My Genealogy Hound

Miles W. Thomas, influential citizen, successful farmer and trustee of Black township, was born on his father’s farm near the city of Mt. Vernon on May 15, 1858, the son of David and Mary (Noles) Thomas. David Thomas was also a native of Posey county, his wife a native of Kentucky. Both died in 1864, when Miles was a lad of six years of age. He was reared in the family of his brother-in-law, John M. Gregory, a farmer of Black township, who removed in 1874 to Illinois. In the last named year, Miles Thomas became self-supporting. He secured employment as a farm hand and continued in this occupation until 1876, when he rented an eighty acre farm in Marrs township. He remained a renter until 1893, when he purchased 180 acres of land in Marrs township, and which he has brought up to a high point of cultivation. He also owns forty-three acres in Black township, three miles east of Mt. Vernon, which he purchased in 1897. Since attaining his majority he has taken an active part in the political life of his township, and has been a consistent supporter of the policies of the Democratic party. He was elected to his present office, that of trustee of Black township, in 1908, and in the administration of its affairs he has proven the possession of sound business judgment and keen financial sense. Since taking up the duties of the office, he has built three modern school buildings, one in 1911, one in 1912, and one in 1913, at a total cost of $13,800; besides putting all of the older buildings in a thorough state of repair. The roads of Black township are conceded to be the best in the county, and represent close attention to this essential of the farmer by the trustee. A drainage ditch, costing $3,200, has also been completed under his supervision, and is one of the important improvements of the township under his administration, His election was by a majority of 176 in a township normally Republican by 100; a highly complimentary evidence of his standing as a citizen and reputation as a man of affairs. Mr. Thomas married in 1879 Miss Mary Lewis, the daughter of Thompson P. Lewis farmer and influential citizen of Marrs township. To them have been born seven children, four of whom died in infancy, and the others are as follows: Lewis W., born July 3, 1880; Elizabeth, born November 27, 1888, and Thompson, born October 12, 1900. The family became residents of the city of Mt. Vernon in 1909, and are well and favorably known.