My wife took the time and re-typed the newspaper article so you can read it easier.
LOOK WHAT DON VICKERS FOUND!
By Wilbert Wiggs
Don Vickers proved metal detecting is more than digging in the dirt when he unearthed a coin at Eldon, Mo,. That provided a vital link to a Lone Grove woman’s genealogical search.
Vickers, an Olathe, Kan., resident, began scanning vacant lots four years ago rates an 1827 Coronet head Copper Large Cent presented to Karen Brookey among his “best finds.” The coin was located April 26 in the side yard of a home built in 1905 within the Eldon town limits, a community south of Jefferson City. Vickers and his wife, Becky were on another of their leisurely metal detecting ventures.
It wasn’t until they returned home and carefully cleaned the coin that Vickers realized he had more than an old penny, a Copper about the size of a quarter. Curiously, the Large Cent carried a die-stamped imprint “E.B.Thomas M C H. 22” – the birth date of Dr. Elihu B. Thomas, Brookey’s great-great grandfather who dies April 25, 1910, at St Louis. Vickers used this skimpy bit of information to launch a search to find out more. As a collection item, the name imprint makes the coin of no value, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t carry an impact.
“This is a family heirloom,” Becky told her husband, encouraging him to start a search for descendants of the Thomas family. He quickly found more than he anticipated, including the obituary of Dr. Thomas published in the April 25, 1910, issue of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Born in New York on March 22, 1827, he lived in Chicago where he learned the printer’s trade: moved to St. Louis where he married and raised a family. He lived in New Orleans where he was involved in theater: fought in the Mexican and Civil Wars. Listed as a “radical” Republican, he served as a senator in the Missouri Legislature and published the St. Louis Dispatch for two years before becoming a homeopathic physician.
“Wait ‘till they hear that I gave my best find away to a perfect stranger,” Vickers said of his search that quickly lead to finding Brookey. “I have never sold anything I have found while metal detecting. I have given items away: either back to the person who lost them, or to someone who would appreciate its significance as much or more than I do.
“If it weren’t for the Internet this coin would probably have remained a big question mark in my collection. It took nearly three weeks to find out the story as we know it today,” he said when he presented the coin to Brookey Saturday at the Greater Southwest Historical Museum before an audience of friends and family. “I am sure the story and history of this coin isn’t over yet.”
Vickers had quick response to his search, thanks to Brookey’s genealogical research started 10 years ago. He turned to Treasure.net on May 14 with the information on the “personal piece,” aware the common name of Thomas would make the search difficult. A source at Treasure.net responded five days later advising that she “just got off the phone with Elisha’s great-great-granddaughter and can’t believe your story.”
While excited, Brookey was also skeptical.
“I thought it might be a scam,” she said frankly as she and the Kansas couple exchanged information about the Thomas family history. Skepticism aside, the Lone Grove resident has made “some amazing discoveries” since she began her family history research 10 years ago.
“but I can honestly say that this (presentation) really takes the cake, because as many hears as I have been searching for my family roots, this is the first time my family roots have come searching for me.” She said after receiving the coin.” Just the fact that this coin existed is all pretty special.”
Overall, the families admitted that one cent piece is pretty significant by uniting total strangers living more than 400 miles apart. Brookey touched on it by asking, What are the odds that it (the coin) would have ever been discovered?”
“and not only discovered, but discovered by someone that was interested and dedicated enough to research its mysteries. Who’s name is this? Who was he? Why and when did he stamp his name and birth date? How did it get to Eldon, Missouri? Is there a living relative?
“Don and Becky took time to solve quite a few of these mysteries.”
Another significant factor was noted when Brookey said after 10 years of keeping family tree records private, she decided to publish some information on Anc3estry.com last fall and “got brave enough” to allow contact with subscribers the same week someone was trying to contact her.
“There are so may ways that this story could have a different conclusion that it almost seems like it was meant to be,” “…Don and Becky, that made it possible to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
RR
Becky, fantastic job on the poster 
Thanks for posting a better pic, Don.
What a GREAT story!! And Annie! 8) Super research!! 
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