My Genealogy Hound

Thomas Toler is a native of Johnson County, N. C., and was born in November, 1844. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Holder) Toler, who were the parents of eleven children, of whom our subject was next to the youngest. Both the paternal and maternal ancestors were of Irish descent, and were pioneers of North Carolina. The father of our subject, who was a native of Wayne County, N. C., owned and operated a very large plantation in Johnson County, where he was a well-known and influential man. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and for many years served as magistrate, taking an active part in politics and sympathizing with the Whig party. He died in Johnson County in 1849, his widow surviving until 1865. Thomas Toler, the subject of this sketch, was reared to the pursuit of farming, receiving his education in the district and subscription schools of Johnson County. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fourth North Carolina Infantry, and was mustered into service at Weldon, N. C., June 24. He took part in the Seven Days’ Battle around Richmond, the battle of Antietam, Winchester, and at the siege of Petersburg, doing service with the corps of sharp shooters; he received a wound in the left leg and was first confined in the hospital at Richmond. He was then sent home on wounded furlough, where he was captured by Sherman, taken before Blair, and was imprisoned at Hart’s Island, N. Y., until the close of the war. Returning to Johnson County, N. C., he engaged in farming until 1867, when he went to Obion County, Tenn., and farmed two years. In 1869 he removed to Jackson County, Ark., and two years later bought a tract of 160 acres, in Glass Township, six acres of which were cleared. He planted an orchard and made some improvements, after which he sold out and rented land. In 1877 he purchased 240 acres, which were partly improved, and which he still owns, having now under cultivation seventy-five acres, upon which he raises some timothy and clover, but more cotton. Mr. Toler read law at one time and now does some successful practicing in the justice’s court, having served as justice of the peace since 1883. Mr. Toler was first married, in Sampson County, N. C., in 1864, to Virginia J. Walton, of Raleigh, N. C., who died in 1879. Of the children born to this union four are living, viz.: Thomas W., a physician and surgeon, of Swifton; Charles A., a traveling salesman; Anna V. and Edward C. In 1880 Mr. Toler married Martha Lollar, of Lawrence County, Ark., whose parents, David and Sarah (Michael) Lollar, were natives of North Carolina, and settled in Lawrence County, Ark., before the war, where the mother still lives, the father being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Toler have three children: William A., Mary Carolina and Mattie. Mr. Toler is an active politician, voting with the Democrats. He is also a member and elder in the Christian Church, and one of the most prominent and influential farmers of Glass Township.