Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
Thomas J. Newlin was born April 2, 1863 at Bellair, Illinois, the son of Thomas and Mary Newlin. His father died in the battle of Look Out Mountain in the Civil War shortly prior to the birth of his son Thomas. He was educated in the grade schools of Crawford County and after completion, attended teacher's college at Merom and Danville, Indiana. In 1885 he began teaching in the grade schools of Crawford County and continued until 1892 when he was elected Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Crawford County, serving until 1896 when he refused the nomination for a second term. He commenced reading and studying law in 1889 and was admitted to practice in 1891.
In 1892 he was married to Sarah F. Kirts of Oblong, Illinois, the daughter of Isaac and Mary Kirts, to which union were born two children, Floy V. and Ralph T. Newlin.
In 1897 he began the practice of law in Robinson, a member of the firm Jones, Eagleton & Newlin, later on forming a partnership with Valmore Parker under the firm name of Parker & Newlin.
When oil was discovered in Crawford County in 1905 he became interested in this type of business, and was absent from Robinson from 1920 for several years in the Legal and Land Department of Transcontinental Oil Company in Louisiana and Montana.
Upon returning to Robinson in the late 1920's he again resumed practice of law and continued in such until 1945 when he retired from active practice at the age of 82 years.
He departed this life April 22nd, 1955, at Robinson, Illinois, three weeks after his 92nd birthday, leaving him surviving, his devoted wife, Sarah F. Newlin and his son Ralph, his daughter Floy having preceded him in death on July 15, 1929.
Mr. Newlin was a loyal member of B.P.O. Elks for more than 44 years and for a time a member of he Masonic and Odd Fellows organizations.