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Sources Related to Charles Robert Thomas

The majority of these sources are original and in the archives of curator Christine Fisher. Any contributions you have are welcome.

Source 107 – Estate and Guardianship Letter by George E. Nichols

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Author: George E. Nichols
Title: Letter to Charles R. Thomas of Ellsworth, MI, regarding Estate and Guardianship of Viola
Date: 07 May 1915
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Mr. Charles R. Thomas, Ellsworth, Mich.

Dear Charlie:

The Probate Court on April 23rd, allowed your account as Administrator of your wife’s estate; also appointed you Guardian of your daughter, Viola, and to close your wife’s estate and get your discharge, I am enclosing two receipts, which you will sign, one as Guardian of Viola, and the other for yourself individually; and then to get the matter still further in shape, I am enclosing inventory of the amount of money you have to account for as Viola’s guardian. You want to go before a Notary Public or Justice of the Peace and swear to this and send that back also with the other papers. Then I m sending you herewith statement which you want to retain, showing that $1170.45 is in my hands subject to call. When you get ready to square up and take a deed of the property, I believe the Probate Court will permit you to use this money and give a mortgage upon the land to your ward or fix it so you may have the benefit of this money to apply upon the liabilities or the amount due on the farm and personal property. I may come up this month or the first of June, I want to go fishing, if I can and should think it would be a pretty good place up there. I hope your foot is better and that the wife and baby [Helen J. Thomas] are coming O.K. Let me hear from you as soon as convenient. Yours truly, George E. Nichols.

Source 106 – Letter of Guardianship for Viola Thomas by Judge of Probate

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Author: Judge of Probate
Title: State of Michigan – Probate Court for the County of Kent, Letters of Guardianship
Date: 20 April 1915
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

In the Matter of the Estate of Viola Thomas, Minor. to Charles R. Thomas of the Township of South Arm, Charlevoix County, Greeting: You have been appointed guardian of said ward, and having given a bond in the premises which has been duly approved and filed as required by law, I do by these presents commit unto you full power and authority to ask, sue for, recover, receive and take into your custody, all and singular, the real estate, goods and chattels, rights and credits which accrue to said ward… in right of inheritance, or which by any other way or means whatsoever doth of right appertain or belong to said ward; and you are to make a true and perfect inventory thereof, and return the same unto said court on or before the 20th day of May next ensuing; hereby requiring you to dispose of, manage, employ and improve the same according to law, and for the best interest of said ward; and within one year from the date hereof, and at least once in each year thereafter during the continuance of your guardianship, and at such other time as the judge of probate shall direct, to render on oath to said court a true account of the property os said ward in your hands, including the proceeds of all the real estate that may be sold by you , and of the management and disposition of such property; and at the expiration of your trust to settle your accounts with said judge of probate, or with said ward or her legal representatives; and to pay over and deliver all the estate and effects remaining in your hands, and due from you on such settlement, to the person or persons who shall be lawfully entitled thereto, and to perform all orders and decrees of said court by you to be performed in the premises.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court, at the city of Grand Rapids, in said county, this 20th day of April A.D. 1915.
… – Judge of Probate

Source 105 – Guardianship for Viola Thomas, Charles Thomas v Eva Gillons

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Record: Guardianship of Viola Thomas
Date: 02 April 1915 [one week before the birth of Helen J. Thomas]
Party 1: Charles R. Thomas of Ellsworth, MI
Party 2: Eva Gillons of Dorr Center, MI

State of Michigan – The Circuit Court of the County of:
Nichols, Shaw & Whitney
419-420 Houseman Building
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Articles of Agreement made and entered into this second day of April A.D. 1915, between Charles R. Thomas of Ellsworth, Michigan, of the first part, and Eva Gillons, of Dorr Center, Michigan, of the second part.

WITNESSETH, Whereas, the said Charles R. Thomas is the father of Viola Thomas, a minor of the age of seven years, and

Whereas, the said Charles R. Thomas has filed a petition in the Probate Court for the County of Kent asking to be appointed guardian of said minor, and
Whereas, the said Eva Gillons has had the care and custody of said minor from April 3, 1908 [date of death of Alta A. Brown-Thomas, Viola’s mother], until the present time and has become greatly attached to said minor, and desires to have the care and custody of said minor.

Therefore, it is mutually agreed as follows:
(1) That the said Eva Gillons hereby consents that the said Charles R. Thomas be appointed guardian of said minor and not to make any objection thereto.
(2) That the said Charles R. Thomas as the guardian of said minor agrees that the said Eva Gillons may have the care and custody of said minor for at least three months out of each and every year hereafter until said minor reaches the age of fourteen years.

(3) That while said minor is under the care and custody of said Charles R. Thomas he is to bear the entire expense for the clothing and education of said minor; and that while said minor is under the care and custody of said Eva Gillons, the said Eva Gillons is to bear the entire expense for the clothing and education of said minor.

IN WITNESS whereof said parties have hereunto set their hands the day and year first above written.

Witnesses: A. Shane, Nellie M. Taylor, C.R. Thomas, Eva Gillons

Source 104 – Land Purchase Agreement of George Nichols

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Record: Land Purchase Agreement in South Arm, Charlevoix Co, MI
Date: 18 November 1912
Party 1: George E. Nichols of Ionia, Ionia Co, MI
Party 2: Charles R. Thomas and Iva Thomas of Dorr Township, Allegan Co, MI

Articles of Agreement, made this eighteenth day of November A.D. 1912, between George E. Nichols, of the City of Ionia, County of Ionia and State of Michigan, party of the first part; and Charles R. Thomas, and Iva Thomas, his wife, of the Township of Dorr, Allegan County, Michigan, parties of the second part.

Witnesseth, whereas, the party of the first part owns certain lands in the Township of South Arm, Charlevoix County, Michigan, and described as the northeast quarter of Section eighteen of said township, which the said parties of the second part desire to purchase under the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, and,

Whereas, the said parties of the second part will be obliged to purchase certain personal property, like teams, tools, feed, etc., for the purpose of operating said farm: and to that end, will require money to be advanced by the said party of the first part, and

Whereas, the said Charles R. Thomas, as Administrator of the Estate of Alta Thomas, Deceased, has a judgment against the Township of Byron, County of Kent, for the sum of $4,350.00, and costs of suit, in which judgment the said party of the first part has a one-half interest, and which said judgment, when collected, the said parties of the second part desire so far as the share of the said Charles R. Thomas is concerned, to turn over to the said party of the first part to apply upon this contract, and

Whereas, certain improvements are necessary to be made upon said land like building a barn, cleaning up and placing under cultivation certain lands upon the property described, setting out fruit trees, etc.

(continues on regarding the land agreement…)

Source 008 – Personal Letter by Amanda Lawton

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Author: Amanda B. (Branch) Lawton of Lawrence, MI
Title: Letter to “Sister” [Iva M. Cooper of Beulah, MI]
Date: 28 October 1906
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: care of CH Craine [husband of Junia E. Cooper, Iva’s half-sister through father]

Dear Sister [Iva]
I direct to you because mother said to and it has been so long since I got her letter that she may be back in Paw Paw by this time. I am sorry I could not answer sooner but I was out of envelopes, stamps, and money at the time so was obliged to wait till I could stock up again.

I saw Welsh the day I got the letter. I thought I explained things so it was all understood that I couldn’t meet anything more until Carl pays me. I hoped he would pay me this month but I have to wait until Nov. And my creditors have to wait along with me and the int. is steadily growing but I can’t help myself.

But this is enough along this line. I hope Junia is much better by this time. It seemed so hard that she must loose her first little girl and probably all the one she will ever have. Mrs. Barnes was buried the 7th of this month. Her foot was amputated a few days before she died hoping to save her but it was too late. The last time the Dr tried to dress her leg I was told that the flesh sloughed off to the bone from where the sore was on her leg to her toes. The dear little woman has been such a sufferer for so many years. Death must have been a sweet release to her, though it must be very lonely for Mr Barnes, but he probably will not have long to endure it. Last night we were told of Aida Barnes Fuller’s death. I haven’t heard any particulars yet. I think Junia went to school to her. I suppose you had a snow storm up there the same time we had ours. Apples were frozen solid on the trees and grapes on the vines burst – the string beans were many of them spared. Apples that were on the ground were not hurt. We hadn’t had frost enough to color the leaves yet and they just crisped and fell green. We have had the most peculiar looking landscape this fall that I ever saw having entirely missed the gorgeous red and yellow colouring of the leaves that we usually have in Oct.

It was so cold and stormy that the baby [Frank Jr] and I didn’t go to church today but Jesse went with Silvia. And the baby is taking a nice long nap so I am having quite a peaceable time writing. But it is time to start dinner now and I must write to Aunt Valeria [Nelson]. I had a letter from her dated the 5th and as I haven’t written to her since the baby was born I think it is about time I wrote. We are well so far and hope you are the same. But good by with love and best wishes to mother if she is still there and also to yourself and Junia and good luck to Charlie.
I remain as ever your loving sister,
Amanda B. Lawton [Iva’s half-sister through mother]
Lawrence, MI