Life History

Other facts

Notes

• In 1870, Lewis is reported in the census only as L Thomas.  His name was provided to me by a descendant, Donna Thomas Mondier.  Lewis was not reported in the census of July 1860, yet was reported as 10 years old in the census of July 1870.
  
  Since he was not enumerated in the 1860 census, Lewis was not born until July 1860 at the earliest (census date being July 1).  With the 1870 census being in June, he could not have had his 10th birthday yet.  July 1970 would have been the earliest time he could have become 10 years old.
  
  1870 Federal Census, Brazos County, Texas, 16 June, PO Bryan, page 2, Hse/Fam #11
  Thomas, M A  49 F W Keeping House $3000 Real Estate value $240 Personal b Prussia
  Thomas, L  10 M W At Home $0 Real Estate value $100 Personal b Texas
  
  Lewis/Louis is head of the household, but unmarried in 1880, with his mother Mary Ann living with him.   There is also a niece named Annie Zerbst living with them, who we learn from other sources is the daughter of Lewis' sister Catherine.  They are living next door to Louis' brother Peter and his wife Lucy with their two children.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Brazos County, Texas, 8 June, District 2/16, page 14B, Hse/Fam #130
  Thomas, Lewis N  W M 19  Farming Texas Prussia Prussia
  Thomas, Mary A  W F 59  Mother Keeping House Prussia Prussia Prussia
  Zerbst, Annie  W M 12  Niece Texas Prussia Texas
  
  Note that Annie was born in Texas, as well as her mother, but her father was born in Prussia.  Marriage records for Brazos County, Texas, fill in details of this situation.  Donna found records of the marriage of Cathrine Thomas to Charles Zerbst.  This appears to be their daughter.
  
  This Annie could not be a niece of Lewis, since none of his sisters were even born until the family had been in Texas some years.
  
  In 1900 we find that Lewis has moved to Bell County, Texas, where he and his children are living in the town of Rogers.  We see form this Lewis has been married and widowed in the 20 years since the 18880 census, and has three children in his household, as well as a Willie B Stewart, a niece who is single.  This surname of Stewart gives us another clue to follow to connections for the marriage of Lewis' sisters.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Bell County, Texas, 5 June, Rogers, District 22, page 5B, Hse #96, Fam #99
  Thomas, Lewis N Head W M Sept 1860  39 Widowed TX Germany Germany  Day Laborer, Rents Home
  Thomas, John W Son W M Aug 1884  15 Single TX TX TX Day Laborer
  Thomas, Florence Dau W F Feb 1887  13 Single TX TXTX
  Thomas, Lewis N Son W M Oct 1890  10 Single TX TX TX
  Stewart, Willie B Niece W F July 1879  20 Single TX MS AL

Sources

• 1. 1870 Federal Census, Brazos County, Texas
  • 16 June, PO Bryan, page 2, Hse/Fam #11
• 2. 1900 Federal Census, Bell County, Texas
  • 5 June, Rogers, District 22, page 5B, Hse #96, Fam #99
• 3. 1880 Federal Census, Brazos County, Texas
  • 8 June, District 2/16, page 14B, Hse/Fam #130
• 4. Email Sources