THOMAS M. LOUGHMAN, a representative farmer of Spring Creek Township, residing on a well improved farm of thirty-nine acres, located about four and a half miles east of Piqua, was born January 28, 1836, on a farm in Brown Township, near Fletcher, Ohio , and is a son of Henry and Ruth (Martin) Loughman.

Henry Loughman was a native of Virginia, where he was reared and educated, later moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged for a time in teaming after which he moved to Miami County, and here purchased a tract of land one and a half miles south of Fletcher. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death due to accident, caused by a team of runaway horses. He married Ruth Martin, a native of Kentucky, and to them was born one son, Thomas M., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Loughman subsequently married a Mr.Byers, by whom she became the mother of six children.

Thomas M. Loughman spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Brown Township and attended the local schools, after which, when about fourteen years old, he began learning the carpenters trade, at which he worked for a number of years, building the first house in Conover, and the first balloon frame in Fletcher. He later gave up carpentering, traded the home place for land in Iowa, and this he traded for his present farm of tliirty-nine acres in Spring Creek Township. Here Mr. Loughman has since resided, and in 1865 entered the threshing business, which he followed for a period of thirty-eight years in connection with his farming interests. He is now living in retirement, in the enjoyment of a wellearned rest, after years of unceasing activity, the farm being under the management of his son. About 1895 Mr. Loughman suffered a considerable loss by fire, after which he erected all the present buildings on the farm, including the commodious frame residence.

Mr. Loughman was first united in mariage with Elizabeth Hetzler, after whose death he married Elizabeth Baltzell, a daughter of Christopher and Mary Ann Baltzell, farmers, of Mercer County, Ohio. Eight children were born of this second union: Mina Belle, married John Manson, of Tippecainoe, Ohio; Callie F., married John Brose, of Sidney, Ohio; Daniel, a resident and smoke inspector of Dayton, Ohio, married Susan Ridenour; Rose, married J. Meacham, of Piqua; Jennie, resides at home; Omer T., a resident of Fletcher, cultivates the home farm, and married Jennie Lane; Lula, married John Hance, of Louisville, Kentucky; and Bertha, who married M. Duer, lives three miles northeast of Fletcher. Mr. Loughman and family attend the First Presbyterian Church. He is politically identified with the Democratic party; was for eight years township trustee and for the same period was a member of the Election Board. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.