Burleson County presented by Genealogy Trails

John C. Thomas

The Childress Post, of which John C. Thomas has been editor and publisher since 1907, is one of the weekly journals of northwest Texas with a definite influence as a moulder of public opinion and with a reputation as a news gatherer and publicity organ. The editor of this paper, who belongs to a family which has been identified with Texas from the beginning of its statehood started out in life a poor boy, won his- education as a result of hard work, was a successful teacher for a number of years, and has proved himself exceptionally capable in the field of journalism.

John C. Thomas was born July 4, 1869, near Lexington, in what was then Burleson county, now Lee county, Texas. His grandfather, Jeremiah Watts Thomas, came to Texas in 1845, was a farmer by occupation, and owned a large number of slaves. He had a very influential part in early-day politics, and was a member of one of the early state legislatures, possibly the second. The father of John C. was Jesse Thomas, a native of Mississippi, who located in Burleson county, and during the Civil war served four years as corporal in the Eleventh Texas regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and after the surrender of Vicksburg was paroled. He is still living in Williamson county, and a successful farmer and stock raiser of that locality. The maiden name of his wife was Nancy J. Parks, who was born in Alabama, a daughter of J. C. Parks, who located in Burleson, Texas, about 1845, was a farmer, owned a number of slaves, and was proprietor of a gin and interested in other enterprises in that locality. The mother died in December, 1912, in Austin, Texas. There- were nine children, four of whom are now living, John C., being the second in order of birth. His twin brother,. Jeremiah Watts Thomas, died at the age of twenty- four years.

Mr. Thomas was reared to manhood at Liberty Hill, in Williamson county, and before reaching his majority started out on his own account, finding work which eventually enabled him to get a better education than he had been privileged to enjoy while growing up. His early career was spent on a farm and ranch, and he afterwards entered the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1889, and thus equipped for his practical career. After leaving college, he took up teaching in Bell county, where he remained six years. He continued teaching altogether for fifteen years, and his last school was at Memphis, in Hall county. Then on June 1, 1907, he took charge of the Childress Post as editor and proprietor, and has since given all his time to making a first-class paper. The Post was originally established in 1901, and has had a continuous and fairly prosperous existence for twelve years. Mr. Thomas has developed a very modern plant, and has been quite successful, being owner of the entire printing establishment, has a nice home, and other city property in Memphis. The Post has a circulation of one thousand paid subscribers, is issued weekly, and its politics is Democratic.

Mr. Thomas affiliates with Masonry, being a Royal Arch Mason, and also with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to the Childress Commercial dub. He has never sought any public office, but exercises much influence personally and through his paper on local political affairs.

On April 28, 1901, at Wichita Falls, Texas, Mr. Thomas married Miss Maude Howell, a native of Hill county, Texas, and a daughter of J. H. and Mary C. (Lewellyn) Howell. They have one daughter, Maynet, born at Round Rock, Texas, in January, 1902.