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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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Lewis B. Thomas, a merchant at Hastain, Union Township, Benton County, Mo., was born in Dallas County, Mo., in 1853, February 23. He carries a full stock of general merchandise, and is one of the wide-awake, thorough-going business men of the county. His business was established in 1883 by C. W. Young, and was purchased by Mr. Thomas in February, 1887. The latter has been a resident of Benton County since 1880. He is a son of Elizur and Catherine (Reser) Thomas, natives of Kentucky and East Tennessee, respectively. They came to Missouri at an early day, and here the father followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He was a soldier in the Mexican War, and was also in the late war. He died while in the service. Lewis B. Thomas was educated in the district schools, and supplemented this by attending the graded schools. At the age of seventeen years he commenced working for himself as a school teacher and followed this occupation for nineteen years in Benton and other counties. He was married February 13, 1877, to Miss Nancy A. Walls, a native of Indiana. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1888 was elected to the office of county assessor by that party, serving two years. His wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.

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This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Benton County, Missouri family biographies here: Benton County, Missouri Biographies

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