William H. Thomas

William H. Thomas (September 25, 1821December 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. Biography Thomas was born on September 25, 1821, in Clinton County, New York, and received a liberal education. 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. 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. After Wisconsin achieved statehood, Thomas was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 2nd Wisconsin Legislature, representing northeastern Waukesha County. He was elected to another term in 1860, serving in the 14th Wisconsin Legislature. 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. 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.