Sylvester
Thomas, now residing in Starrucca, is one of the representative citizens
of Wayne county, where he has made his home since 1851. He was born
July 27, 1831, in Orange county, N. Y., and belongs to a patriotic and
loyal family, which has been well represented in the wars of this
country. The Thomas family is of Irish origin, and its members have been
prominently identified with the history of Sullivan county, N. Y.. One
of them lost a leg in battle with Indians near Lackawack, New York.
William G. Thomas (our subject's father), who was a soldier in the
war of 1812, was born about 1796 in Orange county, N. Y., a son of John
Thomas, also a native of that county. William G. married Miss Sarah
Covart, of the same county, a daughter of James Covart, who when a lad
of fifteen years joined the Continental army during the Revolutionary
war, and was with Gen. Washington when he crossed the Delaware river
into Trenton, N. J.. To Mr. and Mrs. William G. Thomas were born the
following chidren: Margaret; Ira, who was killed in the battle of Fair
Oaks, Virginia; John, who was a Union soldier in the Civil war, and died
in Kansas; Aaron; Sylvester; and Mary. Throughout his active business
life the father followed agricultural pursuits, and in politics was a
Jacksonian Democrat. He died in 1849; his wife, who was a faithful
member of the Methodist Church, departed this life in 1837.
In the country of his nativity Sylvester Thomas was reared and
educated, and also learned the mason's trade, at which he continued to
work until the outbreak of the Civil war. He had come to Wayne county
in 1851, and in May, 1861, enlisted in the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves,
under Col. Wellington H. Ent, and Capt. John S. Wright. During his
three years of arduous and faithful service, he participated in many
important engagements, including the battle of Drainsville, the second
battle of Bull Run, Bristoe Station, the seven-day's fight, Gainesville,
Bethsaida Church, and Gettysburg. When his term of enlistment expired,
in 1864, he was honorably discharged, and returned to his home in Berlin
township, Wayne county, where he continued to reside until his removal
to Melrose, Penn., in 1875. Later he lived in Scott township, Wayne
county, for a time, and then located in Starrucca, where for two years
he engaged in the butchering business.
Mr. Thomas married Miss Eliza J. Brown, of Berlin township, Wayne
county, a daughter of Richard and Anna Brown, in whose family were two
sons, Mark and William, who were soldiers in the Civil war. To Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas were born six children: Mrs. Amanda Marks; George R., a
resident of Lebanon township, Wayne county; John and Frank, of Scott
township; Ira, of Rotterdam, N. Y.; and Angie I., wife of George Glover,
of Starrucca. In the exercise of his elective franchise Mr. Thomas
supports the principles of the Republican party, and takes quite an
active and prominent part in political affairs. He has filled a number
of local offices, being assistant burgess one term, constable three
years, and assessor at the present time. Socially he is a member of
Capt. Oliver Mumford Post, and in its early days was an energetic worker
in the same.
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