He to whom this sketch is dedicated is a member of one of the most highly esteemed families of Hancock county, Indiana, and has spent practically his entire life in this community, where he is engaged in agricultural work. A man of sound business methods, strict integrity, and undeviating attention to duty, he has met with gratifying success in his chosen field of endeavor.

Thomas M. Tucker was born on February 22, 1879, the son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth M. (Moore) Tucker, the former of whom was born in Virginia, and the latter was born in Indiana, on March 31, 1858, and in childhood was left an orphan. Friends of the family, John E. Willis and his wife, reared the mother of the subject of this sketch in their home in Shelby county, Indiana. One brother of Elizabeth Moore died while serving in the Union army during the Civil War and two other brothers went to Indianapolis for permanent residence.

The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a Virginian by birth who came to Indiana during the pioneer days with a team of oxen and a covered wagon. He settled on a tract of land he had rented in Shelby county and worked unceasingly at the occupation of clearing the land and establishing a cultivated farm. Among his first pieces of work was a log cabin erected, for the most part, by his own hands, which was only one the many difficult pieces of labor undertaken by the first settlers in this section of the state. Among the scenes of early agricultural life Mr. Tucker and his wife reared a family consisting of three boys, Andrew, John and Isaac, and a daughter, Maggie, now Mrs. Matthew Horn.

Following the example set by his father Andrew Tucker turned his attention, upon reaching the age of manhood, to a life on he farm. He was a self-educated man, who attained success through his own individual efforts and force of character. At the time of his death, which occurred on March 31, 1911, after he had reached the age of sixty-seven years, he owned about two hundred acres of land in Shelby county. A hard working man, a good manager and a close student of farm problems, it was only a natural consequence that he should have attained the degree of prominence given him before his death. Mr. Tucker was married twice, the first time to Miss Parish, who became the mother of five children, three of whom died; those who survived are Rose, who married William H. Downing, and Emma, who became the wife of William Martin. By this marriage to his second wife, who was Elizabeth Moore, the following children were born: Thomas, who is the subject of this sketch; William, Bynum, who was drowned while swimming in Little Sugar creek in 1904; Lilly, who became the wife of Ora Snodgrass, Nannie, who married Clarence Snodgrass; Myrtle, who married Lester Valentine; Edna, the wife of Morris Drake; Mary, the wife of Berl Russell, and two children, Nellie and Minnie, who died in early childhood. Mr. Tucker always manifested a deep interest in political affairs and in all elections supported the principles of the Democratic party. Religiously, he was a member of the Christian Union church at Carlton, where he served as deacon and where he and his wife were looked upon a among the strongest supporters of the church welfare. In fraternal affairs, Mr. Ticker was a member of the Knights of Pythias at Fountaintown.

Thomas M. Tucker received his elementary education in the common schools of the county in which he was reared and his first teacher was Miss Vanie Gates, the daughter of Henry Gates. As the custom in those days gave the farm boys only schooling during the winter months, Thomas Tucker received only a meager supply of learning. The prominence he attained in the community in which he resides is due to his own endeavors and his success is the logical result of a life of consecutive industry. Mr. Tucker resides at the present time on a farm consisting of one hundred and twenty acres. The farm is in an excellent state of cultivation due to the personal efforts of the subject of this sketch, who has taken pride in fencing and draining the land and in erecting a silo. Aside from he interest of general farming, Mr. Tucker takes special interest in the raising of high grade stock. He has forty head of hogs, from twelve to fifteen head of Shorthorn cattle and eight head of horses. Mr. Tucker is a firm believer in scientific farming and uses the most modern implements in his work. His corn averages seventy-five bushels to the acre and he is also interested in the raising of clover and hay.

On March 14, 1900, Thomas M. Tucker was united in marriage to Cora E. Swain, who was born on April 12, 1876. Mrs. Tucker has become the mother of the following children: Josephine, who was born in 1902; Marion Oscar, who died in early childhood, and Mildred M., who was born on September 21, 1907.

Aside from his active duties as a farmer, Mr. Tucker has always manifested a true interest in those things which pertain to public welfare. He served for years on the township advisory board and in his political activities gives support to the Democratic party. As a member of the Sugar Creek Christian church, he has proved his ability as an assistant in church affairs and acts as trustee to the church to which the members of his family also belong. In fraternal affairs, he holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Red Men's lodge, both of New Palestine.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 939-941.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 9, 2001.

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