Born in Wayne County, Ind., December 10, 1816. He is the son of Charles and Jane (Davis) McGlothlen, and was reared upon the farm of his parents. Thomas came to Wapello County in the spring of 1845, and purchased 120 acres of unimproved land. The marriage of Thomas D. McGlothlen and Miss Sarah Meek, of Kentucky, was celebrated in Fountain County, Ind., in 1836, when our subject was twenty years of age. Since coming to this vicinity Mr. McGlothlen has been actively interested in public matters, and his talents have received due recognition. In the fall of 1862, after occupying other prominent positions among the councils of his townsmen, he was elected to the Iowa Legislature, in which he served acceptably for two years. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors, and the incumbent of other minor offices. In addition to the ordinary pursuits of agriculture, Mr. McGlothlen has given much attention to the breeding of fine stock. Mr. G. and his wife are members in good standing of the Christian Church.