Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-03-27

Cross Roads, then in Madison-now in
Iron-coun..v, the subject of this sketch
was born on September 10th, 1888, in
log cabin. In 1885 the family removed
to and located upon "a small farm in the
north end Of -Arcadia-Valley.
His father was ii school teacher 10y pro-
fession and generally lived where he
got employment, and soon removed o
Washington county. The first seven
teen years of ohm l.. Thomas life were
spent upon farm, in which time he
performed general farm work. When
he was twelve, his father died, leaving
the burden of the out door work upon
him, he being then the oldest boy at
home. In this time he assisted in clear
ing what is now General Turner's place
west of Arcadia, making the timber
into rails and cordwOod, grubbing the
lard at the rate of S. an acre.
In these years he was not simply
working machine; a thirst for knuwl-
edge possessed lin, and his spare hours
and his nights were dc voted to study.
From seventeen to twenty-lS50-1653
he, part of the time, taught school,
and, in part, attended the Arcadia
High School, and in the latter year
there graduated with high honors.
The ensuing two years be taught
school and studied law, being admitted
to the bar in 1855. and. ever since de-
voting himself to that jealous mis-
tress,n has attained an envia BILE repu-
tatlon in his profession, in that part #
our State - Southeast Missouri in
which he was born and has spent his
life.
For twenty-five years he was an &C.
tive practitioner of the law, and in 1850
was ele cted Judge of the Goth Judicial
Circuit of Missouri, being reelected in
1856, and which office be now holds.
In 1871 Judge Thomas was mem
Der of the House of Representative of
the Missouri General Assembly, and
his repute in the State as a lawyer
may be judged from the fact that at
the session of that year he held the
craftsmanship of the House Judiciary
Committee.
1t was at this session that that pa
triot, statesman and soldier, that great
man, General Frank z, Blair, was a
candidate for the United States Sena-
tOrship from Missouri, and at his per-
sonal request Judge Thomas put him
in nomination, both in the Democratic
caucus, and in the House of Represen-
tatlves.
His career upon the bench has been,
indeed, envia BILE. He has only once
missed attending court during the
nine years he has been judge, and that
by reason of an accident, and he has
many ii mes held court for other judges
in other circuits, notably in the 10th
and 23d circuits, and in ST. Louis.
Prompt aud expeditions in business,
his dockets are not burdened with cases
continued for want of time to dispose
of them. But while expeditions every
litigant and attorney has been given
full hearing, and granted every court
esq consistent with law and with duty.
and the estimate in which he is held
by his bar may be inferred from the
fact that every lawyer in his circuit,
though 10th to lose him from the circuit,
is enthusiastic for his preferment.
Fifty-two cases passed upon by him
have been disposed of in the Appellate
Courts Forty-three of them have been
affirmed and only nine reversed.
Opposed as John l.. Thomas was by
untoward circumstances, from earliest
youth, under which most persons had
succumbed, by his own and unaided
exertions, he overcame adverse fortune
and has made for himself a name of
which he might well be proud, even
had he been less buffetted by hardships
in earlier days. But with "a mind
equal to any fortune" an equanimity
by either adversely or
prosperity, he has pursued his way,
doing that which he hath found to do
in the plain, straightfor ward ,unassum
ing way which has characterized him
as boy and as man.
He early learned that schools only
point out to the inquirer the road to
and taking that way for
forty years be has pursued it, each
year making additions to his store till
now, at fifty-siX, in the full possession
of his faculties, his is not alone stored
with the lore of his calling, but is also
possessed of the learning of the cultur
ed gentleman.
AS citizen, Dem pcrat, lawyer and
judge, in every circumstance of his life,
John l., Thomas has ever been guided
by sense of honor, of honesty and
of duty; with moral courage equal to
every demand; an honesty unpurchas-
able; an integrity unassaila BILE; a fidel-
ity to truth unwavering; character
robust with every virtue; mind stor-
ed with the garnsrings of lifetime, he
has more than fulfilled every promise
of his youth, and stands forth hitting
exemplar of our country's manhood.
John L. Thomas upon the supreme
bench would be only fitting reward
for his life's work; that is the proper
field for the exercise of his talents and
accomplishments; and that preferment