Essie Roberts Thomas, the mother of three veterans, was born on October 28, 1878, to Charles and Emma Roberts. Her future husband, Earle Dallas Lewis Thomas, was born four years before. They were married in September 1894, and the wedding was impressive enough it made the Atlanta Journal. The paper said “Mr. Thomas is one of the most popular young men in this section and his bride is highly accomplished in every way.” By that time, Earle had become the local telegraph operator in Kennesaw.
The Thomases would have six kids, including three sons: John Harmon, Joseph Baldwin, and Edwin Dallas. John Harmon Thomas (who went by Harmon) was the oldest and was born in 1898. At about that time, the family moved to Vinings, though they moved back to Kennesaw circa 1901. Joseph was born in 1900, followed by Edwin in 1902, and according to the Marietta Journal, both weighed twelve pounds when born.
The Thomas family moved again in 1907 when they relocated to Cartersville. By 1913, they seem to have moved back to Kennesaw. At the start of World War I, the two oldest brothers enlisted in the Marines. Joe Thomas enlisted in March 1917, while Harmon enlisted a month later. Interestingly, the local newspapers mistakenly said they were in the Navy on several occasions. By early 1918, Harmon was in France, while Joe was stationed in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, in April 1918, Joe’s photo was featured in the Cobb County Times in an ad for war bonds.
Essie Roberts Thomas did not live to see the end of the war. On April 25, 1918, she was killed by pneumonia. She was laid to rest here in the Kennesaw City Cemetery. After his wife’s death, Earle moved to Alabama and eventually South Carolina. The children seem to have stayed behind, as in June 1919, Essie’s sister applied to become the legal guardian of Essie’s children. Earle passed away in Atlanta in 1939 and is buried here in our cemetery.
In October 1918, Essie’s parents received word Harmon had been killed in France, but soon afterward received a second telegram saying it was an error. Unfortunately, the first telegram was correct. While stringing telegraph wire, Harmon was killed by a German sniper on July 18, 1918. In early 1919 the news was reported in Kennesaw. His remains were returned to Kennesaw in 1921 and laid to rest near his mother.
Corporal Joseph Thomas stayed in the Marines until the end of the war and was honorably discharged in January 1920. After the war was involved with the VFW. Because of his involvement with a group of disabled veterans, it is possible he was wounded in the military. He went into sales and passed away in 1943 and is buried in Atlanta.
In February 1919, Edwin became the third brother to enlist. He also joined the Marines and studied at Quantico, Virginia. His obituary states he was a technical sergeant in World War I, but he enlisted after the Armistice. He returned to Georgia after the war and became a postal clerk. While he was registered for the World War II draft, he was not called to serve again. He passed away in 1965.