Thoms-Thomas family
Family in Amerika - Illinois
On the road for work in 1850 - 1857

The first 'Thoms-place' in Addieville, Illinois. Detail of the map with part of their property (Chris Thoms)


Anna Oeltgendier (Oeltjendiers) and her sister Wilhelmine who died youg (27y)
Wilhelmine was the first wife of Chris Thoms, after her death he remarried with her sister Anna.
Chris and Anna Thoms in the late periode of their life.
Nashville is located wsw of St. Louis and all the Thoms' places are around this village.

The Schlosser House - built in 1908 in Okawville,
near Nashville - Washington County Illinois - USA
part of the 'Heritage House Mueum' now.
Sophie Thoms, the first child of Chris Thoms and Wilhelmine Oeltjendiers, born 8 april 1865, who married to Frank Schlosser in 1888. Frank had a Harnes shop in Okawville and Sophie started a laundry business.

September 2003
Mieke Thoms and her husband Arie van Tilburg went to the USA to visit their 'new family' in Nashville Illinois. They went by a freigther over the ocean to feel the impression of the distance to 'The New World'. Just like her ancestors did in 1857.
The ship 'Independent Trader', a containership, left from Antwerp to Liverpool and then to Chester, Philladelphia. The trip took 12 days.
In Nashville they were hearty welcomed by Mieke's cousins and their family's.
They spent more than a week together to research the family and visit all the places where her family has lived, Plum Hill, Venedy, Addieville, Stone Church, Okawville, and St. Louis Missouri.
All descendants of Heinrich Wilhelm and Anne Marie Christine Wilhelmine Hedemann, and their children Christopher Henrich, Chistian Friedrich and Margarethe WilhelmineThomas. In US and Holland it became THOMS.

Mieke Thoms and Arie van Tilburg in front of the 'Heritage House Museum' on West Walnut in Okawville, IL. photo: Okawville Times
I like to thank my family for the using of their photographs
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