Four generations of Thomas James Pilant and
Lucy Martin Turpin
It includes Cleda Simms as the young girl, Thomas and Lucy sitting, their
daughter and son-in-law,
Mary Ann Pilant and James William Johndrow.
The woman
standing in back is Cleda's mother and Mary Anns daughter, Grace Johndrow Simms.
Thomas Pilant was born Feb 25, 1840, we believe Rogersville, Hawkins, TN.
When
the Civil War began, Thomas was living in Farmersville, Caldwell, KY working on
a farm belonging to an
S.P. Bradsfords as a farm hand. He soon enlisted into the
Union Infantry in 1861, was wounded in 1864 and mustered out of Co. D, 20th Inf.
as a Full Sergeant on Jan 17, 1865.
Thomas married Lucy Martin Turpin on February 20,
1865 in Jessamine Co., KY. They had three children together before moving to
Turnbridge, DeWitt, IL around 1871 to take up farming. ( Lucy had 2 boys from a
previous marriage in KY but one died in early youth).
Thomas and Lucy had three
more children before relocating to St Clair Co., MO. Thomas was still in farming
and we have yet been able to establish when he opened up or bought into the Dry
Good Store.
(You can tell that Thomas had been shot in his left hand in this picture.)
Submitted by Deb Zabonick