Thomas Connop of Vigo County

THOMAS HERRINGTON CONNOP was born March 17, 1855 in Clay County, Indiana, the son of John CONNOP and his wife Hannah "Anna" (HERRINGTON) CONNOP. Thomas married Esther Diana (HILL) on February 22, 1876. He was a farmer and worked for a gentleman named Richard W. THOMPSON and his wife Harriet on a farm in Honey Creek Twp., Vigo county, Indiana. Richard THOMPSON was a Colonel during the Civil War and gave Thomas some land with a little house on it. This is where Thomas and Esther lived and where their children were born. Their children were Viola A., born October 10, 1880, died August 5, 1881 and is buried in the Peavey Cemetery in Howesville, Clay Co., Indiana; Theodora I., born February 3, 1883, died March 13, 1883 and is buried in the Peavey Cemetery in Howesville; Eleanor Virginia, born December 1, 1887; Thomas Henry, born July 25, 1891; Frank Edwin, born September 29, 1895; and Grace Elvinetta, born December 31, 1898. They were all born in the little house in Honey Creek Twp., Vigo Co., Indiana.

Thomas was what was called a Gentleman Farmer; he raised all kinds of vegetables, fruits and eggs. He would get up early, gather the crops and put them in his wagon, which was pulled by a horse. Then he would go into town, ring his bell and the ladies would come out with their baskets and buy his wares. They sometimes gave him orders for the following day.

Thomas moved his family to Nashville, Brown Co., Indiana in the early 1900's where he continued to farm, as did his sons. World War I came and young Tom and his brother Frank went into the Army. Their names are inscribed on the wall in the court house in Nashville where they have a list of the Veterans of World War I. They are also listed on the Monument in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

Thomas H. CONNOP passed away August 5, 1919 on his farm in Nashville and is buried in Nashville, Indiana. In his obituary in the Nashville, Indiana newspaper it says he was a good citizen, a worthy Knight of Pythias, a consistent church member and a Christian gentleman. His sons and sons-in-law rented one half of a railroad car, packed Esther's things and moved her to live with her daughter Grace and her husband in Iowa. Esther lived in Iowa until her death in 1941.

Thomas Connop of Vigo Co., Indiana
Submitted by Elsie Simpson
Copyright � 2004, Elsie Simpson
Used with permission

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