Biographical Sketch of

Henry Thomas

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 708 - 709 


Henry Thomas, who is numbered among the pioneer settlers of Green Lake County, of May, 1847, and is now living in 
Berlin, was born in Randolph County, Ind., June 9, 1819, and is a son of John W. and Acha Thomas.  His father was 
born in North Carolina, July 1, 1784, and on the 1st of May, 1808, married Acha Peele, who was born in the same 
State, June 12, 1783.  In 1814, John Thomas placed his wife and two children in a one-horse cart, together with 
such household effects as they could carry, and set out across the mountains for the Northwestern wilds of Indiana.  
He located in Randolph County of that State, where he cleared a farm and made his home.  He was of Welsh descent, 
his grandfather having emigrated from Wales to North Carolina during the early settlement of that colony.  His wife 
was of English origin and belonged to one of the old families of North Carolina.  She was an cousin of Sir Robert 
Peele, the English Premier.
 
Our subject was reared to manhood under the parental roof and at the age of twenty years went to LaPorte County, Ind., 
where he began life for himself as a farmer.  He there became acquainted with Miss Harriet Sharp and on the 1st of 
February, 1847, they were married.  She was born March 1, 1829, in Wayne County, Ind., and was a daughter of Finley 
and Elizabeth Sharp, who were natives of Virginia, of English origin.  Her father was born March 5, 1803, and died 
Jan. 15, 1857.  His wife was born July 2, 1808, and died Oct. 2, 1866.  They were members of the Society of Friends 
and Mrs. Thomas was reared in that faith.
 
In the month of April, following his marriage, Henry Thomas started with his bride, in a lumber wagon drawn by an ox 
team, from LaPorte County, Ind., for the Territory of Wisconsin.  They endured the usual vicissitudes of spring travel 
through a country poorly supplied with improved highways, and after a tedious ride of 300 miles, reached what is now 
the town of Berlin, Green County, then a part of Marquette County, on the 15th of May.  Mr. Thomas settled on Government 
land, two miles south of Strong's Landing, now the city of Berlin, where he made a farm which continued to be his home 
until 1868.  He then purchased another farm, situated in the southeastern part of the town of Berlin, six and a half 
miles from Ripon and four miles from Berlin, which is now one of the most highly improved tracts of land in the county.  
It comprises 337 acres, and by the industry and perseverance of our subject is placed under the highest state of cultivation.
 
To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were born four children, three sons and a daughter:  Mary Ann, born Dec. 21, 1847, is the wife of 
Lessel Long and has three children, two sons and a daughter; John Finley, born Aug 8, 1849, wedded Mary Smith, a native 
of England, Calvin Sidney, born Jan. 4, 1851, married Kittie Fuller, and has one child, a daughter; George Mahlon, born 
July 20, 1854, died on the 24th of March, 1855.
 
In the month of March, 1877, Mr. Thomas left his farm to the care of his sons and removed to Berlin to spend his declining 
years in retirement.  Seven years later his estimable wife passed away at their home in that city, on the 24th of September, 
1884.  He is a Universalist in religious faith and a Republican in politics, and by his fellow citizens has been elected to 
various public offices, both in town and county.  For many years he was Chairman of the town of Berlin and held that position 
all through the late war.  He also served as Town Treasurer and in 1862 was elected Treasurer of Green Lake County, in which 
capacity he served during 1863-4 and was again elected for the term of 1866-7.  He took part in the meeting called to organize 
the town of Berlin and has since never failed to attend a meeting of that town.  Mr. Thomas is widely and favorably known as 
a just and upright citizen and is one of the few left of the original pioneers of Green Lake County.






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