Thomas A. Person was residing on a farm of a few hundred acres near Laurel Mill in the Sandy Creek area of Franklin County at the time of his father's death. He inherited more acreage there and, while trained as a lawyer, preferred the life of a farmer instead. And, as a farmer he was extremely successful, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest men in the county.
He married Abiah Culpepper in about 1833. Matthew, their first child, was born in 1834. They were the parents of ten children: Matthew P., Sallie, Harriet, Mary Temperance 'Tempie', Martha, Samuel, Prudence, and Joseph; as well as two sons who died during the Civil War, Jesse and Tom.
Thomas and his wife were remarkable in their insistence that all their children be educated. During the hard times of the war, he was reduced to selling household items to meet expenses, but never failed to pay the tuition for his younger children.
In 1858, a home in Louisburg came up for auction in an estate sale, and Thomas was the winning bidder. Later known as 'The Person Place, it had been used as a boarding house and Thomas did much to renovate and update it. The house remained in his family for well over a century.
After his purchase, he moved his family into town, retaining his Sandy Creek farm.
Near the close of the Civil War, Thomas and his family endured the occupation of Louisburg by a portion of Sherman's army who set up camp on the Academy and College grounds next door to his home.
Fearing the worst, the town was spared the depredations these troops were famous for, but many of his neighbors abandoned their homes and fled to The Person Place for refuge.
After the war, Thomas was appointed Sheriff of Franklin County by the Provisional Magistrate in 1865. He died unexpectedly two years later without leaving a will.
Thomas A. Person was residing on a farm of a few hundred acres near Laurel Mill in the Sandy Creek area of Franklin County at the time of his father's death. He inherited more acreage there and, while trained as a lawyer, preferred the life of a farmer instead. And, as a farmer he was extremely successful, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest men in the county.
He married Abiah Culpepper in about 1833. Matthew, their first child, was born in 1834. They were the parents of ten children: Matthew P., Sallie, Harriet, Mary Temperance 'Tempie', Martha, Samuel, Prudence, and Joseph; as well as two sons who died during the Civil War, Jesse and Tom.
Thomas and his wife were remarkable in their insistence that all their children be educated. During the hard times of the war, he was reduced to selling household items to meet expenses, but never failed to pay the tuition for his younger children.
In 1858, a home in Louisburg came up for auction in an estate sale, and Thomas was the winning bidder. Later known as 'The Person Place, it had been used as a boarding house and Thomas did much to renovate and update it. The house remained in his family for well over a century.
After his purchase, he moved his family into town, retaining his Sandy Creek farm.
Near the close of the Civil War, Thomas and his family endured the occupation of Louisburg by a portion of Sherman's army who set up camp on the Academy and College grounds next door to his home.
Fearing the worst, the town was spared the depredations these troops were famous for, but many of his neighbors abandoned their homes and fled to The Person Place for refuge.
After the war, Thomas was appointed Sheriff of Franklin County by the Provisional Magistrate in 1865. He died unexpectedly two years later without leaving a will.
Family Members
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Matthew Pressley Person
1834–1898
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Harriett Ellen Person Jones
1836–1885
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Sallie M Person Jones
1837–1895
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Mary Temperance Person Montgomery
1839–1921
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1LT Jesse H Person
1841–1863
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Martha Louise Person Harris
1843–1911
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PVT Thomas B Person
1845–1863
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Samuel Johnson Person
1847–1911
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Prudence Abiah Person Person
1849–1922
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Joseph John Person
1851–1916
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Records on Ancestry
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