Captain Thomas Belew was born in 1823 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Soon after his birth, he migrated with his parents to the Clarksburg area of Carroll County, Tennessee. He married Elizabeth Caroline Phillips on 13 February 1844. He and Caroline family farmed in the Clarksburg area until the beginning of the Civil War. Thomas and Elizabeth were blessed with the birth of eleven children of which eight lived to adulthood. In August 1862, he assisted in the organization of Company G, 7th US Cavalry. Company G was was made up of men centered geographically around the Clarksburg area. The unit elected Thomas as its commanding officer which was the custom of that time. Company G's mission would be to provide security for the West Tennessee railroads and prevent recruiting of soldiers by the southern forces. After the war was over, Thomas returned to civilian life at Clarksburg. He died in 1875 and both he and his wife are buried at Bennett-Belew cemetery near Clarksburg.