Martha Newton Thomas 1871 - 1916

Martha Newton was born 16 Nov 1871, the daughter of William Newton (civil war soldier - member of Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters) and Alice Nabenaykezhick. She joined brother Benjamin who was born 3 Jul 1969. Younger brother John was born 1875.

Martha was first married to George Skimhorn. 

Son John was born in 1898

1900 Federal Census - Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan

Skinhorn, George, born 1862, 38, married 2 years, day laborer, Native name Pe tos key, Ottawa, 1/4 white

Marthey, wife, born Nov 1881, 28, married 2 years, 1 child born, 1 child living, Native name Mis suh go qua, Ottawa, full

John, son, born Nov 1898, 1, no Native name, Ottawa, 1/8 white

Son Connie (also called Coon and Asebun) was born 19 Aug 1900.

Martha married Charles Thomas, the son of Louis Thomas and Mary Smith.

Daughter Mary was born 11 May 1907.

Daughter Elizabeth was born Jun 1908. She is later called Mary.

Durant Roll Field Notes - 1908

Line 25 page 55 Waw-waw-che-no-din or William Nodin Newton, age 62, Honor.

Child 2 - Martha (Nodin) Thomas, 35, Freesoil; her husband Charles Thomas, see 17/56 and 31/57; her children: John, 10; Asebun, 8; Mary 1+ born May 1907; Elizabeth born Jun 1908; Coon Skimhorn see 1-3-49

3-49 is A-be-bun or Skinhorn, wife Mary. 

Child #3 George Skinhorn, age 44, Hart, 1st wife dead; second wife Martha (Nodin), 35, now wife of Chas Thomas, see 25-55. Son A-se-bun or Coon Skinhorn, 8, (enroll with Martha Thomas).

Daughter Mary died 17 Jan 1909 in Freesoil from pneumonia and was buried in Maple Grove cemetery in Freesoil.

Daughter Christine was said to be born 16 Aug 1909. [Not listed in 1910 census]

1910 Federal Census - LeRoy, Osceola, Michigan

Thomas, Charles, 43, married once, married 4 years, lumber piker at sawmill

Martha, wife, 37, married once, married 4 years, 4 children born, 3 children living

John, son, 12

Elizabeth, daughter, 23/12

Thomas, brother, 23

Peter, Jake, Boarder, 45, divorced

Paul, Mrs. Mary, step-grandmother, 75, widowed

1910 Federal Census - Freesoil, Mason, Michigan

Newton, Alice, 58, widowed, 7 children born, 7?  children living, full Ottawa

Newton, John, son, 35, single, laborer at common, full Ottawa

Newton, Julia, daughter, 24, single, full Ottawa

Skimmerhorn, Connie, male, boarder, 9, full Ottawa

Daughter Louise was born 1 Jun 1912 in Freesoil.

1 Sep 1913 - John, 15, and Connie, 17, are enrolled at Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School for 3 years. [The ages on the school records were switched, with the Durant Roll and the 1910 census both saying John was the older of the two.]

Son Leo (Jumbo) was born 1 Feb 1915.

Martha with daughters Elizabeth (now called Mary), Christine and Louise and son Leo.

Martha died 16 Sep 1916 in Freesoil. Cause of death was asthma. Mother's name was given as Alice Miskeowake. Martha was buried in Maple Grove cemetery in Freesoil.

In 1917 Charles and his children moved by train to Vilas county, Wisconsin. This was still during the lumber era and several families from Mason county had also moved there. These included Moby, Deverney, Koon, Hall, Pete and Shagwabon, with Agnes Shagwabon watching the children while Charles Thomas worked. 

Son Connie (Asebun) died 15 May 1918 in Freesoil, Mason, Michigan of pulmonary tuberculosis. Informant was John Thomas (Martha's brother). Connie was buried in Maple Grove cemetery in Freesoil.

1920 Federal Census - Washington township, Vilas, Wisconsin

Thomas, Louis, 70, widowed, laborer at lumber camp

Charlie, 52, son, widowed, laborer at lumber camp

William, 39, son, widowed, laborer at lumber camp

James, 50 cousin, single, laborer at lumber camp

Charles Thomas married 12 Jun 1924 in Stambaugh, Iron, Michigan to Angeline Wahbuscum (widow of William Deverney/Perrissien)

Elizabeth (called Mary) said to have died at age 18 (1926)

Daughter Christine married George Petts on 3 Mar 1929 in Vilas, Wisconsin

Charles Thomas died 28 Mar 1929.

Daughter Louise married Alex John Deverney, son of William Deverney Perrissien and Angeline Wahbuscum on 20 Aug 1931.

Leo registered for the draft 16 Oct 1940 in Eagle River. He gave his birthdate as 23 Feb 1915. Leo was described as 6 feet tall, 165 lbs, black hair and eyes, with a dark complexion.

Leo died 4 Apr 1982 and was buried in Three Lakes Cemetery, Three Lakes, Oneida, Wisconsin.

Louise died 16 Nov 1985 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was buried in Three Lakes Cemetery, Three Lakes, Oneida, Wisconsin

Christine died 7 Nov 1994 in Menominee Falls, Waukesha, Wisconsin and was buried in Eagle River Cemetery, Eagle River, Vilas, Wisconsin

Copyright (c) 2022 Vicki Wilson