Biographical Sketch of

Cyrus B. Thomas

Transcribed by Sandy Boudrou



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 544 - 545 


Cyrus B. Thomas, a retired farmer residing in Westfield, is numbered among the pioneers of Marquette County, 
and was the first person to locate in the vicinity of Lawrence.  His residence dates from February, 1850, 
and on his journey he was accompanied by a Mr. Curtis, who, however, soon afterwards returned to Elgin, Ill., 
from whence he came.  He is a native of the Granite State, having been born in the town of Coldbrook, Coos 
County, April 21, 1830.  The Thomas family is of English origin and is numbered among the early settlers of 
New Hampshire.  Samuel Thomas, father of our subject, married Ann Follansbee, who was of Scotch descent, and 
also belonged to an early New England family that settled in Haverhill, Mass., about two hundred years ago, 
in the latter part of the 17th century.  Both families were represented in the War of the Revolution and the 
maternal grandfather of our subject served as one of the guards at the time of the execution of the brave but 
unfortunate British spy, Maj.Andre.
 
Samuel Thomas removed with his family from New Hampshire to Vermont when Cyrus was fourteen years of age, 
and four years later, in 1848, came to Wisconsin.  He settled in the town of Burnett, Dodge County, and entered 
land which is still in the possession of the family.  He was one of the prominent and influential citizens of 
that community and in his farming operations was quite successful, becoming one of the substantial farmers of 
the town.  His death occurred in September, 1883, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years and his loss was 
deeply mourned.  His wife, who was born in January, 1802, is now living in the village of Horicon, Dodge county, 
and has also attained the age of eighty-seven.  She is still in the enjoyment of good health and retains her 
mental faculties to a remarkable degree.  That worthy couple were parents of six children, five sons and a 
daughter, three of whom are living at this writing, in 1889.  Nathan, the eldest, died at his home in Minnesota 
Junction, Jan. 12,1888; Francis S. is a resident of Clinton, Rock County, Wis.; Cyrus B. is the next younger; 
Semira became the wife of Rev. Thomas Sherman, a Baptist clergyman, and died in August, 1888; Warren J. Died in 
the town of Burnett, Dodge County, in March, 1854, when seventeen years of age; J. L. B. is a merchant of Horicon, 
Wis.
 
Cyrus B. Thomas has been a resident of Marquette County for almost forty years.  In the month of June following 
his arrival he made a claim on sections 10 and 15, in the town of Westfield and from the wild land developed a 
fine farm, which he still owns.  Since 1885, however, he has been living in Westfield, but he made farming his 
life work.  He built a substantial residence on his land, added good barns and outbuildings, placed his fields 
under a high state of cultivation and raises a good grade of stock.  He entertained progressive as well as 
practical ideas of farming and in consequence he was very successful in his undertakings, acquiring a competence 
which now permits him to live in retirement from all labor.
 
On the 4th of February, 1858, Mr.Thomas was joined in wedlock with Miss Andaluca Bowen, daughter of Solomon and 
Lydia (Peck) Bowen, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York.  The family emigrated to Wisconsin in 
1847, becoming residents of Fond du Lac, where they remained for three years, when they removed thence to Portage.  
They came to Marquette County in 1853, and settled on section 9, in the town of Westfield, where Mr. and Mrs. 
Bowen remained until becoming inmates of the home of their daughter, with whom they passed their declining years.  
They were parents of three children, one son and two daughters--George E., who is a resident of Eureka, Greenwood 
County, Kan.; Mrs. Thomas; and Elenora, wife of James H. Bordwell, a merchant and postmaster of Stewart, McLeod 
County, Minn.  Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are parents of two living children and two that have been called home.  Lydia 
graduated from the high school of Westfield in the class of 1889; Elenora is a student in the same school; Gilbert 
Judson died at the age of two years; and Eldredge Bowen died at the age of seventeen months.
 
Nearly forty years have passed since Cyrus Thomas located in the town of Westfield.  Marquette County was then in 
its infancy, its prairies were uncultivated, wild game of all kinds was found in abundance and the Indians were 
still hunting and fishing in their familiar haunts, having not yet left for their reservation west of the 
Mississippi.  Many hardships and trials incident to frontier life were to be endured and Mr. Thomas bore his full 
share.  He feels a deep interest in the upbuilding of the county and has ever been found in the foremost ranks 
of any enterprise calculated for its advancement.  He and his estimable wife are numbered among the honored early 
settlers and have many warm friends throughout the community.
 
 




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