John E. Thomas (politician)
John E. Thomas (November 27, 1829 – April 14, 1910) was a lawyer, public administrator, and politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate.
John E. Thomas | |
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Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 1st district | |
In office January 1, 1863 – January 1, 1865 | |
Preceded by | Luther H. Cary |
Succeeded by | John A. Bentley |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Sheboygan 2nd district | |
In office January 1, 1862 – January 1, 1863 | |
Preceded by | John Bredemeyer |
Succeeded by | Charles Oetling |
Chairman of the Sheboygan County Board of Supervisors | |
In office 1874–1876 | |
Preceded by | George W. Weeden |
Succeeded by | Samuel Decius Hubbard |
Member of the Sheboygan County Board of Supervisors | |
In office 1881–1882 | |
Preceded by | G. H. Brickner |
Succeeded by | B. F. Heald |
In office 1878–1880 | |
Preceded by | William H. Prentice |
Succeeded by | G. H. Brickner |
In office 1874–1876 | |
Preceded by | Albert Dennett |
Succeeded by | Israel Adriance |
In office 1871–1872 | |
Preceded by | John P. Robinson |
Succeeded by | Nathaniel Farnsworth |
Personal details | |
Born | Rensselaer County, New York | November 27, 1829
Died | April 14, 1910 80) | (aged
Resting place | Sheboygan Falls Cemetery Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) |
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Children |
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Early life
Thomas was born in Rensselaer County, New York. At age four, his family relocated to Livingston County, then to Genesee County, New York, where he gained his common school education. The family's wealth was decimated by the Panic of 1837 and, at age 16, Thomas moved to Lockport, took a job as a merchant, and continued his studies.[1]
He moved to Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, in 1849, where he married his wife, Clara A. W. Cole. He continued his business pursuits until 1856, when he began studying law. He was admitted to the bar in 1858 and began practicing law.[1] He later became President of the Dairyman's Bank and for some time was owner and editor of the Sheboygan County News.[2]
Career
He was elected to represent Sheboygan Falls and northeastern Sheboygan County in the Wisconsin Assembly for the 1862 session. The next year, he was elected to represent all of Sheboygan County for 1863 and 1864 in the Wisconsin Senate. He was a Democrat.[1]
In the Senate, he was Chair of the Select Committee to consider liability and compensation for victims of the so-called "Ozaukee Riot," and recommended in favor of recognizing the legality and paying the claimants from the state treasury (1863 Wisconsin Act 211). He also authored a bill to appropriate funding to the Governor and empower him to locate veterans at various hospitals around the country who had been wounded in the ongoing Civil War, and attempt to return them to Wisconsin to recuperate (1863 Wisconsin Act 196).[1]
After leaving office, he conducted a successful law practice in Sheboygan County. He served on the County Board, was a member of the Board of Regents of the Normal School for six years, was a member of the local school board, and was town and county superintendent of schools. He was Secretary of the County Agricultural Society and Horticulture Society, and was Village President.[1]
References
- Gregory, John (1872). "A New and Vastly Improved Edition of the Industrial Resources of Wisconsin". Milwaukee News Company. pp. 98–100. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- Zillier, Carl, ed. (1912). History of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Past and Present. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 108-112, 314. Retrieved November 4, 2019.