1800 ~ 1884
Interestingly, when the Y-chromosome (male gender selection ~ not the X-chromosome of females) DNA test was run on a direct descendant of Thomas Maddox and his brother William Maddox, they matched exactly. (There is no meaning to the markers of the chromsome, just like there is no meaning to the lines on a fingerprint. They are just identifiers.) For more on this, go here. More descendants still carrying the Maddox name are wanted to match their DNA results.
In 1822 Thomas married Malinda O'Neal, daughter of Daniel & Millie Carr O'Neal, and sister to Nancy O'Neal, brother Benjamin's wife. We have not yet found their marriage license. Maybe they went over to Ohio to get married, possibly in Clermont Co. where they moved to a few years later. It was not in Fleming, Lewis, Mason or Bracken Co., KY, nor in Pickaway Co., OH.
In 1823 daughter Margaret was born. She grew up to marry William Reynolds. The following year daughter Nancy was born. She grew up to marry Aaron S. Willison.
The 1824 tax list of Lewis County lists Thomas with one taxable male and one horse valued at $10. His father, John, is nearby with one taxable male and three horses valued at $150.
The tax list for 1825 lists father John and one taxable male and one horse worth $60. Nearby is Thomas with one taxable male and one horse valued at $35. And near there is younger brother William with 1 taxable male and one horse valued at $35.
That same year, Thomas bought from Thomas Roberts 230 acres on the North fork of the Licking River in Lewis Co., close to the Fleming Co. line. [Source: Lewis Co., KY, Deed Bk.]
His father had died and Thomas and William went to the estate sale. Both sons bought some items. Of course their mother, Elizabeth, was there and they were supportive of her too. [Source: Lewis Co., KY, Probate Book for 1825]
In 1826, both Benjamin and Thomas are gone from Lewis County. Only younger brother William remains. Where in Kentucky were they? In 1826 son Lewis N. was born; he grew up and marry Rachel Reynolds. In 1827 daughter Elizabeth was born, named after her paternal grandmother.
In 1828, Thomas packed up his young family, crossed the Ohio River, and moved up into Clermont Co., Bolavia Twp., OH. The following year, Mary was born; she would grow up and marry Curtis Littlebury.
The 1830 census showed Thomas living next door to his brother Lewis, and next to them was their mother Betsy. The soil was much more fertile and the land much less hilly and rocky than Kentucky. While there, these children were born: Lavina in 1833 who would marry Noah Yost, Henry in 1834, James in 1837 who would marry Emma Jane Reynolds, John in 1839, Benjamin in 1840, and Melinda E. in 1843.
In 1844, Thomas moved to Crawford County, IL. Two sisters and his mother moved about that same time to Clark Co., IL, adjoining. And brothers William and Benjamin moved to Coles/Douglas Co. nearby.
In 1846, Thomas' youngest child ~ William, named after his brother, was born. Two years later on april 10, he patented 46.75 acres in Palestine Twp. [Source: Bureau of Land Management, Illinois]
In the 1850 census of Crawford Co., IL, Household 415-416 were his wife and children, and two other extended family members. Daughter Elizabeth was deaf and dumb, a trait that ran in the O'Neal family. Also in the household was his sister-in-law Catherine O'Neal, 43, deaf and dumb, and Emily A. Richie.
Some time around 1855, daughters Margaret A. and Nancy died.
In 1872, Thomas and Melinda celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. But that September, his beloved wife died. He took her to Pleasant Gove Cemetery in Douglas Co., IL, where his brother, Benjamin, other Maddoxes and several O'Neals had been buried, and buried her there. Three years later, daughter Mary Jane died. About a year later, he married Catherine "Katie" Davis, a widow.
On April 30, 1882, son Lewis N. died. Thomas Maddox died on December 13, 1884, having first buried three of his twelve children and his wife.
Margaret A.
Nancy
Lewis N.
Elizabeth
Mary Jane
Lavina
Henry
James
John
Benjamin
Melinda E.
William D.
