The following is an edited version of the biography found in the book Counties of Morgan, Monroe & Brown Indiana, Historical and Biographical, 1884, page 349. Dates have been changed in accordance with written records and tombstone inscriptions.

Thomas was the seventh son of the fifteen children born to Noah and Polly (Williams) Wilhite. His parents moved to Gregg Township, Morgan County, Indiana, from Kentucky in 1835, and there resided until their death. Thomas was reared to farming in this county, receiving by times some education from the common schools.

Thomas first married Candace Wilson, daughter of John Fain Wilson and Hannah Pruitt. They were married in March 1852, in Morgan County. This union was blessed with the birth of four children – Perry, Mary, John A., and Grant. The mother of these children died on March 21, 1867 in Gregg Township, Morgan Co.

Thomas then married Eleanor "Ellen" Kirns on April 29, 1869, in Morgan County and to this union was born one child – Ernest.

For some years, Mr. Wilhite has been engaged in the saw and flouring mill enterprise, which he has managed very encouragingly; previous to this departure, his business was farming and stock-raising. He is a Republican in politics, and an earnest temperance advocate. He is prominent in good and benevolent works, an honored citizen, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

On July 24, 1861, at Indianapolis, Thomas was mustered into Company B., 21st Indiana Infantry as a corporal. This infantry regiment was transferred to heavy artillery service in February of 1863, and thereafter designated 1st Heavy Artillery. Thomas was mustered out of the service on January 13, 1866, with the final rank of 1st Sergeant. He was listed as a veteran which means he re-enlisted at least once during his service.

There is a book titled, "The Indiana Jackass Regiment in the Civil War: A History of the 21st Infantry/1st Heavy Artillery Regiment, by Phillip E. Faller that details their service. This book concentrates upon these Hoosiers' three-and-a-half years of duty in the Trans-Mississippi Theater and Gulf states during the Civil War, often as a separate command. They acted as infantry, cavalry and light artillery (with captured cannons) before being converted to heavy artillery in 1863. Their cannons and artillery equipment were hauled by hundreds of mules. The regiment participated in the taking of New Orleans, securing an important rail link to Morgan City, Louisiana, the Teche Campaign, the siege and reduction of Port Hudson, the Red River Campaign, and sieges and reductions of Fort Gaines, Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, Alabama.

(Thanks to Contributor, Ron Reid #47264152 for the above data)