Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
THOMAS ELLIS DABBS. Thomas Ellis Dabbs was born in Champaign county, Ohio, August 8, 1878, and when three years of age he came to Greene county, Missouri, with his parents and here has since resided. His father, William P. Dabbs, was born in Virginia, May 28, 1829, and was the son of Abner and Mary Dabbs, who located in North Carolina in 1838, after spending their earlier years in the Old Dominion. In 1844 they left the old Tar state and made the long overland journey to Greene county, Missouri, where William P. Dabbs grew to manhood. On October 3, 1858, he married Hannah M. Johnston, a daughter of John B. Johnston, formerly a citizen of Springfield. To this union ten children were born, six of whom are living at this writing, namely: Mary C., Hannah E., Clara L., Ellen V., Thomas E., and Robert Lee. The last named is a girl.
William P. Dabbs was a Southern sympathizer during the war between the states, and in the fall of 1891 he enlisted in the State Guards, and in February, 1862, joined Capt. "Dick" Campbell's company, and served in the regular Confederate army under Gen. Sterling Price. He took -part in a number of engagements and was taken prisoner at the hotly contested battle of Champion's Hill, Mississippi, May 17, 1863, and was held at Camp Morton, Fort Donelson and Point Lookout until March, 1864, when he was released. He made his way to Clark county, Ohio, where he joined his family who had been ordered out of Greene county, Missouri, in the spring of 1864. He remained in Ohio until 1881 when he returned with his family to Greene county and bought a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres.
Thomas E. Dabbs grew to manhood on his father's farm where he assisted with the general work. He received his education in the district schools and the old Springfield Normal, which he attended two years. On December 25, 1901, he married Eleanor Miller, a daughter of James Todd Miller and Christina (Stephenson) Miller. The father was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Henry county, Illinois. James Miller, grandfather of Mrs. Dabbs, was a native of Ireland, from which country he immigrated to the United States when a young man and settled in New York, later locating in Philadelphia. He was a weaver by trade which he followed until about 1865 when he came to Bureau county, Illinois, where he purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land and there his death occurred seventeen years ago, at the age of seventy-seven years, and he was buried at Kewanee, Henry county, that state. His wife, Jane (Legette) Miller, was a granddaughter of Joseph Robert and Eleanor (Sloan) Legette, natives of Ireland, from which country they immigrated to the United States and died at Kewanee, Illinois, he at the age of ninety-two years, and she at the age of eighty-eight years.
To James T. Miller and wife six children were born, namely: Eleanor, wife of Mr. Dabbs of this sketch; Christina lives at Meta, Missouri; Jean married Fred Krone and they live in St. Louis; James S. lives in LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Will T. lives in Lafayette, Indiana; Joe Marshall is at home.
James T. Miller was but a child when his parents took him from Philadelphia to Bureau county, Illinois, where he remained until 1899, when he came to Greene county, Missouri. He engaged in merchandising in Springfield, where he remained until 1904, then went to Meta, Missouri, and retired.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dabbs, namely: William James, born in 1903; Margarite Christina, born in 1907; Helen Miller, born in 1909; and Mary E. born in 1912.
Mr. Dabbs has devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. He owns a productive and well-tilled farm of eighty acres in Campbell township, near Springfield, only a mile from the city limits. Here for four years he conducted a successful dairy, but has abandoned this part of his operations. He has also devoted considerable attention to the live stock business.
Politically, he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He has served his community as road commissioner. Our subject's wife is a member of the Calvary Presbyterian church, Springfield.
[1675-1676]
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