My Genealogy Hound

ALMON L. TOMSON.
Almon L. Tomson, whose fine farm of 240 acres of valuable fruit and farming land justifies the assumption that he is one of the substantial men of Soldier township, Shawnee County, as he is also one of the township’s most esteemed citizens, was born April 30, 1839, in Shalersville township, Portage County, Ohio, and is a son of James and Eliza (Marvin) Tomson.

The father of Mr. Tomson was born in 1812 at Williamstown, Vermont, while the mother was born at Shalersville, Ohio, in 1816. The father died February 15, 1866, on the farm in Portage County, Ohio, on which he had settled at marriage. They reared five children.

Our subject was educated in the district schools and the village of Shalersville, and grew up a practical farmer. He owned a farm of 166 acres and was one of the leading men of Shalersville township prior to coming to Kansas, for nine years being a justice of the peace and also filling the offices of trustee and assessor. In 1890 he exchanged his Ohio farm for 160 acres of the property he now owns, to which he subsequently added 80 acres. It is situated in section 12, township 10, range 15, and is now one of the most valuable farms in Soldier township, although when he came upon it he found it in poor condition, needing the experienced handling of a good agriculturist. He has put out a great deal of small fruit which has proved a successful venture and he also raises a large number of Poland-China hogs, and a fine strain of cattle. His son Arthur B. is associated with him in the operation of the farm.

Mr. Tomson was married June 6, 1865, to Sarah M. Proctor, who is a daughter of Ephraim J. and Mary A. (Middleton) Proctor. Mr. Proctor was born in 1812 in Vermont and his wife in the same year, in Ohio. They moved to Iowa in 1845, where Mr. Proctor farmed and did blacksmithing. They reared four children.

Mr. and Mrs. Tomson have had five children, namely: Amy E., who died March 29, 1878, aged 11 years, and was buried at Shalersville; James C., who is a successful farmer in Soldier township, owning 160 acres also in Trego County, Kansas, and 30 head of cattle; Annie B., who died March 22, 1878, and was buried at Shalersville; Almon L., Jr., born February 6, 1879, who owns a wheat farm of 80 acres in Trego County, Kansas; and Arthur B., born November 20, 1881, who works with his father on shares.

Politically, Mr. Tomson is a Democrat, but he has taken no very active part in politics since coming to Kansas. He is a member of Muddy Creek Grange. He is well known in the township where both he and his family are held in great respect.