Nellen Sellers Thomas

THOMAS, NELLEN SELLERS (1871 ~ 1950). Nellen Sellers Thomas, former Superintendent of the Texas Confederate Woman's Home, was born in 1871. She was the daughter of Isaac Sellers of Tennesee and Nellen Sellers of Mississippi.

She married Sidney J. Thomas in March of 1892 in Georgetown, Texas and was a graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. They lived in Comanche, Texas where Sidney Thomas was elected County Attorney in November of 1892. He served as County Attorney until 1896 when he purchased the Comanche Chief, the local newspaper. In 1904 Mr. Thomas was elected president of the Texas Press Association.

The family moved to Austin, Texas in 1911 where Sindey Thomas became the superintendent of the Texas School for the Deaf. After Sidney Thomas's sudden death in 1913, his wife was appointed superintendent of the school to serve for the remainder of her husband's term.

Nellen Thomas was later appointed by Governor Hobby to serve as the Superintendent of the Confederate Woman's Home. She served under Governors Neff, Moody and Sterling for thirteen years. She was a Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a member of the Women's Club, the Pathfinder's Club and a member of the First Baptist Church.

The Thomas's had two sons, Sellers J. Thomas and Sidney J. Thomas. Nellen Thomas moved to Abilene, Texas in March or April of 1950. She lived at 2002 South Sixth Street until her death on June 30, 1950. She was later buried next to her husband at the Texas State Cemetery.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: "History of the Texas Press and the Texas Press Association," compiled by John H. Lowry, Signal, Honey Grove Under the Direction of Sam P. Harben, Secretary, Texas Press Association: Wichita Falls, June 1929. "Certificate of Death," Texas Department of Health, Burea of Vital Statistics; "Tidbits & Tidings from the Texas School for the Deaf's Past", Sesquicentennial Special Issue, Texas School for the Deaf; "Deaths and Funerals", Austin American-Statesman, July 1, 1950; found in file statements from family descendents.