Janes-Melus Family Tree

OBITUARY (Huron County Tribune, Bad Axe, Michigan, Fri., June 22, 1934) p. 32 of Janes Family History (1980)

Hon. Leonard Reese Thomas died early on Wednesday morning of this week at his home in Bad Axe, at the age of 87 years. He had been in poor health and confined to his home most of the past year.

Mr. Thomas was for over half a century one of the best and most popularly known men in Huron county [sic]. An evidence of this may be found in the fact that he served in some public office, township, county and state, for a total period of 59 years, a record far beyond that of any other county resident or official. These offices icluded justice of the peace in Meade township [sic], clerk and supervisor of Meade, county treasurer supervisor of Bad Axe and member of the state legislature -- all positions of trust and honor and all titled with a singular devotion to public duty and the interests of his constituents.

In 1878, Mr. Thomas settled on a farm in Meade township, coming from Warwick, Ont., where he was born, Nov. 30, 1847. He served two years as justice of the peace in Meade, five years as clerk of that township and 13 years as supervisor of Meade. In 1899 he was elected county treasurer and served the statutory terms of four years, or until 1903. In that year Mr. Thomas was elected to the state legislature, being twice re-elected, 1903 and 1909.

While in the legislature he was elected supervisor from Bad Axe, a position he held for 29 years continuously or until the present supervisor, Van Philp, was elected four years ago. Mr. Thomas also served several years as deputy county treasurer. It will thus be seen that while Thomas had lived in the county but 56 years his public office record extended over 59 years. This was because he acted as supervisor during the six years he was in the legislature.

When elected county treasurer in 1898, Mr.Thomas left his farm in Meade and never returned to it. He lived in Bad Axe thereafter, or about 35 years.

Mr. Thomas lived through a large part of the formative periods of Huron county, agriculturally, politically and industrially. This county was largely a wilderness when he came, three years before the big fire of 1881, which swept over his township. He was an active and energetic participant in these county developments and particularly in all those affecting the interests and well being of the republican party. His public record was always clean and able and many times he was nominated without opposition. He was always a conservative and wise counsellor and seldom wrong in his conclusions. He was of a most friendly and genial disposition and always at the service of his friends who were numbered by thousands in the county.

The remaining family consists of six children: William, Port Huron; Archie, Harbor Beach; Charles, Bad Axe; Mrs. John Logan, Kinde; Mrs. Fred L. Wright and Mrs. Alex Graham, both of Bad Axe.

Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. John J. Pauly at the residence of Mrs. Fred L. Wright at 2 p.m. today, Friday and internment in Colfax cemetery.