Biography of Biggs Doddridge Thomas, pages 868/869. Memorial Record of Northeastern Indiana, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1896. Biggs Doddridge Thomas, deceased, was one of the leading and influential citizens of northeastern Indiana. He was born on his father’s farm near Mount Sterling, in Fayette county, Ohio, June 30, 1837, and was a son of Jeremiah and Nancy (Leach) Thomas. His parents removed for Madison county, Ohio, locating near London, and there he remained upon his father’s farm until 1857, when he left home to become a student in Delaware College, of Delaware, Ohio. Subsequently he took up the profession of teaching, and later, in connection with his brother Owen, he purchased a small tract of land of his father. He continued its cultivation in connection with school-teaching until May, 1867, when he removed to the city of London, where he purchased a queensware store of John Southern, which he conducted for about two years. In connection with his brothers he then bought and sold grain, and also took a contract for building a turnpike. His fellow citizens, appreciating his worth and ability, called him to public office, and in 1866 he was elected Justice of the Peace. In 1872 he was appointed Treasurer of Madison county, and after serving for an entire term, in place of the regularly elected candidate who had died, he retired to private life and came to Garrett. It was in October, 1874, that Mr. Thomas made this trip for the purpose of selecting a location. He was well pleased with the country and returning to Ohio made preparation for a permanent location in Indiana. He again came to Garrett and purchased three farms, all joining the railroad land at Garrett. He was one of the company which purchased this land as a speculation. In June, 1875, he moved his family to one of the farms purchased and continued its operation for seven years, placing much of it under a high state of cultivation. On the 16th of June, 1882, he came to Garrett, where he resided until his life’s labors we ended. Forming a partnership with O. C. Clark, he operated a gristmill and later entered into partnership with Charles Linkenhelt, and subsequently with Judge Carpenter, now deceased. Mr. Thomas was married June 7, 1862, in Fayette county, Ohio, to Mary A. Hall, who was born September 21, 1843, and is the eldest in a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, whose parents were William and Amanda (Loofbonnow) Hall. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were born the following children: Lucinda, Letitia, born January 15, 1863, died September 14, of the same year; Josie Florence, born August 8, 1864, is the wife of Thomas Squires, a conductor now living in Chicago Junction, Ohio; Herschel William, born October 14, 1866, is train dispatcher for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and makes his home with his mother; Grace Hall, born July 26, 1875, and Mary Lucy, born July 21, 1883, are still at home. In his political views, Mr. Thomas was a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for John Bell. He took quite an active part in political affairs, and in 1882 was elected County Commissioner, but resigned the position a few days before his death, for he had been ill for thirteen months with dropsy and could not attend to his duties. He was a member of the old-school Baptist Church, which he had joined in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1863. In London, Ohio, he became identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was one of the charter members of Garrett Lodge. Personally, he was five feet and eleven inches in height and his normal weight was about 225 pounds. He was a man of good business ability, straightforward and honorable in all his dealings and had the confidence and respect of the entire community. He passed away June 24, 1884, and the Garrett Herald wrote of him: “Our town has lost one of its best citizens and we join our citizens in tendering the bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy in their sorrow over the death of a loving husband and father. We shall always remember the deceased as a kind, genial friend and neighbor and can hardly realize that he is now more. May he rest in peace, and all who read this profit by his faith in the saving power of the religion of the Bible.” The Butler Review of July 4, 1884, said: “In the death of Mr. Thomas the county loses a noble citizen, Garret one of its ardent supporters and his family a devoted husband and father.” It will thus be seen how high he stood in the estimation of those who knew him best. He was truly one of nature’s noble men, and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com