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THOMAS L. CHERRY. This enterprising business man, wide-awake promoter and universally esteemed citizen of Carbondale has resided in Southern Illinois twelve years, and in the city of his home at this date since 1901, having located here in December of that year to take a position in the employ of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, He has impressed the people favorably from his advent in the city, for he has sterling qualities as a business man and as a citizen that wear and grow in value as the community becomes more familiar with them.

Mr. Cherry is a native of Kentucky, born in Bowling Green, Warren county, of that state, on April 19, 1876. His parents are R. H. and Elizabeth (Reeves) Cherry, still residents of Kentucky. They are fine representatives of its sturdy and elevated citizenship and

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exemplify in all the relations of life the best traits and characteristics of upright and estimable American manhood and womanhood.

The father was a school teacher in the years of his late youth and early manhood, and for fifteen or twenty more was engaged in railroad construction work. The son was educated in the public schools and at McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, which he attended in 1895 and 1896. Subsequently he pursued a course of special training at the Bowling Green Business College of the Cherry Brothers in Bowling Green, Kentucky, his native town.

In July, 1896, Mr. Cherry formed a partnership with C. E. Hamilton, under the firm name of Hamilton & Cherry, for the purpose of conducting a real estate and insurance business, and a little later the firm added an abstracting business, organized to cover the whole county of Jackson. The real estate and insurance partnership lasted until January, 1910, when Mr. Cherry bought Mr. Hamilton's interest in it, and has since carried it on alone. He also still owns a one-half interest in the abstract business. This is conducted by the Twin City Abstract Company, and he is the president and manager of the company.

The public affairs of his city and county have always deeply interested Mr. Cherry and he has given them close, careful and helpful attention. He has served as alderman of Carbondale, and in many other ways has shown his abiding devotion to the welfare of the community. His public spirit impels him to earnest activity in behalf of every worthy enterprise for its betterment, and he is always counted on to be one of the most forceful agencies in promoting and bringing to a satisfactory conclusion any project that will add to the conveniences and comfort of its population.

On March 2, 1902, he was married to Miss Alice S. Vanden, a daughter of Joseph and Minnie Vanden, prominent residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Cherry have four children, their sons Richard Vanden, George Thomas and Luther Allen, and their daughter Alice Sarah.

Of the fraternal societies so numerous among men, and which they find so helpful in their beneficial and so enjoyable in their social features, Mr. Cherry has joined but two, the Freemasons and the Knights of Pythias. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church, and in the congregation which has the benefit of his membership he is assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. All the work of the church enlists his interest and has his active and effective aid.