Thomas H. Layton was born in Perry County on May 28, 1844, and is a son of John B. and Matilda (Simpson) Layton, early settlers of the county. [For a history of the Layton family see sketch of Maj. Felix Layton.]

The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native county. He was first a pupil under the instruction of Col. Rm. M. Brewer, and afterward finished his education at St. Mary's Seminary. After finishing his education he taught school in the county for several years and in the meantime was united in marriage with Emeline M. Tucker, a daughter of Stephen L. Tucker, who died in the army. When but a child she lost her mother.

Their marriage was celebrated on July 11, 1869, and six children grace their home, viz.: Julian (now attending school at St. Mary's Seminary), Martha A. (a student of St. Mary's Convent, St. Louis), Elizabeth, William D., Joseph V., and Caroline.

While a student Mr. Layton mastered the science of surveying and engineering, at which by much practice he has become an expert. In 1876 he was elected county surveyor and his superior skill in his profession has brought about his re-nomination and re-election from that time until the present. He is now serving his third term, having received a majority greater than any of his predecessors.

On February 22, 1877, he was commissioned notary public and has been successively re-appointed. During the war he served one year in the Sixty-Fourth Missouri State Militia and the Eighth Enrolled Missouri Militia the most of which time he was hospital steward under Dr. Fleming of Fredericktown. He was but sixteen years of age at the time of his enlistment.

Since filling the office of county surveyor Mr. Layton has surveyed the village of Lithium and its additions and Brewerville, also has resurveyed Claryville and a part of Altenburg.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.