Veteran of Civil war, National Chief of Staff of the Grand Army and Assistant Adjutant General of Kansas G.A.R. He was the oldest living resident of Chapman at the time of his death.

His father died when he was 7 years old.

In March of 1864 at age 13 he enlisted in Company H, 140 Illinois Volunteers and was rejected because he was too small.

The next year at 14 on 3/17/1865 he again enlisted in Col I, 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was sent to Chicago, IL. Besides himself he had four brothers and a step-father in the war. All the brothers returned by the stepfather didn't.

He received his honorable discharge 9/16/1865 at Springfield, IL. He joined the Grand Army of the Republic in Oct. 1884. He was drafted into the office of Junior Vice Commander in 1937, advancing to the Department Commander in 1939, the highest office the department has. In Feb. 1941 he was appointed Chief of Staff on the GAR.

Lois Edwards Park has their walnut dining room table. Thomas’ nickname was “Bub”

Places of residence: Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Montana, Minnesota, Kansas12

Member of the Christian Church at a young age. Was ill several years before her death.