Thomas Boles

Thomas Boles (July 16, 1837 – March 13, 1905) was an American lawyer, politician, judge, and U.S. Representative, federal marshal, and court clerk from Arkansas. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a Republican.

Biography Born near Clarksville, Arkansas, Boles attended the common schools and taught school for several years.

Career Boles was a deputy sheriff in Yell County, Arkansas in 1858 and deputy clerk of the circuit court of Yell County in 1859 and 1860. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860 whereupon he commenced practice in Danville, Arkansas.

During the American Civil War, Boles served on the Union side as captain of Company E, Third Regiment, Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry from 1863 until 1864. After the war he served as judge of the fourth judicial circuit from 1865 until April 20, 1868, when he resigned.

Upon the readmission of Arkansas to representation Boles was elected as a Republican to the Fortieth Congress and was reelected to the Forty-first Congress, serving from June 22, 1868, until March 3, 1871. He successfully contested the election of John Edwards to the Forty-second Congress and again served from February 9, 1872, until March 3, 1873, but he was not a candidate for renomination in 1872.

Boles resumed the practice of law at Dardanelle, Arkansas and also served many years as school director and alderman. He was appointed receiver of the land office at Dardanelle by President Rutherford B. Hayes in February 1878. He then served as a United States marshal for the western district of Arkansas from 1881 until 1889. In 1884, Boles was the Republican nominee for Governor. Receiving approximately 35%, he was defeated. He was a delegate to every Republican State convention from the organization of the party until his death. He also served as clerk of the United States Circuit Court for the Eighth Judicial Circuit from September 1897 until his death.

Death Boles died in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, on March 13, 1905. He is interred at Brearley Cemetery, Dardanelle, Arkansas.