Thomas Oscar Vinson: The Rest of His Story

After the Civil War, Thomas returned to his parents' home in Crawford County, Georgia and helped his father in the business of farming. He was listed in their household for the 1870 census.

On 4 December 1872 in Bibb County, Georgia, Thomas married Mary "Kittie" Robertson. They went on to have at least six children: Frances, Joanna, Mary Lou, John William, Mattie Katherine, and Tommie Hattie.

It appears that Thomas was at least somewhat of a religious man. In August 1893, he attended a Bible camp at the Echeconnee Camp Ground in Bibb County. From the 20 August 1893 Macon Telegraph (via GenealogyBank.):

CAMP MEETING AT ECHECONNEE

A Most Interesting Religious Gathering Being Held Near the City of Macon

THE SERVICES FOR TODAY

Fine Sermons and Genuine Religious Pleasures Will be the Order of the Day -- Convenient Schedules for Macon People.

Echeconnee Camp Ground, Aug 19 -- (Special) -- "Tenting on the old camp ground" may not be the refrain that is being sung from historic Echeconnee, yet this fact is potent to any present, when he visits the tents of such hospitable sons of old Bibb and Houston as W. A. Dunbar, James Holmes, Walter Jones, Ben Vinson, James Avant, Jerry and William Willis, George Skipper, Thomas O. Vinson and John Walton. Here good cheer abounds and the inner man refreshed...

The situation of the grounds is quite pleasant, being in a fine grove well shaded and watered by a bold spring of cold water. The tents are neat and clean, carpeted with fresh wheat straw and within hospitality abounds. The grounds are chartered by act of legislature and hence are under police protection...

...and as usual at camp meetings, the young man will have to part from his best girl during service. This is found necessary on account of a natural inability of such to keep from talking. But take courage, young man, the sermons will not be long...

There were four sermons daily, and the congregation was of the Methodist faith. The retreat lasted about six days, beginning Friday, 18 August and ending the following Wednesday.

Though I don't know exactly where this meeting was held, I can tell you there is a Bible Camp Road in Byron, as well as a current Boy Scout campground near the Echeconnee Creek. And remember, the Echeconnee Creek borders both Peach (then Houston) and Bibb counties.

A little more than a year later, Thomas Oscar Vinson died of pneumonia. He was only 46 years old. His obituary was carried in the 29 November 1894 Macon Weekly Telegraph (via Georgia Historic Newspapers):

DEATH AT BYRON
Byron, Nov 28 -- (Special) -- This little town is again stricken by the death of one of its best citizens. Last night at 7 o'clock Mr. Thomas Oscar Vinson breathed his last, after an illness of two weeks of pneumonia. He leaves a wife and five children. Mr. Vinson was a consistent member of the Methodist church and a real Christian. His standard of morals and Christian character was of the highest order. He was foremost in every enterprise looking to the moral and Christian welfare of the community. His place will be hard to fill, if indeed it can ever be. We have known Mr. Vinson for years, and it has been a pleasure to witness the good influence he exerted among his associates, as well as the happy relations existing between himself and near family connections. The entire community extend to the bereaved relatives sincere sympathies. They know that in his life they lose one of nature's noblemen.

The funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock from the Methodist church here.

Tomorrow I'll have the final wrap-up of T. O. Vinson's individual report.