Napoleon B. Thistlewood
Encyclopedia
Napoleon Bonaparte Thistlewood (30 March 1837 – 15 September 1915) was a U.S. Representative
from the state of Illinois
.
, near the town of Harrington. He attended the public schools in that area. In 1858 he moved to Mason, Illinois
, and engaged in mercantile pursuits
.
Thistlewood served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war he returned to Mason and resumed business pursuits. He later moved to Cairo, Illinois
, where he served two terms as that city's mayor, 1879-1883 and 1897-1901. He died in Cairo in 1915. He was interred in Beech Grove Cemetery, Mounds, Illinois
.
in 1862 and served as captain of Company C, Ninety-eighth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry
. He served in the Army of the Cumberland
, in Wilder's Brigade, and with Wilson's Cavalry Corps.
At the conclusion of his second mayoral term in Cairo, Thistlewood was named Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic
for Illinois (1901).
Thistlewood was elected as a Republican
to the Sixtieth
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the 1907 death of George W. Smith
. He was elected to the Sixty-first
and Sixty-second
Congresses and served from February 1908 to March 1913. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third
Congress. He retired and was a resident of Cairo, Illinois
, until his death in that city on 15 September 1915.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Biography
Napoleon Thistlewood was born in Kent County, DelawareKent County, Delaware
Kent County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is coextensive with the Dover, Delaware, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population was 162,310, a 28.1% increase over the previous decade. The county seat is Dover, the state capital...
, near the town of Harrington. He attended the public schools in that area. In 1858 he moved to Mason, Illinois
Mason, Illinois
Mason is an incorporated town in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 396 at the 2000 census. It was named after Mayor Roswell Mason of Chicago, who built the Central Illinois railroad.-Geography:...
, and engaged in mercantile pursuits
Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the economic doctrine in which government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the prosperity and security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. Mercantilism dominated Western European economic policy and discourse from...
.
Thistlewood served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war he returned to Mason and resumed business pursuits. He later moved to Cairo, Illinois
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
, where he served two terms as that city's mayor, 1879-1883 and 1897-1901. He died in Cairo in 1915. He was interred in Beech Grove Cemetery, Mounds, Illinois
Mounds, Illinois
Mounds is a city in Pulaski County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,117 in the 2000 census.-Geography:Mounds is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
.
Military and government service
Thistlewood enlisted in the Union ArmyUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in 1862 and served as captain of Company C, Ninety-eighth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry
98th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 98th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, later the 98th Regiment Illinois Mounted Infantry, was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
. He served in the Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
, in Wilder's Brigade, and with Wilson's Cavalry Corps.
At the conclusion of his second mayoral term in Cairo, Thistlewood was named Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
for Illinois (1901).
Thistlewood was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Sixtieth
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the 1907 death of George W. Smith
George Washington Smith (congressman)
George Washington Smith was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Putnam County, Ohio, Smith moved with his father to Wayne County, Illinois, in 1850.Learned the blacksmith trade....
. He was elected to the Sixty-first
61st United States Congress
The Sixty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911, during the first two years of...
and Sixty-second
62nd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Democratic : 230 * Republican : 162* Socialist : 1* Independent : 1TOTAL members: 394-Senate:* President: James S...
Congresses and served from February 1908 to March 1913. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
Congress. He retired and was a resident of Cairo, Illinois
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
, until his death in that city on 15 September 1915.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals