Thomas Katon was born on November 7, 1853, in Pittston, Maine, to Alexander and Grace Katon. His father was a farmer who owned $1,200 of real estate and $416 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Pittston, Maine, and by 1870, he was working as a farm laborer. He moved to Lewis County, Washington, and by 1910, he was living in East Montesano, Washington. He got married in 1910, but his wife died the following year. He died of bronchopneumonia in Hoquiam, Washington, on January 2, 1941.