Bio-Rose, Louisa Thomas

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Louisa (Rose) Thomas
(1863-1956)

Louisa (Rose) Thomas was born in 1863 in Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of Charles and Catherine (Minerd) Rose.

Louisa married Samuel Thomas (1865-1929). Their three children were Sarah Jane Rush, William Henry Thomas and Harvey S. Thomas.

Early in the marriage, the Thomases lived at Star Junction, Fayette County, PA, where the Connellsville Daily Courier said Samuel "was employed in the mines, before locating at Confluence in 1898." The Courier added that "After residing [at Confluence] for a short time he bought a farm near Draketown and was engaged in farming until about [1925] when he returned to Confluence and engaged in the merchandise business." Circa 1902, they lived at Maple Summit, Fayette County, where their son Harvey was born.

One spring, reported the Somerset Daily American, Samuel tapped 96 maple trees, and their three children helped carry buckets of sap and water to the sugar camp.

Maple syrup being tapped in Somerset County

The Thomases were members of the Church of God of Ursina, Somerset County, and Samuel was a member of the Lodge of Maccabees of Confluence for 19 years. The Courier said that "He was one of the most substantial citizens of Confluence and was widely known and highly respected in the community."

In 1945, Louisa and son William are known to have attended the 50th wedding anniversary party of her brother J. Grant Rose and his wife Rebecca.

Samuel died in 1929 of heart problems.

Louisa survived him by 27 years and died in 1956. They are buried at the Jersey Church Cemetery near Ursina.

The Thomases are mentioned in the book, Reflections: Ursina 1787-1994.

~ Son Harvey Thomas ~

Son Harvey Thomas (1902-1983) owned and operated the H.S. Thomas Coal Company of Listonburg, Somerset County. He also worked for the Bedford Gear Company of Bedford, OH.

He married Rillie Chestnutt, and they had the following children -- John H. Thomas, Emma Pearl Rarick and Beverly Hinston.

~ Son William Thomas ~

Son William Thomas (1897-1963) was a World War I veteran and owned the Thomas Garage in Confluence for many years.

He married Ona Phelps and had one son, Herbert Thomas.

William died on May 30, 1963, and is buried in Jersey Cemetery.

~ Daughter Sarah Jane (Thomas) Rush ~

Sadie Rush in the Somerset Daily American

Daughter Sarah Jane Thomas married William Harrison Rush Sr. He served on the Lower Turkeyfoot Twp. School Board in the 1920s and '30s. They had seven children - Lawrence E. Rush, Benjamin Rush, William H. Rush Jr., Clara Bell Cannon, Millicent Enos, Leora June Lytle and Roger Rush.

Sadie is pictured on a number of pages in the book, Draketown Past & Present. Among the photos, she is shown making apple butter, and in another with her distant cousin Letitia 'Tish' Silbaugh. On her 90th birthday, in July 1983, Sadie was the subject of a major feature in the Somerset Daily American. In the story, she attributed her longevity "To God above, clean, healthy country living, using plenty of herbs and vitamins, along with Dr. Shinolt's chiropractic treatments and a small amount of medical doctoring." Sadie also authored a short autobiography in the volume, `Mongst the Hills of Somerset.

Grandson William H. Rush Jr. (1915-1983) was a veteran of World War II. He never married.

Grandson Benjamin C. Rush (1920-1987) married Loretta Bowser. They resided in Accident, Garrett County, MD. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy submarine service in World War II, and a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Friendsville VFW Post 8769 and the Garrett County Farm Bureau. He was employed as a firmer and school bus driver. Their children were Craig Rush, Norris Rush, Beverly Stone, Linda Price and Nancy Berkebile. Benjamin died at home at age 66 on May 18, 1987, and was laid to rest at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. At the time, he had nine grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and one step great-grandchild.

Granddaughter Millicent Adele Rush (1923-2010) married (?) Enos. They had three children -- Gail Smith, Nema Shae Nichols and Chad Enos. They resided in Confluence. Said the Somerset Daily American, Millicent "was a charter member of the Confluence VFW Post 7250 Ladies Auxiliary. Millicent passed away in Latrobe Area Hospital at the age of 86 on March 24, 2010. She was placed at eternal rest in Jersey Cemetery. At her death, she had eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Grandson Lawrence E. Rush (1926-2002) "was a retired mechanic, having worked for ParMatt Lanes, Oakland, and a retired machinist, having worked for Glenn L. Martin Co. and A.A.I., both of Baltimore," said the Oakland (MD) Republican. "He was an Army veteran of World War II, having served in the European theatre. An avid fiddle player, he was a member of Hammers & Strings, an old-time string band and the Friday Night Pickers."

Daughter Leora June Rush (1931-2011) was born on June 1, 1931 in Confluence. She wed (?) Lytle. She resided for many years in Baltimore, MD, where she was employed at Western Electric Company. She also was a Worthy Matron of the Gleaner chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Baltimore and of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Whitemarsh, MD. She died at the age of 79 on Feb. 10, 2011, in Towson, MD. Her remains were returned to Somerset County for interment in the Jersey Cemetery, with her obituary published in the Daily American.