Thomas B Appling
Born in Kentucky
Married Eliza Downey on 11-29-1854 in Simpson Co., KY

Spouse Link: 28259099
Thomas Beverly Appling
Birth 29 MAR 1830 in , Simpson, Kentucky, USA
Death 12 AUG 1905 in , Jones, Texas, USA
Skelton Family Tree
Info per Don Haynes
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Thomas Appling
Thomas owned a small farm (30 acres) adjoining the Stevenson Chapel Church in Simpson Co., KY. This seems like a rather small place to make a living on. Perhaps he owned other land also. He sold the 30 acres February 25, 1882.

Thomas had married Downey sisters, Elizabeth and Catherine. These marriages resulted in a rather large family. About 1882, six years after the death of his mother and his second wife, Catherine, Thomas and his ten children moved from their home in Kentucky to Hill County in central Texas. The reason for this move is not clear, perhaps it was to escape the unhappy memories of the loss of two wives, both in their prime of life. One of the daughters, Etta Monia, later moved back to Kentucky because of her fear of the west Texas tornadoes.

Sometime around the turn of the century, Thomas and some of his children moved to Jones Co., TX., near the town of Stamford. The reason for this move to dry west Texas is not clear either. The Applings were cotton farmers. Thomas and two of his sons, Eugene W. "Uncle Gene" and Euclid David "Uncle Uke", were to live and die in Jones County. His daughter, Valera Mattie, stayed in the Jones/Taylor County area, and his son, Joel, moved to Floydada on the Texas plains. Several of the others stayed in central Texas.

Thomas' granddaughter, Hattie Routh Holden, remembered him when she was just a child. He was a very distinguished looking man, with a long white beard. Hattie recalled that he liked to eat Grape Nuts. When he died, Hattie went with her family to the funeral. She remembered the smell of embalming fluid in his house. These Texas Applings, and probably those in Kentucky, were mostly Methodists.

Sources: Maude Appling Osment furnished part of this information.
contributed by Don Holden - September, 2018

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Thomas Appling (42360510)

Suggested edit: There was a tenth child in this family, Annice E. Appling, b. 13 Mar 1860 KY. Her mother was Elizabeth Downey. Annice's death information is unknown. She was married to Samuel D. Conover, 51169845.
Contributor: Don Holden (49680169) - October 2018
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Thomas Appling (42360510)

Suggested edit: In 1850 Simpson Co., Kentucky, T.B. Aplin, age 20, was still at home with his parents. By 1860, Thomas was a head of household in Simpson County with a wife and three young children. His mother and a cousin, Mark Lafayette Appling were living with the family. Thomas and family were still in Simpson County in 1870. Thomas had a new wife, Catharine, and nine children. By 1880, Thomas and eight children were still in Simpson County. Thomas was widowed again. By 1900, Thomas and family were in Texas, but they could not be found in the census.

Thomas had married Downey sisters, Elizabeth and Catherine. These marriages resulted in a rather large family. About 1882, six years after the death of his mother and his second wife, Catherine, Thomas and his ten children moved from their home in Kentucky to Hill County in central Texas. One of the daughters, Etta Monia, later moved back to Kentucky because of her fear of the Texas tornadoes.

Sometime around the turn of the century, Thomas and some of his children moved to Jones Co., TX., near the town of Stamford. The Applings were cotton farmers.

Sources: Maude Appling Osment and Don Holden - August, 2020
Contributor: Don (49680169)