E. D. THOMAS, physician, Athens, son of Joseph R. and Sarah (Hawthorne) Thomas, was born in St. Clair Co., Ill., Feb. 28, 1844; his father was, for a number of years, a prominent attorney of Baton Rouge, La., married in Mississippi, and came to Illinois about 1844. The subject of this sketch obtained his early education at Waverly, Morgan Col, Ill.; in 1861, he enlisted with 10th I.V.I.; he served in the late war four and a half years, participating in many of the most severe battles and skirmishes; he was one of the fortunate ones who escaped without injury; after the war, he returned and took a commercial course at Springfield, and began the study of medicine, under Dr. A.H. Lanphear, of Springfield; he took up the practice of medicine at Athens in 1868, and has since devoted his time and attention to his practice; he is a well-read able physician. In 1873 and 1874, he attended the Sterling Medical College, from which he graduated. He married Miss Mary Shipps, of Chatham, Ohio, Nov. 22, 1868; she as born Sept. 21, 1849. They have three children - Helen A., born Oct. 28, 1869; Gaillard D., June 23, 1874; Nathaniel H., Aug. 14, 1877.