John is the twin son of Emma Permella (Ross) and John Henry Thomas. He and his identical twin brother, William Henry Thomas enjoyed confusing those around them about their identity. He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He married Josephine Estella Butler on 11 Mar 1891 in Cherokee County, Kansas. They are the parents of
i. MAUDE EDNA THOMAS, b. 04 Jul 1892, Pittsburg, Bird City District, Kansas; d. 03 Dec 1971, Columbus, Cherokee County, Kansas.
ii. VAUGHN HENRY THOMAS, b. 03 Feb 1894, Cherokee County, Pleasant View Township, Kansas; d. 02 Dec 1968, Independence, Jackson County, Missouri.
iii. JESSE LEONARD THOMAS, b. 07 Mar 1896, Cherokee County, Pleasant View Township, Kansas; d. 14 Jan 1905, Pittsburg, Cherokee County, Pleasant View Township, Kansas.
iv. PEARL MAY THOMAS, b. 17 Sep 1897, Opolis, Crawford County, Kansas; d. 04 Oct 1968, Blue Springs, Jackson County, Missouri.
v. JAMES FLOYD THOMAS, b. 25 Jul 1899, Weir, Cherokee County, Kansas; d. 11 May 1986, Independence, Jackson County, Missouri.
vi. SUSAN ELIZABETH THOMAS, b. 09 Apr 1901, Cherokee County, Pleasant View Township, Kansas; d. 17 Aug 1938, Blue Springs, Jackson County, Missouri
vii. VERNA FAY THOMAS, b. 11 Mar 1903, Pittsburg, Cherokee County, Pleasant View Township, Kansas; d. Sep 1949, San Bruni, California;
viii. JOHN WILLIAM THOMAS, b. 10 Jun 1906, Pittsburg, Cherokee County, Pleasant View Township, Kansas.
ix. HARRY ALBERT THOMAS, b. 03 Aug 1908, Cherokee County, Pleasant View Township, Kansas; d. 08 Mar 1910, Crawford County, Kansas.
x. LENA BELL THOMAS, b. 28 Sep 1910; d. 31 Oct 1910.
Cemetery: Crocker Cemtery, Crawford Co., Kansas
xi. LULA ALTA THOMAS, b. 04 Oct 1912, Pittsburg, Cherokee County, Pleasant View Township, Kansas; d. 23 Mar 1977, Yuba City, California; m. (1) GILBERT PRYOR; m. (2) JERRY NOLAND YOUNG.
xii. RAYMOND WALTER THOMAS, b. 01 Feb 1913, Kansas; d. 11 Jun 1934, Navada, Missouri.
Burial: Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Jackson County, Missouri
**********
John Melvin Thomas, 92, of Independence, Missouri, former resident of the Bird community south of Pittsburg, died at 2 o'clock Saturday morning at the home of his son, Floyd Thomas, with whom he made his home in Independence.

Born in Gallatin, Mont., Aug. 29, 1866, he came with his family to the Pittsburg district at the age of four His father, the late John Thomas, brought the family by boat on the Missouri river to Kansas City, and then by covered wagon to the Bird community.

The Thomas family settled in the district in 1870 and Mr. Thomas lived in the district about 50 years before moving to Independence, MO. He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His wife, Josephine Estella Butler-Thomas, died July 1950.

Mr. Thomas was the twin brother of Will Thomas of Bronaugh, Missouri and Pittsburg, who died in Pittsburg last November.

Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Pearl Cutshall, Blue Springs, MO., Mrs. Lula Young, Marionville, Calif., and Mrs. Maude Mason of Weir, Kansas; three sons, Floyd, Vaughn and John, all of Independence, MO and 125 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; one brother, Charles.