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At the 2014 Clan Gathering in Pitlochry, Scotland, a member from the USA handed to me a newspaper clipping of the golden wedding anniversary of James and Leah Thoms of Plymouth, Iowa,  Sadly I cannot recall his name and I would like to contact him as I have been able to carry out some research which is set out below.

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His obituary states that James was born on 7 April 1858 in Dundee, Scotland. Using a number of online sources I could not find his birth at that time. However, on the site scotlandspeople, I found the birth of a James Thoms on 5 April 1859 in Dundee. He was the son of James Thoms, flax weaver, and Ann Jane Hamilton, of 11 Arthur Street, Dundee.  They were living there for the 1861 Census with another son William John.  I could not find them in the 1871 Census.

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It is said James came to the USA in 1873.  This would mean he would have been about 14 years of age and therefore likely to have come with his parents. Note - he had a sister living in Toronto, Canada.

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I also found a notice for a Mrs Ann Jane Thoms in the Philadelphia newspaper, The Times, of 5 Februarary 1899, advising that her funeral service would take place at the residence of her son-in-law Joseph Kyle, 1620 South Twenty-first Street, Philadelphia. Is this lady the mother of James Thoms of Iowa?

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There are a number of family trees on the internet containing conflicting information regarding this family.

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Mr and Mrs James Thoms, well known and popular residents of Plymouth county, reached the half century mark of wedded life Monday and celebrated the event with their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends.

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Open house was held at their residence, 300 Central Avenue N, during the afternoon and friends were invited to a dance in the evening at the Odd Fellows hall.

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Their family include eleven children, two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

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James Thoms came to America from Dundee, Scotland in 1873 and located near Galena, Ill, where he worked on farms and then egaged in farming on his own account. Here he met Miss Leah Fontaine, who was a native of France where she was born near Paris. They were married in Galena, March 4, 1885.

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Came to Le Mars

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Shortly after their marriage they came to Le Mars and bought land in Washington township where they farmed successfully until a short time ago when they came to Le Mars to live, leaving the farms to the care of the younger generation.

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Through thrift and good management they built up a fine farm and later bought land in Canada where they placed some of their sons.

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Mr Thoms in all his ventures has been ably assisted by his wife and family. The children are Will Thoms, Mary Thoms, and James Thoms, of Niverville, Manitoba; Wallace, of Otterbourne, Canada; Clarence, of Brookings, SD, Maynard, Elmer and Harry and Homer, of this county; Mrs Lyman McClain, Davis City, Iowa, and Mrs Wm Bristow, of Red Lake Falls, Minn.

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Mr Thoms was born in Dundee, Scotland, April 7, 1858, and when a boy of fifteen came to America and worked on farms near Galena, Ill, and then engaged in farming on his own account. He married there to Leah Fontaine, who is a native of France and was born in Paris. Their marriage took place March 4, 1885, and they celebrated their golden wedding five years ago in this city.

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They bought land in Washington township where they farmed successfully until retiring a few years ago.

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Through thrift and good management they built up a fine farm and later bought land in Canada where they placed some of their sons.

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Mr Thoms in all his ventures has been ably assisted by his wife and family.

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Mr Thoms was a man of hospitable nature and jovial disposition and numbered his friends by the score.

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He is survived by his wife and three daughters and eight sons: Will, Mary, James and Wallace Thoms live at Niverville, Manitoba; Mrs J L McLain at Davis City, Oowa; Mrs Wm Bristow, Red Lake Falls, Minn; Clarence Thoms, Denver, Cola; Homer Thoms, Merrill; Harry, Elmer and Maynard Thoms, Le Mars. There are sixteen grandchildren. He also leaves a sister Mrs J .... of Toronto, Canada.

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The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2.30 in the Mauer funeral chapel.

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Mrs Leah Thoms died on 18 April 1950 and was buried with her husband in the Le Mars City Cemetery.

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Children - Compiled from various online sources:

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William Thoms, born 7 December 1885, Galena Ill.

Mary Thoms, born March 1887, Iowa

Margaret May Thoms, born 28 September 1888, Iowa

Stella Ellen Thoms, born 26 July 1890, Plymouth, Iowa

Ira Thoms, born October 1891, Iowa

James Thoms, born 12 August 1893, Iowa

Harry Thoms, born 1894, Iowa

Homer Thoms, born 26 June 1896, Plymouth, Iowa

Clarence Thoms, born 12 March 1898, Plymouth, Iowa

Benjamin Thoms, born April 1900, Iowa

Elmer C Thoms, born 5 April 1900, Plymouth, Iowa

Wallace J Thoms, born 1904, Iowa

Maynard Thoms, born 1912, Iowa

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