Thomas Hess was born 21 January 1852 in Monongalia County, Virginia. He was the seventh child of Sarah Ann Hite and James T. Hess. It was this nomadic Thomas who lends the element of romance to the Hess story. When sixteen years of age he went to Green County Ohio, and worked as a farm hand. He must have returned to Monongalia County when he was twenty. That would have been the time of his flourishing courtship with Carrie Evangeline Baker. According to Elza Hess, the genteel lady's parents ere "fine haired" and did not approve of roving Thomas. So the relationship was discontinued. Seeking greener pastures he eventually met and married Julia Gentis, daughter of Sarah Watts and Isaac Gentis, 19 October 1876 in Delaware County, Indiana. Julia's Birthdate was 18 July 1852. Shortly after their marriage the couple went to West Virginia. Their son Charles was born there in 1878. After three years they moved to Green County, Ohio and rented a farm. A second son, Walter Morris, was born in 1880 at the place known as the Talbot Home. Julia died 24 November 1883 leaving two young sons, ages 5 and 3. Thomas returned to West Virginia and persuaded his mother to come to Ohio and keep house for him. At some convenient time, Thomas was confronted with the fact that he had fathered the daughter of Carrie Evangeline Baker and that the "object of his affection" of and earlier day had never married. In 1884 he returned to West Virginia anf married the mother of Martha Mae on December 11th.
Carrie Evangeline was born 11 November 1853, the daughter of Mary Reed and John Baker of Monongalia County. She died 19 June 1922.
The Green County, Ohio History records Thomas Hess as being a thrifty and reliable farmer. He endorsed the principles of the Republican party. Although reared in the Baptist faith, he later joined the Methodist Church in Bellbrook, Ohio. He died 25 May 1931. He and both wives are buried in Byron Cemetery, Bryon, Ohio.