Lot Thomas
Encyclopedia
Lot Thomas was a state-court judge who also served three terms as a Republican
U.S. Representative
from Iowa
's now-obsolete 11th congressional district
, in northwestern Iowa.
Born on a farm near Markleysburg, Pennsylvania
to Christian and Susan Fiske Thomas, Lot Thomas attended the public schools in Pennsylvania, then Vermillion Institute in Hayesville, Ohio
.
He moved to Iowa in 1868. After teaching school in New Virginia
, in Warren County, he attended the University of Iowa College of Law
. He was admitted to the bar
in 1870.
That year he moved to Sioux Rapids
in Buena Vista County, Iowa
, where he started his law practice. When the county seat was moved to Storm Lake
, Thomas also moved there.
He was Buena Vista County Attorney from 1872 to 1885. From 1885 until 1898, he served as judge of the fourteenth judicial district of Iowa (which included Buena Vista, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Dickinson, Emmett, Kossuth, Humboldt, and Clay Counties).
In February 1898 Thomas challenged incumbent Republican Congressman George D. Perkins
for the Republican nomination for the 11th congressional district seat held by Perkins since 1891. After defeating Perkins for the nomination on the 217th ballot, he resigned his judgeship effective August 16, 1898. Thomas won the general election, and in 1899 became a member of the Fifty-sixth
Congress. He was re-elected twice, and served in the Fifty-seventh
, and Fifty-eighth
Congresses.
Thomas' service in Congress coincided with a worsening of factionalism within the Iowa Republican Party, with an "insurgent" contingent loyal to the career and platform of Des Moines attorney (and later Governor and U.S. Senator) Albert B. Cummins
, and another "stand-patter" faction hostile toward Cummins. Thomas was considered a leader in the pro-Cummins faction. He also served on the House Committee on the Judiciary.
He tried and failed to win renominated by his party in 1904. In all, Thomas served in Congress from March 4, 1899 to March 3, 1905.
Thomas lived only two weeks following the end of his congressional service. In poor health and in search of a more hospitable setting, died on a train near Yuma, Arizona
on March 17, 1905, while en route to Los Angeles, California
. He was interred in Storm Lake Cemetery.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
's now-obsolete 11th congressional district
Iowa's 11th congressional district
Iowa's 11th congressional district existed from 1883 to 1933, when Iowa sent eleven congressmen to the United States House of Representatives. The district covered northwestern Iowa.-Makeup:...
, in northwestern Iowa.
Born on a farm near Markleysburg, Pennsylvania
Markleysburg, Pennsylvania
Markleysburg is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 282 at the 2000 census. The town is served by the Uniontown Area School District.-Geography:Markleysburg is located at ....
to Christian and Susan Fiske Thomas, Lot Thomas attended the public schools in Pennsylvania, then Vermillion Institute in Hayesville, Ohio
Hayesville, Ohio
Hayesville is a village in Ashland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 348 at the 2000 census.- History :The first settlers came to the Hayesville area in 1817. A post office for the settlers was established in 1827 at Hayes Cross Roads. Hayesville was laid out in Vermillion Township...
.
He moved to Iowa in 1868. After teaching school in New Virginia
New Virginia, Iowa
New Virginia is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 469 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:New Virginia is located at ....
, in Warren County, he attended the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1870.
That year he moved to Sioux Rapids
Sioux Rapids, Iowa
Sioux Rapids is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 720 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sioux Rapids is located at...
in Buena Vista County, Iowa
Buena Vista County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,260 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,237 housing units, of which 7,522 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, where he started his law practice. When the county seat was moved to Storm Lake
Storm Lake, Iowa
Storm Lake is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 10,600 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,076 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Buena Vista County. Storm Lake is home to Buena Vista University, originally Buena Vista College...
, Thomas also moved there.
He was Buena Vista County Attorney from 1872 to 1885. From 1885 until 1898, he served as judge of the fourteenth judicial district of Iowa (which included Buena Vista, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Dickinson, Emmett, Kossuth, Humboldt, and Clay Counties).
In February 1898 Thomas challenged incumbent Republican Congressman George D. Perkins
George D. Perkins
George Douglas Perkins was a longtime newspaper editor, Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 11th congressional district in northwestern Iowa, and unsuccessful candidate for his party's nomination as Governor of Iowa....
for the Republican nomination for the 11th congressional district seat held by Perkins since 1891. After defeating Perkins for the nomination on the 217th ballot, he resigned his judgeship effective August 16, 1898. Thomas won the general election, and in 1899 became a member of the Fifty-sixth
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
Congress. He was re-elected twice, and served in the Fifty-seventh
57th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:*Democratic: 151*Republican: 200 *Populist: 5*Silver : 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Theodore Roosevelt , until September 14, 1901, vacant thereafter....
, and Fifty-eighth
58th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Republican : 209 * Democratic : 176* Silver Republican : 1TOTAL members: 386-Senate:* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: William P. Frye -Members:...
Congresses.
Thomas' service in Congress coincided with a worsening of factionalism within the Iowa Republican Party, with an "insurgent" contingent loyal to the career and platform of Des Moines attorney (and later Governor and U.S. Senator) Albert B. Cummins
Albert B. Cummins
Albert Baird Cummins was the 18th Governor of Iowa, U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate. Cummins was perhaps the most influential leader in Iowa politics in the first quarter of the 20th century...
, and another "stand-patter" faction hostile toward Cummins. Thomas was considered a leader in the pro-Cummins faction. He also served on the House Committee on the Judiciary.
He tried and failed to win renominated by his party in 1904. In all, Thomas served in Congress from March 4, 1899 to March 3, 1905.
Thomas lived only two weeks following the end of his congressional service. In poor health and in search of a more hospitable setting, died on a train near Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
on March 17, 1905, while en route to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He was interred in Storm Lake Cemetery.