Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

GEORGE H. THOMAS

George H. Thomas was born in Shropshire, England, on the Wales border, where he passed his childhood, then with his parents came to Canada, where he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a wagon-maker, in Quebec. Here he met and married Miss Ann Close, who was a native of Northern Ireland. Mrs. Thomas' brother, Robert Close, had gone to Michigan and engaged in the lumbering business having a large lumber camp on the Kalamazoo, near Richmond, and he wrote glowing tales to his sister about the opportunities in this new country, so inspired by the prospects, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas came to Newark by the way of Chicago on the old sail barge, Granger, which made anchor off from the Captain Reid place and they were put ashore in a small boat. They lived in Saugatuck where Mr. Thomas built several houses and worked in the ship yards, and in 1885 he moved to a new home which he had built in Douglas and he opened a wagon shop which he operated till about 1900 when he sold out and purchased a farm in Laketown. where he lived until his death in 1913. The Thomas family were closely identified with the Congregational churches in both villages and were splendid citizens, upright and honorable in all their dealings.

Mrs. Thomas lived to be a nonagenarian and died in Saugatuck in 1926.

Eight children were born to this couple, two dying in infancy in Canada, and Charles in Saugatuck, while surviving are Mrs. Matie Hawley, and Miss Sadie of Oak Park and three sons, Dr. George, William and Joseph.