Tom, John Files, 1818-1906

Arrived in Texas in 1835 from Tennessee; joined the Texas army during the revolution.

From the description of Papers, 1835-1952. (Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library). WorldCat record id: 70966223

John Files Tom was born in Maury County, Tennessee, on 1818 April 22, the son of William Tom and Mary Files. He moved with his family to Texas in 1835 and settled at Washington-on-the-Brazos. During the Texas Revolution, he and his father joined the army, participating in the Siege of Bexar. At the battle of San Jacinto, Tom was seriously wounded and listed as killed when a musket ball shattered his knee.

Tom and his family moved to Seguin in 1846, and he served as a Guadalupe County sheriff from 1856 to 1860. Moving to Atascosa County in 1862, Tom was commissioned to organize a ranger company for frontier protection during the Civil War. He represented Pleasanton (Atascosa County) in the Texas House of Representatives for one term, 1873-1874.

Tom married Mary Ann Moffitt (1820-1873) on 1840 July 2; the couple had four daughters. Following his wife’s death, Tom married Nancy Henderson (1848-1928) and had seven additional children. He became a Mason in 1867 and died on 1906 March 26.

References

John Files Tom biographical file, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

John Files Tom: Battle of San Jacinto Veteran, Texas Pioneer, circa 1967.

John Files Tom Papers, 1835-1952, Doc 5213, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

Long, Edith Harriette. “John Files Tom.” Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fto13 .

San Jacinto Descendants Records, 1965-2010, Col 6245, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

From the guide to the John Files Tom Papers Doc 5213 ., 1835-1952, (Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas)

John Files Tom came from Tennessee to Texas in 1835.

Along with his father, he joined the Texas army during the revolution, participating in the Siege of Bexar and the Battle of San Jacinto.

From the description of John Files Tom papers, 1835-1952. (Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library). WorldCat record id: 310364534