Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virgini ...

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state lin ...

Panic of 1819 The Panic of 1819 was the first widespread and durable financial crisis in the United States that slowed westward expansion in the Cotton Belt and was followed by a general collapse of the American economy that persisted through 1821. The Panic ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...

McLeansboro, Illinois McLeansboro () is a city in Hamilton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,675 at the 2020 census. The estimated population as of 2018 was 2,773. It is the county seat of Hamilton County. McLeansboro is part of the Mount Vernon, ...

Illinois Senate The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the I ...

Governor of Illinois The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by p ...

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Havana, Cuba Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

, where he founded a gas company, Sloo returned to New Orleans and served as city treasurer and president of the Sun Mutual Insurance Company.

Biography

Sloo was born on April 5, 1790, in

Washington, Kentucky Washington is a neighborhood of the city of Maysville located near the Ohio River in Mason County in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is one of the earliest settlements in Kentucky and also one of the earliest American settlements west of the Appa ...

. He attended public schools, but was orphaned before he could complete his studies. To support his siblings, Sloo moved to

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state lin ...

, to work in merchandising. He was initially very successful, but lost all of his fortune in the

Panic of 1819 The Panic of 1819 was the first widespread and durable financial crisis in the United States that slowed westward expansion in the Cotton Belt and was followed by a general collapse of the American economy that persisted through 1821. The Panic ...

and he was forced to close his store. Penniless, he removed to

Shawneetown, Illinois Shawneetown is a city in Gallatin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,239 at the 2010 census, down from 1,410 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gallatin County. Geography Shawneetown is located southeast of the cent ...

. Sloo remained in Shawneetown only briefly before moving farther west to western

White County, Illinois White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 13,877. Its county seat is Carmi. It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as " Little Egypt". H ...

. When Hamilton County was organized on February 15, 1821, Sloo was appointed a surveyor. He platted

McLeansboro McLeansboro () is a city in Hamilton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,675 at the 2020 census. The estimated population as of 2018 was 2,773. It is the county seat of Hamilton County. McLeansboro is part of the Mount Verno ...

, the new county seat, and established a store there. He quickly became one of the most prosperous and well-known men in the area. Sloo was elected to the

Illinois Senate The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the I ...

in 1822, where he advocated for slavery in Illinois. Sloo was named one of the first five canal commissioners tasked with overseeing the

Illinois and Michigan Canal The Illinois and Michigan Canal connected the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. In Illinois, it ran from the Chicago River in Bridgeport, Chicago to the Illinois River at LaSalle-Peru. The canal crossed the Chicago P ...

project. He received four votes for

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

in the 1824 joint legislative ballot. In 1826, Sloo unsuccessfully ran for

Governor of Illinois The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by p ...

as a Jacksonian against

Ninian Edwards Ninian Edwards (March 17, 1775July 20, 1833) was a founding political figure of the State of Illinois. He served as the first and only governor of the Illinois Territory from 1809 to until the territory was dissolved in 1818. He was then one of t ...

, receiving 5,834 votes compared to Edwards' 6,280. Sloo was disappointed by the defeat and decided to leave the state, selling his property and moving to

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Havana, Cuba Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

in 1848 and built a gas station to provide street lights for the city. After a few years, he returned to New Orleans, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was named the first president of the Sun Mutual Insurance Company and served as city treasurer. He was also a member of the city board of education from its founding until 1860. Sloo married Harriet Irwin on July 14, 1814. However, she died only a year after the marriage and their only child died soon afterward. He married Rebecca Smith Findlay on August 25, 1819. None of their children survived to adulthood. On May 24, 1849, he married Maria Francis Campbell, the daughter of Congressman

Robert B. Campbell Robert Blair Campbell (1791July 12, 1862) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, brother of John Campbell, also of South Carolina. Early life Born in 1791 in Marlboro County, South Carolina, Campbell was educated by a private tuto ...

. They had six children, three surviving to adulthood: Maria Frances, Laura Campbell, and Thomas III. Sloo died on January 17, 1879.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sloo Jr., Thomas 1790 births 1879 deaths Illinois Jacksonians Illinois state senators Louisiana Democrats People from McLeansboro, Illinois Politicians from Havana People from Washington, Kentucky Politicians from New Orleans People from White County, Illinois People from Shawneetown, Illinois