Parents
Leo was born to Ebenezer Ramsay Thomas and Iona J. Dale and had three surviving siblings.
Ebenezer (Ebb) Thomas was born to Jonus Thomas and Margrett Thomas in 1861, one of three sons. A boarder and a servant were also members of the household in 1900. Over many years he worked as a logger, contractor, farmer, and milkman. In 1894 he was granted a homestead patent for about 160 acres of land in Mississippi. He passed away in 1920, leaving behind his wife and four children.
Iona J Dale was born in September 1867 to Stephen Kerney Dale and Elizabeth Bond, one of thirteen children. She attended school up to fifth grade and married Ebenezer Thomas in 1883, having their first child three years later. They had 4 surviving children together, but three passed away as infants. Leo and Iona lived together his entire life until he left to fight in the war. She passed away while Leo was in service in 1942.
Ebenezer (Ebb) Thomas was born to Jonus Thomas and Margrett Thomas in 1861, one of three sons. A boarder and a servant were also members of the household in 1900. Over many years he worked as a logger, contractor, farmer, and milkman. In 1894 he was granted a homestead patent for about 160 acres of land in Mississippi. He passed away in 1920, leaving behind his wife and four children.
Iona J Dale was born in September 1867 to Stephen Kerney Dale and Elizabeth Bond, one of thirteen children. She attended school up to fifth grade and married Ebenezer Thomas in 1883, having their first child three years later. They had 4 surviving children together, but three passed away as infants. Leo and Iona lived together his entire life until he left to fight in the war. She passed away while Leo was in service in 1942.
Siblings
William Decatur Thomas was born in 1886, making him the eldest sibling. His highest level of education was third grade, and he worked as a farmer, log scaler, and furniture repairman. He registered for the World War I draft, but he was not drafted. His draft card describes him as having black hair and blue eyes. At 18, he married Amanda Thomas and they had 8 children. Amanda attended school up to second grade and was a homemaker and later a sealoval worker. In 1940 William and all of his children living at home worked as farmers.
Harold Claude Thomas was the second oldest son and was born in 1896. He was born in Mississippi and was living in Wiggins when he died in 1978. Throughout his life he worked as a logger, milkman, farmer, and was drafted into World War I in 1918. His draft card states he has dark hair and brown eyes. Later in life, he married Winnie Taylor, and they had no children. Claude was the family member contacted for Leo’s burial because their mother had died during the war. Leo’s effects were sent to him after his death. A flag was sent to him on January 7, 1949.
Bessie May Thomas was the only female child of Ebb and Iona and was the second oldest sibling. She was born in 1887 and attended school up to eighth grade. She met Luther John Graves while the family was living in Louisiana and they married and had 7 children. Bessie died in 1963 due to a short illness and Luther was later buried beside her in Thomasville, Mississippi.
Luther Graves, born on June 27, 1887, was born in Louisiana and attended school up to his first year of college at Knox College in Illinois. He registered for the World War I and World War II draft, but he was not drafted for either war. Throughout his life he worked as a farm laborer, a truck driver, and salesman. In 1920, Luther Graves was not present, and Bessie was the head of the household and living with her first 4 children. By 1930, Luther had returned to the family. He died in 1975 and was buried alongside Bessie.
After the death of Leo's wife and father, he and his mother moved in with Luther and Bessie. While living with them Leo worked as a stock clerk in a grocery store.
Several of Bessie and Luther's children were named after the Thomas family. She had a daughter named Iona and a son named Claude after her mother and brother.
Bessie's son Harold D. Graves, born in 1926, served in the US Navy in World War II. He enlisted at 16 and served on the USS LST-717, a tank landing ship. In 2017, Harold passed away in Booneville, Mississippi, with nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren,
Bessie's granddaughter describes the Thomas side of the family as being "very private" and said very few people knew them.
Harold Claude Thomas was the second oldest son and was born in 1896. He was born in Mississippi and was living in Wiggins when he died in 1978. Throughout his life he worked as a logger, milkman, farmer, and was drafted into World War I in 1918. His draft card states he has dark hair and brown eyes. Later in life, he married Winnie Taylor, and they had no children. Claude was the family member contacted for Leo’s burial because their mother had died during the war. Leo’s effects were sent to him after his death. A flag was sent to him on January 7, 1949.
Bessie May Thomas was the only female child of Ebb and Iona and was the second oldest sibling. She was born in 1887 and attended school up to eighth grade. She met Luther John Graves while the family was living in Louisiana and they married and had 7 children. Bessie died in 1963 due to a short illness and Luther was later buried beside her in Thomasville, Mississippi.
Luther Graves, born on June 27, 1887, was born in Louisiana and attended school up to his first year of college at Knox College in Illinois. He registered for the World War I and World War II draft, but he was not drafted for either war. Throughout his life he worked as a farm laborer, a truck driver, and salesman. In 1920, Luther Graves was not present, and Bessie was the head of the household and living with her first 4 children. By 1930, Luther had returned to the family. He died in 1975 and was buried alongside Bessie.
After the death of Leo's wife and father, he and his mother moved in with Luther and Bessie. While living with them Leo worked as a stock clerk in a grocery store.
Several of Bessie and Luther's children were named after the Thomas family. She had a daughter named Iona and a son named Claude after her mother and brother.
Bessie's son Harold D. Graves, born in 1926, served in the US Navy in World War II. He enlisted at 16 and served on the USS LST-717, a tank landing ship. In 2017, Harold passed away in Booneville, Mississippi, with nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren,
Bessie's granddaughter describes the Thomas side of the family as being "very private" and said very few people knew them.