Source: "Alabama and Statistical Register", 1903, State of Alabama Department of Archives and History, Compiled by Thomas M. Owen, Director, Montgomery, AL, Brown Printing Company, 1903 Page 46 Twenty-Fourth District, Barbour County ELIAS PERRY THOMAS, of Clayton, was born August 26, 1872, in Henry county, and is the son of Elias Hugh Thomas , a native of Talbotton, Ga., who removed to Henry county, and wife Nancy A., daughter of Alexander Hays and wife Nancy Harris, who lived at Cedar Springs, Ga. His father was a member of Company "I", Third Alabama Battalion of Reserves and had previously served in the Creek Indian War of 1836. Mr. Thomas was educated at the common schools, and at the Southeast Alabama Agricultural School, Abbeville. In 1891, he entered the junior class of the University of Alabama; and having finished that year's course, he entered upon the study of law at Clayton, and began the practice in 1893. He was elected mayor of Clayton in 1899, and re-elected in 1901. In November, 1902, he was elected to the State senate. He is a Democrat, and a Baptist. On April 18, 1900, he was married to Little Nell, daughter of Dr. Edward Hill Pritchett and wife Elizabeth Swanson, of Hayneville, Ala.