MARY ANN AND JAMES ARDEN THOMAS

Mary Ann Virginia Levis was born in what was then called New Denamora, two miles north of Black River Falls at Levis Creek. Her father, John Levis, owned a saw mill, an inn and a foundary at the mouth of the creek. Her mother Emeline Guillord, was originally from Guldsbrandaalen, Norway

James Thomas was born on a farm near Donegal, Ireland. He arrived in the Black River area in 1853, having fought in the ivil War, and worked as a foreman at a lumber camp. About five years after Mary Ann and James married, they bought a family farm in Spring Creek.