THOMAS BROOMHALL

THOMAS BROOMHALL, farmer and stock-raiser of Monroe Township,Shelby County, is a native of the Hoosier State. He was born at Noblesville, Hamilton County Indiana, December 1, 1843, and is a son of James and Sarah (Smith) Broomhall, natives of Pennsylvania and North Carolina respectively. The parents were married in Indiana, and Thomas was nine years old when they removed to Des Moines County, Iowa; there they were among the first settlers, and made that their home for five years. They then moved to Clark County, Missouri, and resided there until the breaking out of the war, when they returned to Iowa and settled in Jasper County. The father lived there the balance of his days, and the mother died in Shelby County April 25, 1886. Thomas Broomhall received very few educational advantages during his youth, but by study at home he has acquired a good practical education, and is a well-informed man. During the late Rebellion he enlisted in August, 1862, at the call for 300,000 men, serving in the Ninth Iowa Cavalry, Company L. He was in the western army, and when he went out the regiment numbered 1,200 strong. In one year it was cut down to 700. Mr. Broomhall was honorably discharged February 3, 1866, at Little Rock, and finally discharged February 14, 1866, at Davenport, Iowa. He then returned to Jasper County, Iowa, and engaged in farming. May 17, 1874, occurred the marriage of Mr. Broomhall to Miss Maria Hitchler, a native of Jasper County, Iowa, and a daughter of William and Nancy (Miller) Hitchler. In 1877 they came to Shelby County and settled in Lincoln Township, and in 1883 came to their present farm, which is well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Broomhall are the parents of three children -- Allie Leota, Charles William and Birdie Logan. Mr. Broomhall affiliates with the Republican party. He has served as justice of the peace three terms with credit to himself and the satisfaction of the public. He and his family are among the worthy and estimable people of Monroe Township.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 624. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

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