My Genealogy Hound

HON. THOMAS JEFFERSON PRINGLE. The legal profession of Clark County recognizes in Mr. Pringle one of its leading men. He is thoroughly acquainted with the intricacies of common law and has been more than ordinarily successful as a practitioner, building up an extensive and lucrative business. He has been a life long resident of Clark, which is his native county, and he was born in Madison Township, March 18, 1838. His father, William D. Pringle, was a native of the same township.

William D. Pringle, like his son, spent his boyhood and youth in his native township engaged in agricultural pursuits and acquired such education as was afforded by the district school. After marriage he bought a farm and remained a resident of Madison Township until 1855. Then selling out he removed to Madison County, of which he has since been a resident and engaged in agricultural pursuits. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Bales. She was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and was the daughter of Thomas and Catherine Bales. She died at Big Plains in August, 1888. Of the six children born to her and her husband, five are still living, namely: James A., a resident of Madison County; Thomas J., our subject; Susan, the wife of Elijah Chenowith, of Madison County; Mary E. the widow of James Lyons, and now residing with her father, and Charles W., who lives in Madison County.

Mr. Pringle, of whom we write, attended the district school during his boyhood, and in 1856 entered Oberlin College from which he was graduated in the class of 1862. He had in the meantime commenced the study of law in the office of Shellabarger & Goode and in 1863, was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court at Columbus. He then spent one year in Indianapolis and at the expiration of this time he opened an office in Springfield, where he has since followed his profession. He was married in 1870, to Miss Margaretta Poague. Mrs. Pringle was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1847, and is a daughter of Robert D. and Mary E. Poague. Robert D. was a native of Kentucky, and Mary E. of Warren County, Ohio, the latter surviving. The three children born of this union are named respectively: Catherine, Robert, and Mary.

In politics Mr. Pringle has always been a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1888, he was a prominent candidate for Lieutenant-Governor with Gov. Foraker. He was elected State Senator in 1879, and again in 1885. During his first term he voted for Gen. James A. Garfield, for Senator, and when the latter resigned he voted for John Sherman during the first and second term. While in the Senate he was a member of the Judiciary Committee, also on the Common School Committee, School Lands, Municipal Corporations, Penitentiary, etc., and was a member of the non-partisan committee of six appointed in 1885, to investigate the Hamilton County frauds.

Mr. Pringle is a member of the Bar Association of Clark County and socially belongs to Clark Lodge, No. 101, A. F. & A. M., Springfield Chapter No. 48, R. A. M. and Palestine Commandery, No. 33, K. T. He is prominently connected with the First Presbyterian Church. He has been more than ordinarily successful as an attorney, and as a citizen he is held in high esteem.