1908 Biography of Burwell B. Thomas of Marion, Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 11/2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 1908 Biography of Burwell B. Thomas of Marion, Union Parish Louisiana ================================================================================== ================================================================================== BURWELL B. THOMAS (1908) BURWELL B. THOMAS, an old established merchant of Marion, La., was born near Marion, Perry County, Ala., Sept. 17, 1835. His father, Sampson B. Thomas, was born in Edgefield district, S. C., Jan. 9, 1799, and his mother, whose maiden name was Malinda Gary, was born in Perry County, Ala., Jan. 11, 1800. Some of Mr. Thomas' ancestors served in the American army during the Revolutionary war, but the lapse of time and the death of many persons conversant with the family history render it impossible to give any details of their service. In 1840, when but a child, Burwell B. Thomas came with his parents lo Union parish, La., where he has ever since resided, so that he may be said to be a pioneer citizen of that historic parish, as at the time he came there the country was sparsely settled and a large portion of the parish entirely undeveloped. His parents settled near the present town of Marion, which was named for Marion, Ala., from near which place many of its citizens had emigrated. His father opened up a large farm, and at the same time served several Baptist churches as pastor, being a minister of that denomination. The subject of this sketch acquired a fair education in the public and private schools in the neighborhood. He was fond of hunting, and as game was abundant in that undeveloped country in his youth, he grew to be quite a Nimrod. In the war between the states Mr. Thomas enlisted under the flag of the Confederacy, although not in full sympathy with the secession idea, yet feeling it to be his duty to respond to the call of Louisiana when she joined the other Southern states in that great conflict He enlisted as a private in Company 1, 31 t Louisiana regiment, and was afterward made first sergeant of his company. He participated in the battles at Chickasaw bayou, Port Gibson and Big Black Bridge, Miss., and was in the memorable siege of Vicksburg, Miss., surrendering to Gen. U. S. Grant on July 4, 1863. After the exchange of prisoners he again entered the Confederate service, joining the cavalry, in which he continued until the close of the war. Upon returning home after the war he found the plantation in a devastated condition, both of his parents having died in the meantime, but he immediately set about the work of restoring it to its former productiveness, and in 1866 he also opened a store in Marion, which was conducted with a considerable degree of success. For the past forty-two years he has continued in the mercantile business at Marion and Alabama Landing on the Ouachita River, ten miles east of that town. Besides his mercantile interests Mr. Thomas is at the present time (1908) the president of the Marion State Bank, an institution he was instrumental in organizing. During the period of reconstruction he was largely instrumental in preserving peace between the races, always counseling moderation and a resistance to any spirit of mob violence, and to the credit of his community it can be said that there was very little if any disturbance during that turbulent period. At an early age Mr. Thomas united with the Missionary Baptist church, his father and father-in-law both having been ministers of that faith. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for forty years, and has the honor of being a past master in that order. For twenty-five years he has been a Knight of Pythias, and is a firm believer in the doctrine that such organizations have an uplifting influence by promoting the brotherhood of man. In politics he has always been a Democrat of the old school and he rendered considerable service to his party in the past. Although he has never been a seeker after public office, he has served as member of the police jury of Union parish, when called by his fellow citizens to do so, and in that capacity he discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Thomas is a quiet unobtrusive citizen, but he has nevertheless wielded much power and influence in that section of Union parish where he resides, and always on the side of right and justice as he sees it. On Oct. 24, 1854, Mr. Thomas married Miss Susan S. George, a daughter of Rev Elias George and a native of Alabama. Two children have been born to this union, viz: Edwin Eugene, who was born on Feb. 15, 1856, and died in infancy, and Lee Emmett, born on Sept. 23, 1866, and is now a prominent citizen and banker of Shreveport, La. He is also well known in fraternal and church circles, having served as grand master of Louisiana Masonry, grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of Louisiana, and president of the Baptist state convention. ================================================================================== NOTE: Burwell B. Thomas (17 Sept 1835 - 4 Apr 1915) and his wife Susan S. George Thomas (6 Jan 1836 - 13 Sept 1928) and their infant son Edwin Eugene Thomas (15 Feb 1856 - 8 May 1856) were all buried in the Concord Baptist Church Cemetery near Marion. ###########################################################