THOMAS J. LIKENS
Thomas J. Likens was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 26th day of November, 1847, being the son of Jesse and Rachel (McConnell) Likens. In 1848 his parents removed to Stark county, Illinois, where his father farmed and kept a meat market, and there Thomas was reared and educated. In the fall of 1857 he removed to Cass county, and located in Cass township, where he purchased his present farm on section 13. He owns eighty acres of land, nearly all under cultivation, and raises large herds of cattle and hogs. He has a fine young orchard, which will, in the course of a few years, be one of the finest in the township. On the 8th of October, 1877, Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Elmaza Murnan, a native of Indiana. Her parents, John and Sarah Ann Murnan, are now residing in Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Likens have one child, Myrtle, born on the 16th of December, 1882. Mr. Likens is an intelligent and successful man, and is honored and respected by all of his neighbors.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 525-526.
