Family of Thomas Jefferson Wilmuth

**Paternal Granduncle/aunt of Eula Claudine Reed

Thomas Jefferson Wilmuth:

Parents: Pleasant D. Wilmoth & Winifried “Winnie” E. Monk
Born: October 14, 1840 (Marion County, Alabama)
Died: July 12, 1935 (Travis County, Texas)
Buried: Texas State Cemetery (Austin, Texas)

Mary Lucinda Fowler (first spouse):

Parents: Unknown & Unknown
Born: About 1850 (Mississippi)
Married: August 26, 1866 (Tippah County, Mississippi)
Died: January 24, 1866 (Texas)
Buried: Central Cemetery (Parker County, Texas)

Martha A. Duncan ? (second spouse):

Parents: Unknown & Unknown
Born: About 1837 (Texas)
Married: October 7, 1886 (Parker County, Texas)
Died: June 20, 1888 (Texas)
Buried: Mount Olive Cemetery (Howard County, Texas)

Mary Jane “Nellie” Shepard (third spouse):

Parents: Maderson Shepard & Lucinda Elizabeth Kennedy
Born: October 1869 (Lamar County, Texas)
Married: August 21, 1877 (Franklin County, Texas)
Died: October 24, 1901 (Caddo County, Oklahoma)
Buried: Unknown (unknown)

Children (first spouse):

Rufus Viser Wilmuth (Born: About 1868);
Robert Pleasant Wilmuth (Born: 12/22/1869);
B. C. Wilmuth (Born: about 1871);
George Eugene/Edward ? Wilmuth (Born: 2/28/1874 ?);
Thomas Hershel Wilmuth (Born: 3/4/1876);
Mary/Laverna Wilmuth (Born: December 1879);
Charles Byron Wilmuth (Born: 5/24/1882);

Children (second spouse):

Zora Bell W. Wilmuth (Born: 6/16/1888);

Children (third spouse):

Epsie Jane Wilmuth (Born: 3/20/1892);
John Richard Wilmuth (Born: 7/30/1893);
Bertrum “Bert” Alvin Wilmuth (Born: 2/17/1897);
John Irvin “Ed” Wilmuth (Born: 2/20/1899);
Joe Wilmuth (Born: 6/16/1901);
Virgil Jefferson “Pete” Wilmuth (Born: 8/22/1903).

Genealogical Sketch:

According to the 1850 Federal Census, the 9 year-old Thomas Wilmot was living in his father’s household (#886) in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. Born in Alabama, Thomas J. Wilmuth was living with his 34 year-old father Pleasant Wilmot, his 30 year-old mother Winifried Wilmot, his 11 year-old brother Stephen Wilmot, his 7 year-old sister Adeline Wilmot, his 4 year-old sister Lucinda Wilmot, his two year-old brother Rufus Wilmot, and his 4 month-old sister Melissa Wilmot. A laborer, Pleasant Wilmot was born in Virginia, his wife Winifried Wilmot was born in Georgia, and all the children were born in Alabama.

According to the 1860 Federal Census, the 18 year-old Thomas J. Wilmuth was living in his father’s household (#944) in Pontotoc County (Birmingham Post Office), Mississippi. Born in Alabama, Thomas J. Wilmuth was a laborer living with his 50 year-old father Pleasant D. Wilmuth, his 40 year-old mother Winney E. Wilmuth, his 20 year-old brother Stephen M. Wilmuth, his 15 year-old sister Adaline Wilmuth, his 13 year-old sister Lucinda Wilmuth, his 10 year-old brother Rufus Wilmuth, his 9 year-old sister Melissa A. Wilmuth, his 8 year-old brother George Wilmuth, his 5 year-old sister Catherine Wilmuth, and his 4 year-old brother Hugh L. Wilmuth. A carpenter, Pleasant D. Wilmuth was born in Virginia, and his wife Winney E. Wilmuth was born in Georgia. Like Thomas J. Wilmuth, his four older siblings (Stephen, Adaline, Lucinda, & Rufus) were born in Alabama; with his four younger siblings (Melissa, George, Catherine, & Hugh) all born in Mississippi.

On March 11, 1862, in Birmingham (Alabama) Thomas Wilmoth was enlisted by Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Orr to serve in the Confederate Army for three years or the duration of the war in Company F of the 31 Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers. Organized in March of 1862 as the 6th Battalion of Mississippi Infantry (Orr’s Battalion), Benjamin Loughridge was elected and served as the first Captain of Company F serving until he resigned (November 4, 1862) and was reported to have been replaced by Captain H. J. Duncan. 4th Corporal Thomas Wilmoth was present on the Muster Rolls of Company F from March 11-September 1, 1862. From October 1862 to February 28, 1863, Private Thomas Wilmoth was listed as present with the exception of the time he spent after he was sent to the hospital on December 19, 1862. In March-April 1863, Private Thomas Wilmoth was present with the exception of the time he was sent to the hospital in Durant (Mississippi) on April 25, 1863. From May-December, Private Thomas Wilmoth was again listed as present on Company F’s Muster Rolls; as he was from March 1864 to February 28, 1865. In April 1865, Private Thomas J. Wilmouth was listed in Company A of the Consolidated Regiment of Mississippi Infantry paroled in Greensboro (North Carolina) when General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to General W. T. Sherman at the end of the Civil War (see below).[1]

Copies of select compiled service cards of Thomas J. Wilmoth (various spellings) from the National Archives Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers.

According to the National Parks Service, the 31st Infantry Regiment was organized in March (1862) using the 6th/Orr’s Mississippi Infantry Battalion as its nucleus. Serving in Rust’s, L. Hebert’s, and Featherston’s Brigades; it was part of the garrison at Vicksburg and was engaged at Baton Rouge (lost 10 killed & 37 wounded) and Jackson. Under General Featherson as part of the Army of Tennessee, the 31st was active throughout the Atlanta Campaign during which 215 engaged at Peach Tree Creek (see The Last March for T. A. Wilson: Latimer House to Pigeon Hill to Peachtree Creek); endured Hood’s winter operations in Tennessee, and saw action in North Carolina. In December, 1864, there were 86 men present for duty, and only a handful surrendered in April, 1865.

Copy of a tintype portrait of Thomas Jefferson Wilmuth believed to have been made after his marriage to his first wife in 1866. The original image in on the left, and the image on the right has been slightly enhanced. Original image were passed down to Opal White Wooten and shared on ancestry.com.

On August 26, 1866, Thomas Jefferson Wilmuth is reported to have married Mary Lucinda Fowler in Tippah County, Mississippi. After their marriage, Thomas J. Wilmuth and his wife Louisa moved over 600 miles west to settle in Parker County, Texas.

Copy of a tintype portrait of Thomas Jefferson Wilmuth’s first wife Mary Lucinda Fowler believed to have been taken after their marriage. The original image is on the left, and the image on the right has been slightly enhanced. Original was passed down to Opal White Wooten and shared on ancestry.com.

According to the 1870 Federal Census, the 26 year-old Thomas J. Wilmoth was a farmer living in household #548 in Precinct #2 (Fort Worth Post Office) of Parker County, Texas. Born in Alabama, Thomas J. Wilmoth was living with his 20 year-old wife Louisa Wilmoth, his two year-old son Rufus V. Wilmoth, and his 7 month-old son Pleas R. Wilmoth. Louisa Wilmoth was born in Alabama and both sons were born in Texas.

Living nearby in household #564 was Thomas J. Wilmuth’s sister Catherine Wilmoth. Born in Mississippi, the 17 year-old Catherine Wilmoth was living with the family of Moses Tucker. Born in North Carolina, the 33 year-old Moses Tucker was a farmer living with his 27 year-old wife Martha Tucker, his 10 year-old son Aaron A. Tucker, his 7 year-old son Jerry. J. Tucker, his 5 year-old daughter Lorena Tucker, his 4 year-old daughter Nancy T. Tucker, and his one year-old son John T. Tucker. Martha Tucker was born in Georgia and the children were all born in Texas;
Living nearby in household #572 was Thomas J. Wilmuth’s sister Lucinda J. Braselton. Born in Mississippi, Lucinda J. Braselton was living with her 23 year-old husband Walter M. Braselton, and her 11-month old daughter Emiline Braselton. A farmer, Walter M. Braselton was born in Georgia and Emiline Braselton was born in Texas.

On September 12, 1872, T. J. Willmoth enlisted as a private in Texas Ranger Company P of the Parker County Minute Men (Militia) under the command of Lieutenant J. C. Gilliland who was based in Cartersville (north of Weatherford, Texas). After serving a total of 98 days in the field, he was discharged on August 18, 1873. Similarly, T. J. Wilmoth enlisted as a private in the Parker County Rangers under the command of H. L. Hunter on December 24, 1873. After serving another 96 days of service, he was discharged on March 29, 1874.[2] This may have been in response to the raids by small bands of Indians that would continue in Parker County until 1874. For example, seven Indians ambushed and mortally wounded George McClesky outside his cabin in 1873. In addition to the Indian raids, Parker County was still part of the wild western frontier. In 1872, a posse from around town of Springtown in Parker County tracked down Nance Hill and hanged her near the line of Wichita and Clay counties. Nance Hill was the eldest daughter of Allen C. Hill, a Union sympathizer that had been killed during the winter of 1863. When the posse returned to Parker County, they went to the home of Allen C. Hill’s widow Dusty Hill which was about three miles southwest of Springtown where they hanged her daughter 22 year-old Martha and and her 20 year-old Katherine along with burning the Hill farmhouse. Although Dusty Hill had escaped with her remaining children, the posse caught them near the present town of Agnes (Parker County) where Dusty Hill along with her 18 year-old daughter Adeline and her 16 year-old daughter Eliza where shot and killed in front of the two surviving children (Belle & Allen) with the bodies left to rot send a message of fear to the community.[3]

Reconstructed from cropped images from a portrait of Thomas J. Wilmuth’s sons Rufus V. Wilmuth and Pleasant Robert Wilmuth. Likely a tintype, the portrait appears to have been made sometime around 1875 which may date the tintype portrait of their parents. The cropped images were shared on ancestry.com by Martha Wooten Reilly.

According to the 1880 Federal Census, the 35 year-old T. J. Wilmoth was a farmer living in household #129 in Precinct #2 of Parker County, Texas. Born in Alabama, T. J. Wilmoth was living with his 30 year-old wife M. L. Wimoth, his 12 year-old son R. N. Wilmoth, his 10 year-old son P. R. Wilmoth, his 9 year-old daughter B. C. Wilmoth, his 7 year-old son G. E. Wilmoth, his 5 year-old son T. H. Wilmoth, and his 5 month-old daughter Mary Wilmoth. M. L. Wilmoth was born in Mississippi, her father was born in Alabama, and her mother was born in Tennessee. All the children were born in Texas.

According to her headstone, “Louisa wife of T. J. Wilmuth” died on her 27th birthday on January 24, 1886 (likely in Parker County, Texas). On October 6, 1886, a marriage license was issued for Mr. T. J. Wilmuth and Mrs. M. A. Ataway in Parker County (Texas); and they were married on the next day (October 7, 1886) by Elder J. C. Power (see below).[4] Other researchers (including Diane Bender), have speculated that Mrs. M. A. Ataway was Martha Duncan.

Copy of the marriage license issued for Mr. T. J. Wilmuth and Mrs. M. A. Ataway in Parker County (Texas) on October 6, 1886. Copy provided by Diane Bender.

Although it had been speculated that Mrs. M. A. Ataway was the widow of John G Attaway, The 66 year-old John G. Attaway and his 61 year-old wife Margaret Attaway are found in the 1900 Federal Census having been married 43 years and living in Beech Township of Miller County, Arkansas. According to the 1880 Federal Census, the 43 year-old M. A. Attaway was living in Red River County (Texas) with her 46 year-old husband John G. Attaway, her 17 year-old son John E. Attaway, her 9 year-old daughter Charlotte Attaway, and her two year-old daughter Minnie Attaway. Born in Texas, both M. A. Attaway’s parents were born in England and all her children were born in Texas. A farmer, John G. Attaway was born in Alabama and both his parents were born in Georgia.

On June 16, 1888, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s daughter Zora Bell W. Wilmuth was born in Texas. Although her mother was listed as Nellie Sheppard on her Death Certificate,[5] the date of her birth suggests that she was actually the daughter of Thomas J. Wilmoth’s second wife Mrs. M. A. Attaway. According to other researchers (including Diane Bender), Thomas J. Wilmoth’s second wife M. A. Wilmouth died in Lamar County (Texas) on June 20, 1888. (need citation) This would indicate that Thomas J. Wilmuth had moved his family from Parker County (Texas) about 180 miles northeast to Lamar County (Texas) where he settled near Maderson and Lucinda Shepard.

On September 9, 1888, T. J. Wilmuth married Nellie Shepherd in Lamar County, Texas.[6] The 18 year-old Mary Jane “Nellie” Shepard was almost 30 years younger than her 47 year-old husband Thomas J. Wilmuth. Born in October 1869, Mary Jane “Nellie” Shepard was born in Lamar County (Texas) where her parents (Maderson Shepard & Lucinda Elizabeth Kennedy) had lived since about 1857.

On November 12, 1893, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son R. V. Wilmuth married Josie Rees in Lamar County, Texas.[7] On February 10, 1869, Martha Josephine “Josie” Rees was born in Pulaski County (Arkansas); and her parents were reported to be William M. “Dock” Rees (1834-1897) and Sophronia E. Hawkins (1835-?).
On August 28, 1895, a license was issued for the marriage of Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son Robert Wilmuth and Corda Holman in Parker County (Texas); and Robert Wilmuth was married to Corda Holman by Justice of the Peace Gran B. Patterson in Parker County on September 1, 1895.[8] Born on January 15, 1876, Cordelia Jeanette Holman’s parents were Lavender Murphy Holman (1846-1879) and Ruth Regina Martin (1850-?).
On August 9, 1886, Vena Wilmuth (Thomas J. Wilmuth’s daughter ?) married J. W. Shumake in Lamar County, Texas.[9]
On September 21, 1895, G. E. Wilmuth (Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son ?) filed a preemption claim for 160 acres in Lamar County, Texas. After living on his homestead the required three years, G. E. Wilmuth divided the land and sold 80 acres to J. B. Ladd (Ben Ladd) on April 18, 1899. According to a sworn statement by F. W. Waggoner (dated March 22, 1901), “G. E. Wilmuth was a single man of the age of twenty five years”.[10] George Edward Wilmoth (Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son ?) married Ruby Annetta Gordon in Parker County, Texas. However, no date was recorded.[11]
On June 18, 1897, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s daughter Mary Wilmuth is reported to have married William H. Sanders in Lamar County, Texas.

According to the 1900 Federal Census, the 53 year-old Thomas Wilmeth was a farmer renting his farm (household #355) west of Bee Bayon (?) in Precinct 7 of Lamar County, Texas. Born in Tennessee, Thomas Wilmeth was living with his 30 year-old wife Nellie Wilmeth, his 11 year-old daughter Bell Z. W. Wilmeth, his 8 year-old daughter Epsie Wilmeth, his 6 year-old son Richard Wilmeth, his 3 year-old son Bertram Wilmeth, and his one year-old son Irwin Wilmeth (all born in Texas). Born in October of 1869, Nellie Wilmeth had been married for 12 years and given birth to 7 children of which 5 were still alive. Thomas Wilmeth’s father was born in Mississippi, and his mother was born in Tennessee. Both of Nellie Wilmeth’s parents were born in Texas.

Living close by in household #357 was Nellie Wilmuth’s Uncle George W. Kenedy. Born in Texas, the 44 year-old George W. Kenedy was a farmer living with his 38 year-old wife Mary Kenedy, his 20 year-old son Benjamin E. Kenedy, his 17 year-old son Saneil A. Kenedy, his 14 year-old daughter Sena Kenedy, his 12 year-old daughter Viola Kenedy, his 10 year-old son George L. Kenedy, his 8 year-old son David H. Kenedy, his 5 year-old daughter Ollie D. Kenedy, his 3 year-old son Marion F. Kenedy, his one year-old daughter Mary S. D. Kenedy, and his 59 year-old mother-in-law Desire Malene. Mary Kenedy and all her children were born in Texas; and Desire Malene was born in Illinois;
Living close by in household #359 was Nellie Wilmuth’s Uncle John Sheppard. Born in Texas, the 39 year-old John Sheppard was a farmer living with his 45 year-old wife Eliza W. Sheppard, and his 21 year-old nephew Arthur Reed. Eliza W. Sheppard was born in Arkansas, and Arthur Reed (farm laborer) was born in Texas;
Living close by in household #361 was Nellie Wilmuth’s Aunt Nancy Kenedy. Born in Texas, the 51 year-old Nancy Kenedy was a widow living with her 15 year-old niece Zora Kenedy, and a 21 year-old servant named Ed Ladd (both born in Texas);
Living about 180 miles northwest of Lamar County in Noble Township of Cleveland County (Oklahoma) was Thomas J. Wilmuth’s sons Robert P. Wilmuth and Thomas H. Wilmuth. Born in Texas, the 30 year-old Robert P. Wilmuth was a farmer living with his 24 year-old wife Cordelia J. Wilmuth, 3 year-old daughter Bessie L. Wilmuth, his two year-old daughter Annice J. Wilmuth, his two month-old daughter Maude Wilmuth, and his 24 year-old brother Thomas H. Wilmuth (farm laborer). Cordelia J. Wilmuth was born in Arkansas, Maude Wilmuth was born in Oklahoma, and the others were all born in Texas.

Photo of the children of Thomas J. Wilmuth and his last two wives (Martha & Nellie) taken about 1903. Standing in the back are Epsie Jane Wilmuth (left), John Richard Wilmuth (center), and Zora Belle Wilmuth (right). Standing in front are Ed Wilmuth (left), Bert Wilmuth (right), with Joe Wilmuth standing in front of his brother Bert. The infant sitting in the chair is Virgie Wilmuth. The picture was passed down to Zora Belle’s daughter Ruby Opal White Wooten.

On July 14, 1904, the 33 year-old Nettie P. Wilmuth was reported to have died of “blood poisoning” in Lamar County, Texas.[12] Although not confirmed, it is believed this was Thomas J. Wilmuth’s third wife Mary Jane “Nellie” Wilmuth as there is not record on Nellie Wilmuth following the birth of her son Virgil Jefferson “Pete” Wilmuth on August 22, 1903.

On July 7, 1905, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s daughter Zora Wilmeth married E. F. White in Lamar County, Texas.[13] On September 21, 1877, Edgar Franklin White was born in Blount County (Tennessee) and his parents were James Thomas White (1852-1915) and Margaret Ellen Renfrow (1856-1946).

Portrait of Thomas J. Wilmuth’s daughter Zora Bell White taken sometime after she was married. Original was passed down to her daughter Opal White Wooten and shared on ancestry.com.

On January 13, 1906, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s 28 year-old son Thomas H. Wilmuth was married to 17 year-old Willie A. Hill in Cleveland County, Oklahoma. Born in Texas, Thomas H. Wilmuth was a resident of Norman (Oklahoma) as was his bride Willie A. Hill who was born in Arkansas. Willie A. Hill’s stepfather J. M. Campbell and her mother M. A. Campbell signed their consent to the marriage.[14]
On September 26, 1908, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s daughter Epsie Wilmuth was married to R. A. Corbit by Judge D. H. Miller in Franklin County, Texas.[15] Born in Texas in February 1883, Robert Arie Corbitt’s parents were reported to be Joseph Lee Corbitt (1840-1910) and Ellen Perniece Warren (1855-?).

Sometime prior to the 1910 Federal Census, Thomas J. Wilmuth moved over 660 miles west of Lamar county (Texas) to the town of Estancia in Torrance County (New Mexico) where his son Pleasant R. Wilmuth was living. According to the 1910 Federal Census, the 64 year-old Thomas J. Wilmuth was a farmer renting his farm (household #357) in Estancia Village of Torrance County, New Mexico. Born in Mississippi, the widowed Thomas J. Wilmuth was living with his 7 year-old son Virgil L. Wilmuth, and his two month-old grandson Jesse J. Wilmuth. Virgil L. Wilmuth was born in Texas, and Jesse J. Wilmuth was born in New Mexico.

Living in the preceding household (#356) was Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son Pleasant R. Wilmuth. Born in Texas, the 40 year-old Pleasant R. Wilmuth owned his farm and was living with his 34 year-old wife Cordelia J. Wilmuth, his 12 year-old daughter Jewel Wilmuth, his 10 year-old daughter Louisa M. Wilmuth, his 8 year-old son Robert G. Wilmuth, and his 3 year-old son Fred Wilmuth. Cordelia J. Wilmuth was born in Tennessee, Jewel Wilmuth was born in Texas, and the other children were born in Oklahoma;
Living in household #340 of Precinct 7 in Lamar County (Texas) was Thomas J. Wilmuth’s daughter Epsie Corbit. Born in Texas, the 19 year-old Epsie Corbit was living with her 27 year-old husband Robert A. Corbit (a farmer) and her 8 year-old brother Joe Wilmuth (Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son);
Likewise, living nearby in household #353 of Precinct 7 in Lamar County (Texas) was Thomas J. Wilmuth’s sons Richard Wilmuth and Irvin Wilmuth. Both born in Texas, the 16 year-old Richard Wilmuth and his 11 year-old brother Irvin Wilmuth were both farm laborers living in the household of their Uncle John Sheppard. Born in Texas, the 49 year-old John Sheppard was a farmer living with his 52 year-old wife Liza E. Sheppard and his 31 year-old brother-in-law Joe Baugh. Liza E. Sheppard was born in Arkansas and her brother Joe Baugh was born in Texas.

On the left is a reconstructed from cropped copies of a photo of Thomas J. Wilmuth and his youngest son Virgle Wilmuth that appears to have been taken sometime around 1910. On the right is a slightly enhanced copy to adjust for the fading. The cropped copies were shared on ancestry.com by Martha Wooten Reilly.

On April 13, 1918, “a young son of T. J. Wilmuth living near Minter” was reported to be “suffering from blood-poison in the arm, which was caused by a finger becoming infected from a cut“.[16] Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son Bertram Alvin Wilmuth is believed to have died in 1918. according to family tradition, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son John Irvin “Ed” Wilmuth died in 1919 of the Spanish flu.
About 1919, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son John Richard Wilmuth married Winnie Davis Hearn (likely in Texas) and the couple were living in Big Springs (Howard County ?, Texas) when their first child (an unnamed son) was born in the small town of Gordon (Palo Pinto County, Texas) on September 20, 1920. According to their son’s birth, the 27 year-old father T. J. Wilmuth was a farmer living in Big Springs (Texas) and the 18 year-old mother Winnie Hearne had been born in Wood County (Texas) who was living in Big Springs (Texas).[17]

According to the 1920 Federal Census, the 78 year-old Thomas J. Wilmoth was a farmer renting his farm in Richland Township of Stephens County, Oklahoma. Born in Alabama, Thomas J. Wilmoth was living with his 46 year-old son George S. Wilmoth, and his 16 year-old son Virgel L. Wilmoth (both born in Texas).

On October 7, 1920, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s son Charles Wilmuth married Lena Tippit in Phoenix (Maricopa County), Arizona.[18] On August 30, 1891, Herculana “Lena” Armijo was born in New Mexico and had previously been married to Oliver Wood “Bud” Tippit with whom she had three children (Arthur Lee Tippit, Lillian M. Tibbit, & Roberta “Bobbie” Mable Tibbit).

About 1923, Thomas J. Wilmuth’s 22 year-old son Joseph Wilmuth reportedly married 15 year-old Hazel Faye Norwood in Grand Prairie, Texas.

On April 7, 1923, Thomas J. Wilmuth signed a sworn application with his mark (indicating he was illiterate) before Judge Dewey Lawrence of Lamar County (Texas) for his application for a pension due to his service in the Confederate Army. In his application, Thomas J. Wilmuth stated he had been born in Marion County (Alabama) on October 14, 1840. He added that he had lived in Texas since 1865 and he had lived in Lamar County for 42 years where he was currently living within the service of the Minter Post Office. He added that he had enlisted in Company F of the 31 Mississippi regiment of Colonel Orr in Birmingham (Alabama) serving in the same unit until the end of the Civil War when he was honorably discharged in 1865. Thomas J. Wilmuth pension application was approved on June 5, 1923. T. J. Wilmuth had previously applied for a pension in 1908 when he was 63 years-old asserting he was feeble due to old, almost completely blind, and had received “gun shot wounds” during his service with Company F, 31st Mississippi Infantry of the Confederate Army.[19]

According to the 1930 Federal Census, the 107 year-old Tom J. Wilmuth was a farmer renting his home (household #240) in unincorporated Cunningham in Precinct 7 of Lamar County, Texas. Born in Mississippi, the widowed Tom J. Wilmuth was living with his 21 year-old son Virgil E. Wilmuth. Born in Texas, Virgil E. Wilmuth as a farm laborer.

Copies of a portrait (left) and photo (right) of Thomas J. Wilmuth shared on ancestry.com by Martha Wooten Reilly. Both appear to have been made later in his life.

On July 12, 1935, the 103 year-old Thomas J. Wilmuth died in the “Texas Confederate Home” in Austin (Travis County), Texas. According to his Death Certificate, all that was known about Thomas J. Wilmuth was that he was a widower, a Confederate Veteran, and that he had been born in Mississippi on October 14, 1831 (see below). Established in 1886, “The Confederate Men’s Home” required proof that the men had served honorably in the Civil War and had a disability that prevented them from supporting themselves.

Copy of the Certificate of Death #35595 for Thomas J. Wilmuth.

Gravestones:

Thomas Jefferson Wilmuth’s first wife Mary Lucinda Wilmuth is buried in Central Cemetery in rural Parker County (11.5 miles north of Weatherford), Texas. Mary Lucinda Wilmuth’s headstone is inscribed “Louisa wife of T. J. Wilmuth” (see below). The burial location of Thomas J. Wilmuth’s third wife Mary Jane “Nellie” Wilmuth in not known.

Photo of the headstone of Louisa Wilmuth shared on findagrave.com.

Thomas J. Wilmoth is buried in the Confederate Field (Section 3, Row B, Number 16) of the Texas State Cemetery in Austin (Travis County), Texas (see below).

Photo of the headstone for Thomas J. Wilmuth shared by Jeni (fidagrave.com).

[2] Texas Muster Rolls Index Cards for T. J. Wilmoth.

[3] “Affidavits of G. W.. Tackett and A. L. Thomas dated November 1, 1919” (History of Parker County and the Double Log Cabin by G. A. Holland, Pages 87-88); History of Parker County and the Double Log Cabin by G. A. Holland, Page 11.

[4] Texas County Marriage Records (1817-1965); Copy of Marriage License issued for Mr. T. J. Wilmuth and Mrs. M. A. Ataway in Parker County, Texas (copy provided by Diane Bender).

[5] Certificate of Death #17371 for Zora Bell Newton dated April 28, 1947.

[6] Texas Select County Marriage Index (1837-1965).

[7] Texas Select County Marriage Index (1837-1977).

[8] Parker County (Texas) Marriage Record Volume 4B (1894-1898), Page 177.

[9] Lamar County Death Records Book #1, (#561) Page 57 (by A. H. & A. R. Williams); The Death and Cemetery Records of Lamar County, Texas, by Betsy Mills and Ron Brothers (http://www.lamarcountytx.org/cemetery/Search.cfm).

[10] Lamar Preemption File #273 for G. E. Wilmuth, Texas Land Office Records for Lamar County.

[11] Texas County Marriage Records (1817-1965).

[12] Texas Select County Marriage Index (1837-1965).

[13] Texas County Marriage Index (1837-1977).

[14] Cleveland County (Oklahoma) Marriage Record Volume 6, Page 396.

[15] Franklin County (Texas) Marriage License issued for R. A. Corbit and Epsie Wilmuth on September 26, 1908.

[16] The Paris Morning News (Paris, Texas), April 13, 1918, Page 2.

[17] Palo Pinto County (Texas) Birth Certificate dated September 20, 1920.

[18] Arizona Select Marriages (1888-1908).

[19] Texas Confederate Service Pension Application of Thomas J. Wilmuth.