Ormsby B. Thomas
Encyclopedia
Ormsby Brunson Thomas was a U.S. Representative
from Wisconsin
.
, and he moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1836. He attended the common schools and Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vermont. He was graduated from the State and National Law School
in Poughkeepsie, New York
in 1856. He was admitted to the bar in Albany, New York
. In 1856 he began practicing law in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
. He then served as district attorney of Crawford County, Wisconsin. He served in the Union Army
during the Civil War
as captain of Company D, Thirty-first Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
in 1862, 1865, and 1867. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate
in 1880 and 1881.
Thomas was elected as a Republican
to the Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, and Fifty-first Congresses (March 4, 1885-March 3, 1891). He served as chairman of the Committee on War Claims in the Fifty-first Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress.
He resumed his practice of law in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and died there October 24, 1904. He was interred in Evergreen Cemetery.
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 Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Early life
Thomas was born in Sandgate, VermontSandgate, Vermont
Sandgate is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 353 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 42.2 square miles , of which 42.2 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is...
, and he moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1836. He attended the common schools and Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vermont. He was graduated from the State and National Law School
State and National Law School
State and National Law School was an early practical training law school founded in 1849 by John W. Fowler in Ballston Spa, New York located in Saratoga County. It was also known as New York State and National Law School, Ballston Law School, and Fowler's State and National Law School. In 1853 the...
in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
in 1856. He was admitted to the bar in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. In 1856 he began practicing law in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. Its Zip Code is 53821....
. He then served as district attorney of Crawford County, Wisconsin. He served in the Union Army
Union 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...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as captain of Company D, Thirty-first Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Politics
After returning from the war, he served as member of the Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1862, 1865, and 1867. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
in 1880 and 1881.
Thomas 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 Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, and Fifty-first Congresses (March 4, 1885-March 3, 1891). He served as chairman of the Committee on War Claims in the Fifty-first Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress.
He resumed his practice of law in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and died there October 24, 1904. He was interred in Evergreen Cemetery.