Bio: Thomas D. Meadows, Claiborne Parish, LA
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted for the LAGenWeb Archives by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez, Jan. 2000


**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************

 

Thomas D. Meadows, planter, Lisbon, La.  Mr. Meadows was born near La Grange, 
Troup County, Ga., June 7, 1830, and was the eldest in a family of four children, 
who were named as follows: Eliza (married Mr. Martin in Georgia, a planter, and 
died in Ward No. 1, Claiborne Parish, La., when forty-five years of age), Joseph 
(who resides in Haynesville, La., and is principal of the high school at that 
place.  He was educated in Georgia) and Susan (married J. T. Chapman, an orange 
grower, and now resides in Florida; she is the youngest of the family).  The 
parents of our subject were both natives of Georgia, and both received a common-
school education.  The father was born in 1807, and was an agriculturist by 
occupation.  He figured very conspicuously in local politics, and was one of 
the leading citizens in his locality.  He moved to Troup County, settled in a 
little cabin in a wild and undeveloped part of the country, and remained there 
until late in life, when he moved to Heard County.  He gained a fair competency, 
and died in 1864.  He was a self-made man, was honest and industrious, and 
improved every opportunity presented to make an honest living.  The mother 
died in 1854.  Thomas D. Meadows was educated in the select schools of Georgia, 
and was admirably fitted for the practical life he leads.  He engaged in school 
teaching for a time, and is an ardent supporter of the cause of education.  He 
started out to fight life's battles for himself at the age of twenty-one years 
with very little capital, but with a strong determination to succeed.  He first 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, and his business acumen, which has been his 
stock in trade, has placed him in independent circumstances.  He was married, 
August 30, 1850 to Miss Mary A. Hilley, a native of Elbert County, Ga., born 
in November, 1834, and to them have been born fourteen children, ten of whom 
are living: John (resides in Winn Parish), Joseph (a talented attorney and a 
business man of integrity, died at Hope, Ark., October 12, 1890), Alonzo (a 
Baptist minister and a prominent educator, resides at McNeal, Ark.), Ada (resides 
in Homer, and is the wife of Prof. J. T. Nelson, who is another educator of note), 
Asbury (is a graduate of Peabody College at Nashville, Tenn., and now resides in 
Donaldsonville, La., where he is principal of schools), Mat (is a salesman at 
Minden, La.), Beulah (resides in Claiborne Parish, and is the wife of J. D. Cook, 
who is a farmer), Viola (resides on the old homestead), Ira (resides at home, and 
is at present a student at Homer, La.; he is a bright boy), Lizzie (also a student 
at Homer, La.).  Mr. Meadows was a member of the famous "Claiborne Guards" of the 
Seventeenth Louisiana Infantry Volunteers, which was paroled at Vicksburg, La., 
July 4, 1863.  He was discharged on account of sickness at Camp Moore.  Politically 
he was an old-line Whig, and he finally espoused the principles of the Democratic 
party, because there was nothing better to affiliate with.  He cast his first 
presidential vote for Gen. Winfield Scott.  He has never missed an election 
since his majority, and has advocated his principles strenuously and with vigor.  
Mr. Meadows has been a member of the police board for sixteen years, and he was 
president of the board several years, thus showing in what prominence he is held.  
He is not a bitter partisan by any means, but takes the fearless stand that both 
parties are very corrupt.  His is a Master Mason, and he and wife are members of 
the Missionary Baptist Church at Antioch, which they have aided in a very 
substantial manner.  Mr. Meadows is the owner of 1,800 acres of land in Claiborne 
Parish, and he is also the owner of a nice residence in Lisbon, La.  He has spent 
a large sum in educating his children, and may well be proud of his and their 
success.  In Claiborne Parish, where his interest are located, and where he is 
surrounded by his many warm friends, Mr. Meadows expects to pass the remainder 
of his days.

#  #  #