From 'Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana,' 1903, pp. 117-118.

THOMAS C. CLOUD.

Thomas C. Cloud first saw the light April 7, 1823, in Clinton county, Ohio. He is the son of Joseph and Nancy Cloud, natives of Pennsylvania, the former a son of Thomas Cloud. Joseph and Nancy Cloud, after their marriage, settled in Clinton county, Ohio. He was a stone dresser and mason and worked in Cincinnati, Ohio, when it gave but small promise of the populous city of today. They moved from Ohio to Rush county, Indiana, about 1828, and were there for about two years, when Joseph died, leaving a widow and nine children: Betsie, deceased; Peggie, deceased; John F., deceased; Sallie, deceased, was the wife of William Duckwall; Prudie, now a resident of Ohio; Thomas; Pricilla, a resident of Frankfort, Indiana; Keziah, deceased, and Nancy, now a resident of Warren, this state.

After the death of her husband Nancy Cloud removed her family to Grant county, Indiana, about the year 1841 her son, Thomas, who now acted as head of the family, having previously gone there and helped to build a cabin. They were there about thirteen years when they sold their place for five hundred dollars and came to Wells County and bought the farm where Thomas now lives, paying the same amount for forty acres of land on which there had never been an ax. This made it necessary to rent land on the river front until they could get some cleared. During the first three years Thomas Cloud cleared thirty acres and attended to his crops besides. He finally cleared up ninety acres on the farm, which had grown to a hundred and twenty acres. February 20, 1850, Thomas Cloud was married to Rebecca A. Jones, a daughter of Daniel and Susie Jones, natives of Pennsylvania. Thomas and Rebecca A. Cloud are the parents of seven children, three of whom are yet living: Isaac, born January 20, 1851, died July 8, 1874; Sarah D., born February 19, 1852 married John E. Dillman, December 30, 1877; they are now keeping house for the wife's father. John Dillman is the father of nine children, seven of whom are still living, Charlie, deceased, Homer, Josie, Mary, George, deceased, Almeda, Thomas, Vergie and Hazel. Susan, the third child of Thomas and Rebecca Cloud, was born June 13, 1854, is the wife of Eli Rea, of McNatts, Indiana, and they are the parents of one child, Nellie A. Nancy was born August 8, 1856, is the wife of Calvin Alspach and the mother of seven children: Laura, Daniel, Amos, Charlie, Clinton, Lucy and George, deceased. Daniel W. was born May 15, 1858, and died October 7, 1873, Delilah J. was born September 12, 1860, and died May 25, 1864; Joseph L. was born March 23, 1864, died October 8, 1888, his death being caused by a fall from a horse; he married Rosa Minnich and a daughter, Josie, was born after his death.

The subject has worked at the carpenter's trade at times, but has devoted most of his life to farming, though he has not done active farm work for eleven years. He has also been a general stock raiser, rather preferring hogs as a specialty. Rebecca A. Cloud, his wife, died January 1, 1900, and in the fall of 1902 his daughter, Sarah Dillman, moved into his home to care for her father in his old age. In the spring of 1900 Mr. Cloud suffered a stroke of paralysis which confined him to his bed for some time, but after a few weeks he was able to arise from his bed and is now able to walk about the yard of his home and other short distances. He and wife were consistent members of the Methodist Protestant church and he loves the Christian church. While he was in active life he always manifested a lively interest in everything which had for its object the promotion or advancement of the class to which he belonged. With this idea in view, he took an active part in the early Grange movement inaugurated by the farmers of the country. In politics Mr. Cloud has always been a Democrat. In character, as exemplified in his life, Thomas C. Cloud has set an example which is worthy of all commendation, and the success which has attended his labors and the estimation in which he is held in the closing years of a long and well spent life should prove an incentive to the youth of the land. Forced by the death of his father to assume the responsibilities of life at an early age, he proved himself a strong reed, upon which his widowed mother with her large and fatherless family were able to lean. With filial care devoting himself to the general welfare of the family, he thus laid the foundation of his own fortunes and assured himself of a competency for his own old age. The success which has crowned the labors and life of Father Cloud proves that environment alone does not determine results; that 'Honor and fame from no conditions rise; but in acting well your part, therein the honor lies.'