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HORACE GORDON THOMASSON 1872-1947
ADA OWEN 1874-1971
Married 26 Apr 1896 Palmyra(Lincoln) Ark

SETTLERS OF MAGAZINE, LOGAN COUNTY, ARKANSAS

Horace Gordon & Ada (Owen) Thomasson
with son Gordon Owen Thomasson, Sr
1899

(Donald Earl McKinney Jr)
These notes were compiled from information gathered for many years from materials my mother Eda Faye & Grandmother Hester Thomasson left me as well as my personal research & correspondence. Besides my mother, her sisters, Ada Ruth Smith & Dorothy Page, I am especially grateful to the following relatives, whose research, photographs, stories & oral traditions, along with my own, helped us all gain a better understanding of our family heritage.
Great-Aunt Angie Greer of Ozark, AR (Daughter of Horace & Ada (Owen) Thomasson)
Great-Grandmother Ada (Owen) Thomasson's original family history files pertaining to the Thomasson & Owen families
Also, the following grandchildren of Horace & Ada Thomasson: Gordon C. Thomasson, John Greer, Angie B. (Pannell) Crowley

Narrative:
HORACE GORDON THOMASSON Sr was born 23 Mar 1872 near Cornerville, Lincoln County, Arkansas and was the son of William Lafayette & Evelyn Elizabeth(Fish) Thomasson who were prominent farmers in Lincoln County. Horace married Miss ADA OWEN 26 Apr 1896, daughter of John Malone & Mary Barbara (Grumbles) Owen, who were also farmers near Palmyra, Lincoln County, Arkansas. Their first child was a son named Gordon who was born near Palmyra 12 Aug 1898.

While growing up in Lincoln County, Horace was always interested in mathematics, the sciences and intellectual pursuits and eventually graduated from the Ouachita Baptist College at Arkadelphia in 1903. Before completing his post-graduate education, Horace taught in several rural schools and became principal of the Warren High School in Bradley County, Arkansas where their 2d son James was born 17 Jan 1904. Horace and his family moved briefly to Magazine, Logan County, Arkansas later that year where 3d son Turner was born 4 Aug 1905. Horace accepted the position as Principal of the Booneville High School but during this period he also served one term as State Representative in Little Rock. Their daughter Angie was born in Little Rock 12 April 1908.

In 1910, he accepted the position of Principal/Superintendent of the Magazine Ouachita Academy, which at the time was a branch of the Ouachita Baptist College and was a very prestigious college preparatory institution. Their youngest son Horace Gordon "H.G." was born in Magazine 25 July 1911. During the period 1913-1917, he & his family moved back to to Booneville & to a farm in nearby Glendale. Their youngest daughter Grace was born 3 Mar 1916. They returned to Magazine by 1918 and Horace resumed his position as Principal/Superintendent of the Magazine Ouachita Academy.Tthey purchased a 120 farm north of Magazine in January 1918 where they resided.

From 1921 to 1927, Horace was Logan County's first County Superintendent of Schools. He resigned to become Principal of the High School Department of Arkansas Tech in Russellville and in 1930 became Superintendent of the Ozark, Arkansas schools. Horace retired in 1935 after over 30 years as an educator and returned to Magazine. He was elected County Judge from Logan County and served from 1937 until 1938 when he resigned because of ill health. They resided in a small house about 2 blocks west of downtown Magazine. During this period of the late 1930's through 1940's, their daughter Grace Pannell & her family resided with them from time to time before moving to Tulsa. Horace & Ada Thomasson came from a deep rooted, religious, southern background and were very active members of the Magazine Baptist Church. Horace also belonged to the Masonic Lodge. He died at the family home in Magazine 31 July 1947, but his wife Ada lived for many years after his death. She moved to Ozark, Arkansas about 1951 & resided near daughter Angie Greer & family. Ada died in Ozark 19 Dec 1971 at the age of 97. Horace & Ada are both buried in Highland Cemetery, Ozark, Arkansas.

Children of Horace & Ada (Owen) Thomasson:

Child 1: GORDON OWEN THOMASSON
Born: 12 Aug 1898 StarCity(Lincoln) Ark
Died: 25 Aug 1951 Camp Atterbury, IN
Married Hester Beatrice Jones 28 May 1918 Little Rock(Pulaski) Ark

Child 2: JAMES HORACE THOMASSON
Born: 17 Jan 1904 Warren(Bradley) Ark
Died: 5 Apr 1957 Azusa(LA) CA
Married Dorothy Lorain LIND 6 Jan 1946 Las Vegas, NV

Child 3: TURNER EARL THOMASSON
Born: 4 Aug 1905 Magazine(Logan) Ark
Died: 7 Feb 1970 LosAngeles, CA
Married Ida Lena CONRAD 5 Dec 1931 Las Vegas, NV

Child 4: ANGIE THOMASSON
Born: 12 Apr 1908 LittleRock(Pulaski) Ark
Married John Thomas "Jack" GREER II 30 Aug 1933 Bentonville, Ark

Child 5. HORACE GORDON THOMASSON, Jr
Born: 25 Jul 1911 Magazine(Logan) Ark
Died: 5 Feb 1984 ?
Married(1) Irene Nelson 9 Jun 1935 Fort Smith, Ark
Married(2) Mrs Alice Forsyth

Child 6. GRACE ELIZABETH THOMASSON
Born: 3 Mar 1916 Booneville(Logan) Ark
Died: 8 Mar 1996 Springdale(Washington) Ark
Married Argus Monroe PANNELL 2 Mar 1937 Paris(Logan) Ark

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Parents of Horace Gordon Thomasson, Sr:
WILLIAM LAFAYETTE& EVELINE ELIZABETH(FISH)THOMASSON

Parents of Ada Owen:
JOHN MALONE & MARY (GRUMBLES) OWEN