TH0MAS LEO MUDD. Randolph County has among its citizens many men of more than average ability and intelligence who are doing a great work for its advancement. Prominent among these is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this biography. He is one of the most enterprising fanners in this part of the county, and is also a marked figure m its political life. He served for many years as School Director and as Trustee of his district.
A native of this county, our subject was born June-28, 1831, and is the son of James and Amelia (O'Hara) Mudd. The father was born in Kentucky, whence he came to Randolph County in an early day and was classed among its early settlers. He was a farmer by occupation, and died when our subject was a small boy. The parental family included six sons and three daughters, of whom Thomas L. is the youngest but one.
The mother of our subject died when he was seventeen years of age, and he was then thrown upon his own resources. Prior to that time, he had gained a fair education in the district school, and when compelled to make his own way in the world turned his attention to farming. He has resided upon his present estate since 1844, and his whole course in life shows him to be a shrewd, practical and capable farmer. When locating here his land was covered with timber, and he entered upon the hard task of clearing it with a sturdy determination to conquer all obstacles. In the years that followed, he put his place in good order, and now has a well developed farm of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, located five miles south of Ruma, in township 5, range 9.
January 9, 1855, Thomas L. Mudd and Miss Mary E. Harrell were united in marriage. The lady is likewise a native of this county, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of the following named six children: John H., Austin P., Thomas W., James R., Jerome, and Mary Ann, now Mrs. John Hoy. In politics Mr. Mudd favors Democratic principles, and cast his first vote for Buchanan. All the members of his family are identified with the Catholic Church and are highly respected in their community.
Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois, published in 1894, page 423.