Biography - Andrew Thomason
Andrew Jackson THOMASON, merchant, Harvel, was born in Carrollton, Greene Co., Ill., February 16, 1843. His educational privileges were limited to the common schools of his native county. His early life was spent on the homestead farm, but at the age of eighteen he entered the service during the rebellion in Company G, of the Sixty-first Illinois Infantry, with Capt. J.B. NELTON, his regiment being commanded by Gen. Jacob FRY. He remained in the service a period of three years, and, after his discharge, he took upon himself the duties of a farm life, locating in Greene County, where he remained three years, and then removed to Montgomery County, where he continued the same occupation five years, at the end of which time the town of Harvel had just been incorporated, and he erected the third store in the town, and opened a grocery store, having at that time disposed of his farming interests. By his energy, courteous manners, and strict attention to business, he soon built up a large and steadily increasing trade, which demanded an increase of stock, until now he is engaged in a general merchandising business, and has also enlarged his storeroom in order to make room for his increasing stock, and to better facilitate his business. He has always been identified with the growth and prosperity of the town, and held a prominent position in the advancement of public improvements and educational privileges of the town and county, having held the different offices of School Director, Village Trustee, President of the Board of Trustees, Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and President of the Coal Company. He was married in Carrollton, Green County, September 7, 1879, to Miss Mary Jane SWIRES, who was born in New Jersey February 7, 1849. By this union they have had seven children, viz., Alice, Freddie, Frankie, Bertie, Roy, Flora and Nellie. Mrs. THOMASON is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (LISLES) SWIRES, who were natives of England; they are both living. The parents of Mr. THOMASON, Spencer and Mary (STONE) THOMASON, were natives of North Carolina, and early settlers of Greene County, having emigrated to that county in 1830. He was a farmer, and died in 1847, she died in 1861. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Andrew J. our subject, was the fifth child. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M. at Raymond, and also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter at Litchfield. In politics, he is a Democrat. Mr. THOMASON has, by his own unaided endeavors, made life-work thus far more than ordinarily successful, and is entitled to a place among the substantial men of Montgomery County.
Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 253-254.
