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Below is a family biography included in History of Union County, Iowa published by S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1908.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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THOMAS LEE MAXWELL.
On the list of the leading lawyers of Union county appears the name of Thomas Lee Maxwell who, devotedly attached to his profession and systematic and methodical in habit, has won for himself an honorable position as a legal practitioner. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1851.

His father, Thomas Maxwell, was also a native of that state and was of Scotch ancestry, members of the family serving in the war of 1812 from Pennsylvania. The founders of the family in the new world came from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania and Virginia at an early epoch in colonial days. Thomas Maxwell was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit throughout his entire business life in Ohio. He held membership in the Presbyterian church and took an advanced stand on many subjects of public interest. In antebellum days he was an abolitionist and became a conductor on the famous underground railroad. He did not live to see the freeing of the slaves which resulted from the long sanguinary conflict that was waged for the preservation of the Union for his death occured in 1859 when he was forty years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann Baymiller, was born in Pennsylvania and is now living in Blandinsville, Illinois, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. She is of German descent and for many years has been a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist-Episcopal church.

The family numbered seven children, four sons and three daughters: John Calvin, who enlisted in 1861 in McDonough county, Illinois for service in the Civil war with the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, was wounded in battle by the explosion of a shell. He re-enlisted on the expiration of his first term and became a non-commissioned officer. He is now an inmate of the soldiers’ home at Leavenworth, Kansas. Henry A. is engaged in teaching school at Bardolph, Illinois. Retta is the wife of Frank York, of Blandinsville, Illinois. Thomas L. is the fourth in order of birth. Nettie is the wife of Thomas Horton, a veteran of the Civil war, who is now living retired in Macomb, Illinois. William F. resides in Dodge township, Union county, Iowa. Bell is the wife of H. T. Main, a telegraph operator of Omaha.

In 1860 Thomas Lee Maxwell accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois and in the common schools of that state acquired his education. He afterward engaged in teaching school for four years and his time outside of the schoolroom was devoted to the study of law preparatory to his admission to the bar. He successfully passed the required examination at Afton, Iowa, in 1874, and in 1876 began practice in Adams county, where he resided until 1884, when he came to Creston. Here he has since lived, save for a period of five years, from 1896 until 1901, when he was in Des Moines for the purpose of educating his son. He has prospered in his life work. Earnest effort, close application, and the exercise of his native talents have won him prestige as a lawyer. The zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard for the interests of his clients, and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct.

In 1876 occurred the marriage of Thomas L. Maxwell and Miss Lucy A. Fish, who died in 1903 at the age of fifty years, leaving a son, Ray, who is now practicing law at Corning as a partner of his father under the firm style of Maxwell & Maxwell. He was admitted to the bar and has won success in his chosen field of labor. Since losing his first wife Mr. Maxwell has married Mrs. M. E. Mackemer, of Creston, who is a member of the Episcopal church and well known in the social circles of the city.

In his political views Mr. Maxwell is a stalwart democrat and has been active in the work of the party, doing everything in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He served as county superintendent of schools of Adams county in 1878 and 1879, and was a member of the legislature for that county in 1882 and 1883. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, and is also a member of the State Bar Association. He has made good use of his time and opportunities and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit he has attained a creditable position.

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This family biography is one of 247 biographies included in The History of Union County, Iowa published in 1908.  For the complete description, click here: Union County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Union County, Iowa family biographies: Union County, Iowa Biographies

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