John Matlock Thomason

John Matlock Thomason

John Matlock Thomason was born in Hall County, Georgia, May 25, 1821, the son of Zemeriah Thomason and Jannett Montgomery. He married Ladocia Fawcett on February 18, 1841, in Hall County, Georgia. They had nine children: Zemeriah, Rebecca, James, Mary, Alfred, Jane, Bailey, William, and Jasper. They moved from Hall County, Georgia to Carroll County, Arkansas before the Civil War.

Although Arkansas joined the Confederacy in 1861, not all of its citizens were committed to the new nation. Support for the Federal government remained strong in the northwest corner of the state and many Arkansans were eager to defend the Union. Although the Unionists were a minority in the state, Arkansas still furnished approximately 10,000 men for the Northern armies. One among those was John M. Thomason, who, at the age of 41, joined Company M of the 1st Regiment, Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry. He enlisted and was mustered into service as a Farrier in Carroll County, Arkansas on September 9, 1862

The 1st Arkansas Cavalry became the most famous Union regiment raised from the state. After being mustered into service at Springfield, Missouri, in July 1862, the regiment returned to Arkansas and operated as a counter-guerrilla force. John Matlock Thomason passed away on December 12, 1901, in Labette County, Kansas. He is buried in Harmony Grave Cemetery in Dennis, Kansas.

Photograph and information submitted by John Matlock Thomason's great great great nephew, Robert H. Fickies, Patriotic Instructor Colonel George L. Willard Camp 154, New York Department, SUVCW.

John Matlock and Ladocia (Fawcett) Thomason