Biographical Sketches: JOHN W. THOMAS ************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ File Contributed by Tina S. Vickery, tsvickery@gmail.com *************************************************************************** The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Compiled and Published under the direction of Wm. H. Froehlich, Secretary of State 1901. page 742-743 ASSEMBLYMEN. GEO. H. RAY, Speaker; W. A. NOWELL, Chief Clerk; A. M. ANDERSON, Sergeant-at-Arms. The Assembly consists of 100 members. They are chosen biennially and receive $500 for their service during the term. The Speaker Is chosen by the members and receives an additional $500 for his services as Speaker. The Assembly of 1901 contains 82 Republicans and 18 Democrats. CHIPPEWA - Second District. The towns of Anson, Arthur, Auburn Big Bend, Bloomer (including village of Bloomer), Cleveland, Colburn, Eagle Point, Edson (including Boyd village), Flambeau, Lawrence and the First war(] of the city of Chippewa Falls. Population, 1900 - 22,987. (Changed by apportionment of 1901. Population of district now 17,361.) JOHN W. THOMAS (Rep.), of Chippewa Falls, was born in Wales, March 31, 1846, coming to this country with his parents in 1849. His first residence was in Tioga county, Pa., where lie received a common school education. He was left an orphan at the age of seven, and came to Wisconsin in 1857 with a family of friends, with whom he settled in the town of Anson. He is a farmer and dairyman by occupation, and received first premium on wheat and dairy butter at the world's fair. He enlisted in February, 1864, in the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, serving to the end of the war. He participated in the service of his regiment in Grant's campaign of 1864, before Richmond and Petersburg. He was town clerk seven years, secretary of the school board for three years, and served four years as town treasurer, two years as supervisor and seven years as town chairman. He was chairman of the county board for two years, was elected county treasurer in 1884. He was president of the Chippewa County Agricultural society in 1883, and has served eight years as secretary. He was treasurer of the Eagle Point Insurance company two years and director for fourteen years, which position he now holds, John W. Thomas. and has become by his long service and intimate connection with local affairs, an expert in town and county matters. In 1897 he was appointed by the governor a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and reappointed In 1899 for three years. He was elected to the assembly In 1894, re-elected in 1896 and in 1898 and again in 1900 for a fourth consecutive term, receiving 2,582 votes, against 1,249 for Thomas Emmerston (Dem.).