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Below is a family biography included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in 1880.  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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WILLIAM I. THOMAS, deceased; was born in Philadelphia July 4, 1796, and removed with his parents to Lancaster Co., Ohio, in 1808, he received his education in the Ohio University, of Athens, Ohio, from which institution he graduated in 1817; then read law with the Hon. Thomas Ewing, Sr.; was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of his profession in Troy, in 1819. In 1822 he was appointed Postmaster, and in 1825 was elected Justice of the Peace; he served six years as Prosecuting Attorney, and was Colonel of one of the militia regiments of the State. In 1836, he was elected to represent his district in the State Senate which honor was conferred on him three consecutive terms, during which time he very zealously supported his former preceptor, Mr. Ewing, in his race for senatorial honors; it is recorded of him that during his term of office he made the most remarkable speech ever made on the floor of the House, in opposition to the passage of a bill that was obnoxious to the masses; the time occupied was from 4 o’clock P. M. till 8 A. M., sixteen hours, when his constituents arrived in sufficient force to defeat the bill. He was a Whig in politics until the death of that party when he joined his old foes, the Democrats, and stumped the State for Buchanan in 1856; as a lawyer, he stood high in the profession; was a convincing speaker and a very formidable adversary in debate. In 1869, while enjoying a tour through the Western States, recruiting his failing energies and bodily health, he was stricken down in Lawrence City, Kan., from congestion of the lungs dying suddenly Nov. 6, 1869. He was married to Lucinda M. Neal Sept. 29, 1828; eleven children was the result of their union, five of whom are living viz. Stanley Owen, born Nov. 24, 1835; Walter Scott, born April 8, 1838; Llewellyn born March 2, 1843; Eugene B., born Jan. 1, 1846; Gilmer T., born Jan. 8 1851. The deceased are Stanley, born July 11, 1829, died July 27, 1831; Owen, born March 28, 1831, died Sept. 3, 1833; Harriet H., born Aug. 20, 1832, died Aug 31, 1833; Owen Stanley, born Aug. 14, 1834, died March 27, 1850; William I. born Dec 14, 1839, died April 12, 1867; Arthur H., born April 28, 1852, died July 27, 1853; Lucinda M. (Neal) Thomas was born in West Virginia Sept. 7, 1809; died April 19, 1856.

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This family biography is one of 964 biographies included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published in 1880 by W. H. Beers & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Miami County, Ohio History and Genealogy

View additional Miami County, Ohio family biographies here: Miami County, Ohio Biographies

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