Clara was born in the new house in December 1852. Mary was sent to Galesburg to school in 1854 and letters to her at this time tell much of family life. Of the baby the mother says: "She is fat and spunky and goes all over the yard and into everything." There was much building going on in the little town; the mill and the doctor's office were built this year; Mr. Wright gave the land upon which a Catholic church was erected a little later on the back road near the Paynes. The Rock Island Railroad reached Rock Island this year and there was a big celebration of the event. Alice says: "Now while I am writing I can hear that tormented iron-horse bellowing boo-hoo." The children went in decorated wagons out to the valley to see a train go by.
Alice and Freeman went east in 1855 to visit old scenes, friends and relatives that they had not seen for nearly twenty years. Mary 'kept house' at this time. Grandmother Hayward was there for company and advice and Aunt Jane was near but Mary was in charge. Freeman went again in 1866 and Henry in 1876, but this was Alice's last visit.
In 1857 Mary was married and set up a home of her own and in 1858 Herbert was born, just five weeks to a day before Augusta, Mary's baby, the first grand-child made her appearance. From now on there was a constant succession of grand-children, one a year, thirty in thirty-two years. Alice assisted at the births of most of these grand-children but Mary took her place at some of the latest arrivals. At Herbert's birth, Alice was injured in someway and she was lame the rest of her life. She walked with difficulty and always used a cane for a walk of any distance outside.
The children attended a village school where they began and practically ended their formal education. There was an attempt to supplement this somewhat. Mary had a year in the Liberal Institute in Galesburg in 1854; Henry was given a year in Lombard College in 1861, and Millie a year in 1864 in the Academy at Tremont; Clara spent one winter in an academy in Wilton, Iowa, where the Wrights were living at the time.
These young people again taught rural schools in their turn. In 1864 Henry and Tibbie were teaching and Millie had a school in view. Henry taught in Watertown and possibly in some other rural schools, Millie taught in the C***mt school and in Hampton, Tibbie in Coal Valley and in Juma, Ally in the suburbs of Moline, and Clara in Rapids City and in Hampton. Henry showed them, one by one, how to keep their school records and make out their monthly schedules. He even did the same for a niece when she began to teach and gave her his school bell which he thought he should never use again. He was a good bookkeeper. Speaking of schooling, one is reminded that some of the Tremont relatives came to Hampton to school. Mary Penfield spent one winter here. She was supposed to stay at the Wrights but really spent most of her time at the Thomas's house with her cousins. Years later Ed Penfield spent one winter there. It was a gay, friendly place to stay.
There were some special days which this family celebrated. Thanksgiving was a big family day. It was a bigger day than Christmas. The family all gathered at Hampton for the traditional turkey dinner. One addition to the dinner was five grains of parched corn which Grandmother Hayward prepared and put beside each plate. She said in times of plenty it was well to remember times of need and a day when the Plymouth settlers had only one pint of corn which, being distributed, gave each person five grains. After Freeman's death Alice never kept this day as of old. The dinner was always given in the home of one of the children. Christmas was a lesser day in the family. Some remnant of Puritan austerity must have kept Freeman and Alice from Christmas customs which their children adopted as they set up their own homes. Alice and Freeman did not make presents at this time. In 1880, however, there was a big celebration at the Vincent's home with a tall tree in the bay window. All of the family were there. The tree was loaded with gifts and Freeman contributed a share. Uncle Gus gave gifts also -- cradles, rolling pins, etc., etc., -- Henry gave big shells to each family. The girls had dolls. Ethel's doll still survives. The boys had drums, and Luke cried because he got none and his mother said it spoiled her Christmas also. Alice Crompton boasted that she had made a gift to everyone there -- at least forty. It was a gala night and Freeman's last Christmas.
October 17th was always celebrated. This was the day that Alice and Freeman landed in Illinois with her father's family. It was usually fine at this season and some of the Tremont people made their return autumn visits at this time.
As Grandmother Hayward's years increased, May 27th, her birthday, became a marked day and Tremont people came again in the spring. Favorable weather made possible a picnic dinner outside should there be need or desire for it. Henry's diary in 1871 says: "Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary came last night and Aunt Emily and little Gussie today." "We have a houseful of people. Grandmother is eighty years old today." Another year when the clan gathered he writes "She is eighty-five today."
Mr. Wright failed in business after the war and they were in Iowa for a few years and then back in Hampton. He died in 1876 and Aunt Jane became a permanent member of the Thomas family. She was loved and esteemed and was very necessary to the family's happiness and well-being.
Perhaps no better way can be found to describe how life was lived here at this time than to give in an abridged form Henry's diary for 1872.
Name: Allice Thomas
Age: 34
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1850: District 37, Rock Island, Illinois
Gender: Female
Family Number: 725
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F Thomas 39
Allice Thomas 34
Mary L Thomas 11
Joseph H Thomas 8
Parmelia C Thomas 5
Sylvia H Thomas 2
(Source: 1850 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas
Age in 1860: 44
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1860: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Gender: Female
Post Office: Hampton
Value of real estate: View Image
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F Thomas 49
Alice Thomas 44
Henry Thomas 18
Camilla C Thomas 15
Sylva Thomas 12
Alice A Thomas 10
Clara C Thomas 7
Herbert Thomas 2
(Source: 1860 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas [Alice Hayward]
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1880: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Henry F. Thomas
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Name: Sylvia Hayward
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeping House
Cannot read/write:
Blind:
Deaf and dumb:
Otherwise disabled:
Idiotic or insane:
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F. Thomas 69
Alice Thomas 64
Joseph H. Thomas 38
Sylvia Hayward 89
Augustus M. Hayward 47
(Source: 1880 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas
Age: 84
Birth Date: Sep 1815
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1900: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother: number of living children: 5
Mother: How many children: 9
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Alice Thomas 84
Louisa Wright 82
Augustus M Hayward 67
(Source: 1900 United States Federal Census)
********
Parents:
Joseph Hayward
Silvia Conant
Spouse:
Henry Thomas
Children:
*Alice A. Thomas (1836- 1847)
*Mary L. Thomas (1838- 1928) married Dr. George Vincent (1823- 1889)
*Joseph H. Thomas (1841- 1881)
*Camilla C. Thomas (1845- ????) married Theodore D. Wheelock
*Sylvia J. Thomas (1847- 1920) married Fred C. Hemenway (1849- 1923)
*Alice H. Thomas (1850- 1932) married Samuel S. Crompton (1843- 1936)
*Clara L. Thomas (1852- 1884) married James T. Francis
*Herbert E. Thomas (1858- 1929) married Miss Ruth A. Sadler (1860- 1950)
Alice and Freeman went east in 1855 to visit old scenes, friends and relatives that they had not seen for nearly twenty years. Mary 'kept house' at this time. Grandmother Hayward was there for company and advice and Aunt Jane was near but Mary was in charge. Freeman went again in 1866 and Henry in 1876, but this was Alice's last visit.
In 1857 Mary was married and set up a home of her own and in 1858 Herbert was born, just five weeks to a day before Augusta, Mary's baby, the first grand-child made her appearance. From now on there was a constant succession of grand-children, one a year, thirty in thirty-two years. Alice assisted at the births of most of these grand-children but Mary took her place at some of the latest arrivals. At Herbert's birth, Alice was injured in someway and she was lame the rest of her life. She walked with difficulty and always used a cane for a walk of any distance outside.
The children attended a village school where they began and practically ended their formal education. There was an attempt to supplement this somewhat. Mary had a year in the Liberal Institute in Galesburg in 1854; Henry was given a year in Lombard College in 1861, and Millie a year in 1864 in the Academy at Tremont; Clara spent one winter in an academy in Wilton, Iowa, where the Wrights were living at the time.
These young people again taught rural schools in their turn. In 1864 Henry and Tibbie were teaching and Millie had a school in view. Henry taught in Watertown and possibly in some other rural schools, Millie taught in the C***mt school and in Hampton, Tibbie in Coal Valley and in Juma, Ally in the suburbs of Moline, and Clara in Rapids City and in Hampton. Henry showed them, one by one, how to keep their school records and make out their monthly schedules. He even did the same for a niece when she began to teach and gave her his school bell which he thought he should never use again. He was a good bookkeeper. Speaking of schooling, one is reminded that some of the Tremont relatives came to Hampton to school. Mary Penfield spent one winter here. She was supposed to stay at the Wrights but really spent most of her time at the Thomas's house with her cousins. Years later Ed Penfield spent one winter there. It was a gay, friendly place to stay.
There were some special days which this family celebrated. Thanksgiving was a big family day. It was a bigger day than Christmas. The family all gathered at Hampton for the traditional turkey dinner. One addition to the dinner was five grains of parched corn which Grandmother Hayward prepared and put beside each plate. She said in times of plenty it was well to remember times of need and a day when the Plymouth settlers had only one pint of corn which, being distributed, gave each person five grains. After Freeman's death Alice never kept this day as of old. The dinner was always given in the home of one of the children. Christmas was a lesser day in the family. Some remnant of Puritan austerity must have kept Freeman and Alice from Christmas customs which their children adopted as they set up their own homes. Alice and Freeman did not make presents at this time. In 1880, however, there was a big celebration at the Vincent's home with a tall tree in the bay window. All of the family were there. The tree was loaded with gifts and Freeman contributed a share. Uncle Gus gave gifts also -- cradles, rolling pins, etc., etc., -- Henry gave big shells to each family. The girls had dolls. Ethel's doll still survives. The boys had drums, and Luke cried because he got none and his mother said it spoiled her Christmas also. Alice Crompton boasted that she had made a gift to everyone there -- at least forty. It was a gala night and Freeman's last Christmas.
October 17th was always celebrated. This was the day that Alice and Freeman landed in Illinois with her father's family. It was usually fine at this season and some of the Tremont people made their return autumn visits at this time.
As Grandmother Hayward's years increased, May 27th, her birthday, became a marked day and Tremont people came again in the spring. Favorable weather made possible a picnic dinner outside should there be need or desire for it. Henry's diary in 1871 says: "Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary came last night and Aunt Emily and little Gussie today." "We have a houseful of people. Grandmother is eighty years old today." Another year when the clan gathered he writes "She is eighty-five today."
Mr. Wright failed in business after the war and they were in Iowa for a few years and then back in Hampton. He died in 1876 and Aunt Jane became a permanent member of the Thomas family. She was loved and esteemed and was very necessary to the family's happiness and well-being.
Perhaps no better way can be found to describe how life was lived here at this time than to give in an abridged form Henry's diary for 1872.
Name: Allice Thomas
Age: 34
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1850: District 37, Rock Island, Illinois
Gender: Female
Family Number: 725
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F Thomas 39
Allice Thomas 34
Mary L Thomas 11
Joseph H Thomas 8
Parmelia C Thomas 5
Sylvia H Thomas 2
(Source: 1850 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas
Age in 1860: 44
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1860: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Gender: Female
Post Office: Hampton
Value of real estate: View Image
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F Thomas 49
Alice Thomas 44
Henry Thomas 18
Camilla C Thomas 15
Sylva Thomas 12
Alice A Thomas 10
Clara C Thomas 7
Herbert Thomas 2
(Source: 1860 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas [Alice Hayward]
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1880: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Henry F. Thomas
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Name: Sylvia Hayward
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeping House
Cannot read/write:
Blind:
Deaf and dumb:
Otherwise disabled:
Idiotic or insane:
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F. Thomas 69
Alice Thomas 64
Joseph H. Thomas 38
Sylvia Hayward 89
Augustus M. Hayward 47
(Source: 1880 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas
Age: 84
Birth Date: Sep 1815
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1900: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother: number of living children: 5
Mother: How many children: 9
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Alice Thomas 84
Louisa Wright 82
Augustus M Hayward 67
(Source: 1900 United States Federal Census)
********
Parents:
Joseph Hayward
Silvia Conant
Spouse:
Henry Thomas
Children:
*Alice A. Thomas (1836- 1847)
*Mary L. Thomas (1838- 1928) married Dr. George Vincent (1823- 1889)
*Joseph H. Thomas (1841- 1881)
*Camilla C. Thomas (1845- ????) married Theodore D. Wheelock
*Sylvia J. Thomas (1847- 1920) married Fred C. Hemenway (1849- 1923)
*Alice H. Thomas (1850- 1932) married Samuel S. Crompton (1843- 1936)
*Clara L. Thomas (1852- 1884) married James T. Francis
*Herbert E. Thomas (1858- 1929) married Miss Ruth A. Sadler (1860- 1950)
Clara was born in the new house in December 1852. Mary was sent to Galesburg to school in 1854 and letters to her at this time tell much of family life. Of the baby the mother says: "She is fat and spunky and goes all over the yard and into everything." There was much building going on in the little town; the mill and the doctor's office were built this year; Mr. Wright gave the land upon which a Catholic church was erected a little later on the back road near the Paynes. The Rock Island Railroad reached Rock Island this year and there was a big celebration of the event. Alice says: "Now while I am writing I can hear that tormented iron-horse bellowing boo-hoo." The children went in decorated wagons out to the valley to see a train go by.
Alice and Freeman went east in 1855 to visit old scenes, friends and relatives that they had not seen for nearly twenty years. Mary 'kept house' at this time. Grandmother Hayward was there for company and advice and Aunt Jane was near but Mary was in charge. Freeman went again in 1866 and Henry in 1876, but this was Alice's last visit.
In 1857 Mary was married and set up a home of her own and in 1858 Herbert was born, just five weeks to a day before Augusta, Mary's baby, the first grand-child made her appearance. From now on there was a constant succession of grand-children, one a year, thirty in thirty-two years. Alice assisted at the births of most of these grand-children but Mary took her place at some of the latest arrivals. At Herbert's birth, Alice was injured in someway and she was lame the rest of her life. She walked with difficulty and always used a cane for a walk of any distance outside.
The children attended a village school where they began and practically ended their formal education. There was an attempt to supplement this somewhat. Mary had a year in the Liberal Institute in Galesburg in 1854; Henry was given a year in Lombard College in 1861, and Millie a year in 1864 in the Academy at Tremont; Clara spent one winter in an academy in Wilton, Iowa, where the Wrights were living at the time.
These young people again taught rural schools in their turn. In 1864 Henry and Tibbie were teaching and Millie had a school in view. Henry taught in Watertown and possibly in some other rural schools, Millie taught in the C***mt school and in Hampton, Tibbie in Coal Valley and in Juma, Ally in the suburbs of Moline, and Clara in Rapids City and in Hampton. Henry showed them, one by one, how to keep their school records and make out their monthly schedules. He even did the same for a niece when she began to teach and gave her his school bell which he thought he should never use again. He was a good bookkeeper. Speaking of schooling, one is reminded that some of the Tremont relatives came to Hampton to school. Mary Penfield spent one winter here. She was supposed to stay at the Wrights but really spent most of her time at the Thomas's house with her cousins. Years later Ed Penfield spent one winter there. It was a gay, friendly place to stay.
There were some special days which this family celebrated. Thanksgiving was a big family day. It was a bigger day than Christmas. The family all gathered at Hampton for the traditional turkey dinner. One addition to the dinner was five grains of parched corn which Grandmother Hayward prepared and put beside each plate. She said in times of plenty it was well to remember times of need and a day when the Plymouth settlers had only one pint of corn which, being distributed, gave each person five grains. After Freeman's death Alice never kept this day as of old. The dinner was always given in the home of one of the children. Christmas was a lesser day in the family. Some remnant of Puritan austerity must have kept Freeman and Alice from Christmas customs which their children adopted as they set up their own homes. Alice and Freeman did not make presents at this time. In 1880, however, there was a big celebration at the Vincent's home with a tall tree in the bay window. All of the family were there. The tree was loaded with gifts and Freeman contributed a share. Uncle Gus gave gifts also -- cradles, rolling pins, etc., etc., -- Henry gave big shells to each family. The girls had dolls. Ethel's doll still survives. The boys had drums, and Luke cried because he got none and his mother said it spoiled her Christmas also. Alice Crompton boasted that she had made a gift to everyone there -- at least forty. It was a gala night and Freeman's last Christmas.
October 17th was always celebrated. This was the day that Alice and Freeman landed in Illinois with her father's family. It was usually fine at this season and some of the Tremont people made their return autumn visits at this time.
As Grandmother Hayward's years increased, May 27th, her birthday, became a marked day and Tremont people came again in the spring. Favorable weather made possible a picnic dinner outside should there be need or desire for it. Henry's diary in 1871 says: "Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary came last night and Aunt Emily and little Gussie today." "We have a houseful of people. Grandmother is eighty years old today." Another year when the clan gathered he writes "She is eighty-five today."
Mr. Wright failed in business after the war and they were in Iowa for a few years and then back in Hampton. He died in 1876 and Aunt Jane became a permanent member of the Thomas family. She was loved and esteemed and was very necessary to the family's happiness and well-being.
Perhaps no better way can be found to describe how life was lived here at this time than to give in an abridged form Henry's diary for 1872.
Name: Allice Thomas
Age: 34
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1850: District 37, Rock Island, Illinois
Gender: Female
Family Number: 725
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F Thomas 39
Allice Thomas 34
Mary L Thomas 11
Joseph H Thomas 8
Parmelia C Thomas 5
Sylvia H Thomas 2
(Source: 1850 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas
Age in 1860: 44
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1860: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Gender: Female
Post Office: Hampton
Value of real estate: View Image
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F Thomas 49
Alice Thomas 44
Henry Thomas 18
Camilla C Thomas 15
Sylva Thomas 12
Alice A Thomas 10
Clara C Thomas 7
Herbert Thomas 2
(Source: 1860 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas [Alice Hayward]
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1880: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Henry F. Thomas
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Name: Sylvia Hayward
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeping House
Cannot read/write:
Blind:
Deaf and dumb:
Otherwise disabled:
Idiotic or insane:
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F. Thomas 69
Alice Thomas 64
Joseph H. Thomas 38
Sylvia Hayward 89
Augustus M. Hayward 47
(Source: 1880 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas
Age: 84
Birth Date: Sep 1815
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1900: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother: number of living children: 5
Mother: How many children: 9
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Alice Thomas 84
Louisa Wright 82
Augustus M Hayward 67
(Source: 1900 United States Federal Census)
********
Parents:
Joseph Hayward
Silvia Conant
Spouse:
Henry Thomas
Children:
*Alice A. Thomas (1836- 1847)
*Mary L. Thomas (1838- 1928) married Dr. George Vincent (1823- 1889)
*Joseph H. Thomas (1841- 1881)
*Camilla C. Thomas (1845- ????) married Theodore D. Wheelock
*Sylvia J. Thomas (1847- 1920) married Fred C. Hemenway (1849- 1923)
*Alice H. Thomas (1850- 1932) married Samuel S. Crompton (1843- 1936)
*Clara L. Thomas (1852- 1884) married James T. Francis
*Herbert E. Thomas (1858- 1929) married Miss Ruth A. Sadler (1860- 1950)
Alice and Freeman went east in 1855 to visit old scenes, friends and relatives that they had not seen for nearly twenty years. Mary 'kept house' at this time. Grandmother Hayward was there for company and advice and Aunt Jane was near but Mary was in charge. Freeman went again in 1866 and Henry in 1876, but this was Alice's last visit.
In 1857 Mary was married and set up a home of her own and in 1858 Herbert was born, just five weeks to a day before Augusta, Mary's baby, the first grand-child made her appearance. From now on there was a constant succession of grand-children, one a year, thirty in thirty-two years. Alice assisted at the births of most of these grand-children but Mary took her place at some of the latest arrivals. At Herbert's birth, Alice was injured in someway and she was lame the rest of her life. She walked with difficulty and always used a cane for a walk of any distance outside.
The children attended a village school where they began and practically ended their formal education. There was an attempt to supplement this somewhat. Mary had a year in the Liberal Institute in Galesburg in 1854; Henry was given a year in Lombard College in 1861, and Millie a year in 1864 in the Academy at Tremont; Clara spent one winter in an academy in Wilton, Iowa, where the Wrights were living at the time.
These young people again taught rural schools in their turn. In 1864 Henry and Tibbie were teaching and Millie had a school in view. Henry taught in Watertown and possibly in some other rural schools, Millie taught in the C***mt school and in Hampton, Tibbie in Coal Valley and in Juma, Ally in the suburbs of Moline, and Clara in Rapids City and in Hampton. Henry showed them, one by one, how to keep their school records and make out their monthly schedules. He even did the same for a niece when she began to teach and gave her his school bell which he thought he should never use again. He was a good bookkeeper. Speaking of schooling, one is reminded that some of the Tremont relatives came to Hampton to school. Mary Penfield spent one winter here. She was supposed to stay at the Wrights but really spent most of her time at the Thomas's house with her cousins. Years later Ed Penfield spent one winter there. It was a gay, friendly place to stay.
There were some special days which this family celebrated. Thanksgiving was a big family day. It was a bigger day than Christmas. The family all gathered at Hampton for the traditional turkey dinner. One addition to the dinner was five grains of parched corn which Grandmother Hayward prepared and put beside each plate. She said in times of plenty it was well to remember times of need and a day when the Plymouth settlers had only one pint of corn which, being distributed, gave each person five grains. After Freeman's death Alice never kept this day as of old. The dinner was always given in the home of one of the children. Christmas was a lesser day in the family. Some remnant of Puritan austerity must have kept Freeman and Alice from Christmas customs which their children adopted as they set up their own homes. Alice and Freeman did not make presents at this time. In 1880, however, there was a big celebration at the Vincent's home with a tall tree in the bay window. All of the family were there. The tree was loaded with gifts and Freeman contributed a share. Uncle Gus gave gifts also -- cradles, rolling pins, etc., etc., -- Henry gave big shells to each family. The girls had dolls. Ethel's doll still survives. The boys had drums, and Luke cried because he got none and his mother said it spoiled her Christmas also. Alice Crompton boasted that she had made a gift to everyone there -- at least forty. It was a gala night and Freeman's last Christmas.
October 17th was always celebrated. This was the day that Alice and Freeman landed in Illinois with her father's family. It was usually fine at this season and some of the Tremont people made their return autumn visits at this time.
As Grandmother Hayward's years increased, May 27th, her birthday, became a marked day and Tremont people came again in the spring. Favorable weather made possible a picnic dinner outside should there be need or desire for it. Henry's diary in 1871 says: "Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary came last night and Aunt Emily and little Gussie today." "We have a houseful of people. Grandmother is eighty years old today." Another year when the clan gathered he writes "She is eighty-five today."
Mr. Wright failed in business after the war and they were in Iowa for a few years and then back in Hampton. He died in 1876 and Aunt Jane became a permanent member of the Thomas family. She was loved and esteemed and was very necessary to the family's happiness and well-being.
Perhaps no better way can be found to describe how life was lived here at this time than to give in an abridged form Henry's diary for 1872.
Name: Allice Thomas
Age: 34
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1850: District 37, Rock Island, Illinois
Gender: Female
Family Number: 725
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F Thomas 39
Allice Thomas 34
Mary L Thomas 11
Joseph H Thomas 8
Parmelia C Thomas 5
Sylvia H Thomas 2
(Source: 1850 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas
Age in 1860: 44
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1860: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Gender: Female
Post Office: Hampton
Value of real estate: View Image
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F Thomas 49
Alice Thomas 44
Henry Thomas 18
Camilla C Thomas 15
Sylva Thomas 12
Alice A Thomas 10
Clara C Thomas 7
Herbert Thomas 2
(Source: 1860 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas [Alice Hayward]
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1880: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Henry F. Thomas
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Name: Sylvia Hayward
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeping House
Cannot read/write:
Blind:
Deaf and dumb:
Otherwise disabled:
Idiotic or insane:
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry F. Thomas 69
Alice Thomas 64
Joseph H. Thomas 38
Sylvia Hayward 89
Augustus M. Hayward 47
(Source: 1880 United States Federal Census)
Name: Alice Thomas
Age: 84
Birth Date: Sep 1815
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1900: Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother: number of living children: 5
Mother: How many children: 9
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Alice Thomas 84
Louisa Wright 82
Augustus M Hayward 67
(Source: 1900 United States Federal Census)
********
Parents:
Joseph Hayward
Silvia Conant
Spouse:
Henry Thomas
Children:
*Alice A. Thomas (1836- 1847)
*Mary L. Thomas (1838- 1928) married Dr. George Vincent (1823- 1889)
*Joseph H. Thomas (1841- 1881)
*Camilla C. Thomas (1845- ????) married Theodore D. Wheelock
*Sylvia J. Thomas (1847- 1920) married Fred C. Hemenway (1849- 1923)
*Alice H. Thomas (1850- 1932) married Samuel S. Crompton (1843- 1936)
*Clara L. Thomas (1852- 1884) married James T. Francis
*Herbert E. Thomas (1858- 1929) married Miss Ruth A. Sadler (1860- 1950)
Family Members
Siblings
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