Thomas Berry Needles (April 26, 1835 – June 4, 1914) was an American businessman and politician.

Thomas B. Needles
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
1893–1897
Member of the Illinois State Senate
In office
1881
Personal details
Born
Thomas Berry Needles

(1835-04-26)April 26, 1835
Waterloo, Illinois
DiedJune 4, 1914(1914-06-04) (aged 79)
Saint Louis, Missouri
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Sarah L. Bliss
(m. 1860)
OccupationBusinessman, politician
Signature

Biography

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Born in Waterloo, Monroe County, Illinois, Needles went to school in Mount Sterling, Illinois.[1] He then worked with his father in the mercantile business. He then open a store in Nashville, Washington County, Illinois, and was involved with the banking business there. Needles served as county clerk for Washington County, Illinois.

He married Sarah L. Bliss on December 18, 1860.[1]

Needles was involved with the Republican Party. From 1877 to 1881, Needles served as Auditor of Public Accounts, State of Illinois. In 1881, Needles served in the Illinois State Senate. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison appointed Needles United States Marshal for the Indian Territory. From 1893 to 1897, Needles served in the Illinois House of Representatives. President William McKinley appointed Needles to the Dawes Commission.

Needles died in a hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri on June 4, 1914.[2][3][4]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Raum, Green B. (1900). History of Illinois Republicanism. Chicago: Rollins Publishing Company. pp. 318–320. Retrieved April 1, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, 1914, Testimonial to Thomas Berry Needles
  3. ^ Official Directory of the Fortieth General Assembly of Illinois, 1897, J.L. Pickering, Springfield, Illinois: 1897, Biographical Sketch of Thomas B. Needles, pp. 60–61
  4. ^ "Obituary: Thomas B. Needles". Bloomington Weekly Pantagraph. St. Louis, Missouri (published June 5, 1914). June 4, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved April 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts
1876
Succeeded by
Charles P. Swigart
Political offices
Preceded by
Charles E. Lippincott
Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts
1877–1881
Succeeded by
Charles P. Swigart