Bio: Col. Thomas W. Poole, Claiborne Parish, LA
Source:  Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez

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Col. Thomas W. Poole, commissioner of immigration, post-office 60 St. Charles 
Street, New Orleans, La.  This distinguished gentleman is a native of Alabama, 
and has reached his present honorable position through sheer force of character 
and intellect. His birth occurred in Perry County, of that State, in August, 1832, 
his father being William H. Poole, a native of North Carolina, and his mother, 
Miss Sarah Johnson, daughter of Starling Johnson.  William H. Poole moved from 
North Carolina at an early day, and settled in Alabama, where he engaged in 
farming and in the practice of medicine, and where he reared a large family.  
He made two large plantations in Union County, Ark., and there died, having 
lived and honorable and useful life.  He had formerly served in one of the 
early Indian wars.  He moved to Arkansas about 1843, and died about 1852, his 
widow surviving him until about 1866.  Col. Poole is the only survivor of the 
family of three sons and nine daughters, and grew to the age of eighteen years 
in Union County, Ark.  He received a superior education from accomplished 
teachers in higher English branches, mathematics and languages.  After having 
taught a short time, he came, in 1851, to Claiborne Parish, and engaged in 
clerking for his brother, and later engaged in business for himself, in Lisbon, 
but soon moved to Vienna, Jackson Parish, where he resided until the war.  He 
enlisted in the Confederate service in 1862; was elected captain of Company I, 
which has 176 men; marched to Monroe, where he assisted in organizing the regiment; 
was elected major of the same, and entered the regular Confederate services in the 
Trans-Mississippi Department.  At the battle of Mansfield, La., he led his regiment, 
and for conspicuous gallantry was promoted to the colonelcy of his regiment.  He 
participated in other important engagements: Burwich Bayou, Pleasant Hill, Yellow 
Bayou (at which latter battle his regiment brought on the engagement), Camp Bisland, 
Franklin (La.), Bayou Fordash, and numerous important skirmishes.  During the war 
he was neither wounded nor taken prisoner, and at the battle of Mansfield his sword 
and pistol were shot from his side.  After the war he engaged in merchandising, in 
Jackson Parish for several years, then sold out, and mover to Carbondale, Ill., but 
after eight months returned to Homer, La., continuing in business, but after several 
years, engaged in general stock trading.  In September, 1888, under a commission 
from Gov. Nichols, he took charge of the office of Commissioner of immigration, and 
has done very important service in bringing the resources of the State to the attention 
of immigrants.  His great energy, liberal views, broad mind and congenial character 
have given him a wide and deserved reputation throughout the State as a public servant.  
In 1854 he married Miss Elizabeth Wilder, a native of Alabama, and daughter of William 
H. Wilder; this lady died about the year 1882 after having presented her husband with 
seven children, of whom only two are living: C. E. Poole (of Homer), and L. E. (wife 
of L. E. Kemp, of Mexia, Tex.).  He married his present wife, Mrs. M. H. Lee, at 
Arcadia, in December, 1889, she being a native of Alabama, and the daughter of Dr. 
Hunter, a prominent physician and planter. Col. Poole is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  He 
is a pronounced anti-lottery man, and is using his great energy and influence to 
suppress this powerful institution in the State.