Christopher Thomas

Christopher Yancy Thomas (March 24, 1818 – February 11, 1879) was a politician and lawyer from Virginia.

Christopher Thomas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th district
In office
March 5, 1874  March 3, 1875
Preceded byAlexander Davis
Succeeded byGeorge Cabell
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Henry County
In office
1869–1871
Preceded byGeorge W. Booker
Succeeded byGeorge W. Booker
Member of the Virginia Senate from Henry, Patrick and Franklin Counties
In office
1860–1863
Preceded byGeorge Hairston
Succeeded byPeter Saunders
Personal details
BornMarch 24, 1818
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
DiedFebruary 11, 1879(1879-02-11) (aged 60)
Martinsville, Virginia
Resting placeLeatherwood, Virginia
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Mary Ann Reamey
ChildrenFaith, Hope, Jane, Susan, Katherine, Archie, Frank, John, Starling
ResidenceLeatherwood plantation
Professionlawyer

Early and family life

Born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Thomas attended local schools as a child and went on to graduate from a private academy in 1838.

Career

Thomas read law and was admitted to the bar in 1844, commencing practice in Martinsville, Virginia. He served in the Confederate Virginia Senate from 1860 to 1864 and was member of the commission to settle the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina.

Thomas also served as prosecuting attorney for Henry County, Virginia (surrounding Martinsville), and in 1867 was elected to serve the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868. After approval of the new state Constitution (and rejection of a proposed provision forbidding former Confederates from holding office), Thomas served in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1869, both succeeding fellow Confederate delegate and Conservative George W. Booker and being succeeded by him.

In 1872, Thomas ran as a Republican for the United States House of Representatives for Virginia's 5th district. He ran against former Confederate officer and Conservative Democrat Alexander Davis, who was initially declared the victor, but Thomas contested the result and was seated. However, Thomas served only a single term from 1874 to 1875, losing his reelection bid in 1874 to Democrat George Cabell, another lawyer and former Confederate officer active in railroad promotion.[1]

Death and legacy

Thomas resumed practicing law until his death in Martinsville, Virginia on February 11, 1879. He was interred in the family cemetery on Leatherwood plantation.

References

  1. "Rep. Christopher Thomas". GovTrack. Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Alexander Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th congressional district

1874–1875
Succeeded by
George Cabell


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