Lee County >> 1887 Index

Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee County, Iowa
Chicago:  Chapman Brothers, 1887

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Linda Brandt.

EDWARD H. THOMAS, late editor and proprietor of the West Point Appeal, is a native of Louisa County, Iowa, and was born Sept. 14, 1841. His father, William H. R. Thomas, of Philadelphia, Pa., came to Louisa County, Iowa, at an early period in its history, in 1836, and served as Sheriff of that county for twelve years. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, where he died. In early manhood, in the fall of 1836, he was married to Miss Mary R. Eagans, at Wapello, Iowa. She was born at Connersville, Ind., and came to Iowa in 1836. That same year she was married to the father of our subject, and is still living. Of this union there were born three children�Edward H., Cicero B. and Louisa. Cicero B. was a soldier in the late war and a member of Co.F., 19 th Iowa Vol. Inf.; he was killed in battle at Spanish Fort, Ala., April 8, 1865.

Edward H. Thomas received a common school education, and in the year 1853 entered the office of the Intelligencer at Wapello, Iowa, where he served an apprenticeship of four years at the printing business, at which he was occupied until Aug. 8, 1862, when, with his brother Cicero B., he enlisted in Co. F., 19 th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war. He participated in about twenty-five battles and skirmishes, being on duty with his regiment constantly from the time it left town until its return in 1865. He was captured at the battle of Sterling Farm, La., on the 29 th of September, 1863, and taken by the Confederates to the prison pen near Tyler, Tex., where he was held for nearly three months. He was finally exchanged, and with his regiment received an honorable discharge at Davenport, Iowa.

After his return from the army Mr. Thomas resumed the printing buisness, which he followed until 1867, and then became pilot and master of a steamer on the Mississippi River, at which he was employed for the following eight years. He then resumed his early occupation, and became the publisher of various newspapers in different parts of the country. He is a thorough-going business man, an expert practical printer, and a journalist of marked ability.