William H. Thomas (Wisconsin politician)

William H. Thomas (September 25, 1821 – December 26, 1898) was an American lawyer, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Waukesha County, and served as a Union Army cavalry officer during the American Civil War.

Thomas was born on September 25, 1821, in Clinton County, New York, and received a liberal education.^[1] He came to the Wisconsin Territory as a young man, in 1838, and settled a large farm in the town of Lisbon, in what is now Waukesha County, Wisconsin.^[2]

He became active with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and was elected to the 4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly, representing Milwaukee and Washington counties—Milwaukee County at that time comprised all of the territory which is now Waukesha County.^[3] After Wisconsin achieved statehood, Thomas was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 2nd Wisconsin Legislature, representing northeastern Waukesha County.^[3] He was elected to another term in 1860, serving in the 14th Wisconsin Legislature.^[4]

The American Civil War began during his second term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. After the legislative term, he enrolled as a volunteer for service with the Union Army and was enlisted as a private in the Company D of the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment. Shortly after the regiment was organized, Thomas was commissioned as adjutant for the regiment's 1st battalion. He served in that role until October 1862, when he was commissioned captain of Company H.^[5] He served through most of the war and resigned in September 1864. The 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry served primarily in the Trans-Mississippi theater of the war, engaged in suppression of guerilla activity in Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.^[6]

After the war, he moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and subsequently moved to Pewaukee, Wisconsin, where he had an active and successful legal practice.^[1] He was elected district attorney of Waukesha County in 1879 and was re-elected in 1881 and 1884, serving seven consecutive years in the office.^[7]

Thomas was a political ally of Edward S. Bragg, and was described as Bragg's right-hand man during the contentious 1882 Democratic 2nd congressional district convention. Bragg engaged in a bitter feud through the convention with Arthur Delaney over the congressional nomination. After 1600 ballots were taken, neither man received the nomination.^[2]

William H. Thomas died on December 26, 1898, at his home in Pewaukee.^[7]

William H. Thomas married three times. He divorced his first wife and was widowed twice. He had at least twelve children, though several died in childhood.^[2]

• Capt William H Thomas at Find a Grave