in Young county, Texas , on the 28th of September, 1882, after suffering intensly for six months, of what is called Rose Cancer. No human can tell anything about his misery and suffering but death came to his relief, when his disembodied spirit took its flight, by a convoy by angels, to the spirit world.

His mortal remains were carried to Mount Zion cemetery, followed by a large concourse of weeping relatives and friends, where it was deposited in the mother earth, to await the glorious resurrection. Many of the brethren and sisters came by on Wednesday before his death, and among them was Sister Ann Brooks, who went into his room and spoke to him, saying, we came by to take you to the association, to which he replied, "Lord send that I could go." "But." he continued, "go on, I'll be there by the time you are, but it will be an association that will never close." I believe, brother Goodson, he is now enjoying that meeting, but not in its fullest sense until after the resurrection, when it will be made spiritual.

He tried many Doctors, and many prescriptions, and last of all, he tried the Mineral Water at Ednaville, Palo Pinto , Texas , but all to no avail. He said to mother, who accompanied him to the Springs, "the weight of preaching has left me." Mother tried to speak confortable to him by saying, "when you get well it will come back." "O" says he, "I will never get well." He then called his children around him and bid them adieu, saying "I have no fears of death, and only regret to die and leave you in a cold and unfriendly world." telling us all to do the best we could. He said to mother, "You have often looked for me and saw me come, after riding through heat and cold; but now I must leave you, may God bless you and the children" He was a strong advocate for prayer, engaging in prayer every night before retiring, when he was at home, as long as he was able.

Ah! it has caused a vacant place around our fire side, and someone to pray for us will be missed among us every evening.

The subject of this notice was born in Boone County Tennessee, Feb., 6th 1823; professed a hope in Christ, in the year 1846 and joined the Primitive Baptist church, called Cave Creek, and was baptized by Elder W. E. Pope, and in the same year was liberated by the church, to exercise in public; and in the next year was ordained to the full work of the Gospel ministry, by a council composed of Elders W. E. Pope, L. B. Johnson and Charles Gallaway; in the bounds of the Hiwassee association. He remained a member of this church until 1855, when he moved to middle Tennessee and joined, by letter, Providence church and in the fall of the same year he was chosen moderator of the West Tennessee association, and remained their moderator from year to year until the late war, when he went into the service as a soldier, was lieutenant, was arrested and confined with in the prison walls for nineteen months, at Johnson's Island, and Point Lookout in Maryland, and then Fort Delaware.

While shut up in prison, in a severe spell of sickness he made the following vow "If the Lord will spare my life, I will advocate practical Godliness more than I ever have." And on his return home, he commenced preaching that Jesus was the Christ and said if the Primitive Baptists had returned to the practices as laid down in the scriptures, Missionism would have been burried long ago. He often remarked that the great Gospel field was uncultivated, that the Missionary Baptists had taken the practices and run off with them, and have thrown the field over the fence and are out in the woods; while the old Baptists had started and didn't get to the field and became scared, and have become as the Indians tree, so straight they lean a little over. After the elapse of three years brethern commenced coming together and building up torn down churches. The year after his return from the war, he baptized 130 persons.The association came together again, and he was again chosen moderator, and was continued as such until 1869. Then he moved to West Tennessee, in the bounds of the Forked Deer Association, joined the Gibson church by letter, in Gibson county Tenn. At that time he was the only preacher in their bounds and he alone commenced preaching and baptized, and ordained Deacons and Ministers, and constituted churches until the association grew rapidly and became quite large. He was continued as their moderator until he left Tenn. for Texas in 1876, where he settled in Young county, while it was yet considered a wild, rough country, and not a church in the county. He commenced preaching, and other brethren moved in, churches were constituted, and soon the Brazos River association, was organized with some seven or eight churches. Everything moved on quietly. We soon opened correspondence with Bosque River assciation. He remained a sound baptist until his death, was a firm believer in the doctrine of free grace; was called by many of his brethren, a peacemaker, a great disciplinarian; never believed in cutting off a member until he had a hearing, waiting until after the second admonition; thus a great man has fallen.

He leaves his dear companion, (our mother) and twelve children, seven of whom are members of the same church as their father and two others are Campbellites; with many brethern and friends to mourn their loss, but our loss is his eternal gain. O mother cease those tears, he is gone from the evil to come. O that all the children may be impressed to honor their fathers God; and that God would bless and console mother in her old age, in her lonely hours, in her dessolate tribulation; is the prayer one of the children.

G. I. Thomas
************************************************