That's right Peg. But there were two men called Cornelius Thomas, and it would seem that both may have been known as Neal. Only one though was 'Uncle Neal'. He was the older. Here is his obituary. Obituary: Iberia Sentinel, May 1919 ANOTHER OLD SOLDIER PASSES AWAY C. W. (Uncle Neal) Thomas, another one of the few remaining old soldiers and for many years a resident of Iberia died Thursday night, April 24, 1919, at the Soldiers Home in St. James, Mo., where he and Mrs. Thomas had gone to make their home. The body was shipped back here for burial. Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon by Rev. W. C. Miller of the Iberia M. E. church of which the deceased was a member. Interment was in the town cemetery. (Iberia). Mr. Thomas had been in failing health for several years prior to his death. He leaves an aged companion and a number of children, all of whom are married and well known by our people. Mrs. Thomas went to Springfield Monday to spend a short time with her daughter, Mrs.Clarence Madden. She will make her home most of the time with her children and will probably spend some of her time at the soldiers. home. His death certificate reveals that he was born on April 5th 1843. There is no named informant on the certificate. The details had been taken from the record at the Soldiers Home which did not name his parents, or where they were from. At the 1870 census for Osage, Camden Co Mo; Cornelius Thomas 27 farmer b Illinois; (wife) Caroline 26 b Mo; William 4; John E 2; Malinda 9. The next schedule is that of William (R) Thomas 35 farm laborer b Mo; with children George 10; Sarah A 8; Cornela 2. The proximity of the two men implies a relationship although their different origins does raise a doubt. As Nancy points out (below): Ambrose A. Thomas' obituary names a half brother, Neal Thomas, of Deepwater, MO. The connection with Deepwater suggests to me that this Neal was the younger Cornelius W Thomas b 1868 who married Delilah Jane Stone on Aug 7 1887 in Miller Co. I have not yet found a death certificate or obituary for this Cornelius, but his wife Delilah died in Deepwater on Mar 8 1954. The informant on her death certificate was Wayne Thomas, her grandson who had lived with them for many years. The obituary for Charles Edward Thomas (1932) named Neal Thomas as his half brother, showing that Cornelius W b 1868, and Charles Edward b 1875 had different mothers. Eventually we may be certain of their identities. Paddy ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:05 PM Subject: Re: [MOMILLER] Charles Edward Thomas - obituary I am only a curious observer here..no help, but I would guess that Cornelius and Neal could be the same person? Peg In a message dated 9/9/2008 2:18:53 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I would be interested in the names of the 3 children born to Catherine Cansler and Marion Boone. I found a death certificate for Martha Ellen Boone Horn b. 1866 d 1932. She lists her father as Marion Boone and mother as Katheryn Cansler. So I would say Catherine was not married to William R. Thomas until after 1866. Since their first child, Mary Jane was born in June 1872, I would say William R. Thomas was married to Catherine Cansler sometime between 1868 and 1871. I have no information on three children, George Thomas b. 1860, Sarah A. Thomas b. 1861, Cornelius W. Thomas b. 1868, but they could not belong to Catherine Cansler since she was still married to Marion Francis Boone in 1866 (see Martha Ellen Boone Horn above). William R. Thomas married Lucinda Francis Keeth (her second marriage) 22 Nov 1896. Ambrose A. Thomas' obituary names a half brother, Neal Thomas, of Deepwater, MO. Charles Edward Thomas' obituary names two half brothers, Neal and George Thomas and a half sister, Nancy Ahart. Who are the parents of these siblings? Nancy T.