THOMAS KILLION was born at Charleston, Coles county, Illinois, June 17, 1830. When two years of age his parents took him to Carlyle, Clinton county, Illinois. When fourteen years of age he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and learned the barber trade, remained there two years, when he opened a shop of his own at 112 South Sixth street, Springfield, Illinois. Has been a barber in this city for the past thirty_six years. He is now located at 614 East Washington street, where he has a first_class shop. His father, Thomas Killion, was born in Lexington, Kentucky. He was a doctor. He went from California to Europe, with other physicians, on a medical tour, and was lost at sea. His wife, Amelia Curtis, was born in Virginia. She was a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother of fourteen children, twelve living, viz: Obedia, Harvey and Henry Killion, Mary A. Beard, Mrs. Francis Scott, Elizabeth Williams, Emily Clems, Oliver, Andrew, John and Thomas, the subject of this sketch, who was married to Miss Margaret Fry, August 18, 1858. She was a daughter of Richard and Mary Fry, who were born in Kentucky. Mrs. Killion died in the fall of 1863. She was the mother of three children, two living, Frank Stephens and Laura Killion. Mr. Killion was married to Jane Smith, who was a daughter of Jacob Smith. The fruits of this marriage is five children, all living, viz: Allie, Georgia, John, Joseph and Bessie. Mrs. Killion hd two children by her husband Smith, viz: James and Fred Smith. Mr. Killion owns a nice residence at 1818 East Adams street. He cast his first vote for U. S. Grant for President. Mr. Killion saw the first man hung in Sangamon county. It was a brute named Wilson, who was hung on Vinegar Hill, near where the new State House now stands. He was hung for kicking his wife to death. He also shaved the last two men hung in Sangamon county, the morning they were hung. These men were Lemon and Vanarsdale, who were hung by Sheriff Crafton in the county for killing Saunders, at Pawnee, Illinois, while they were robbing his store.