P. Cook, representing Illinois in the House, cast the vote of this State for Adams, and for that act, at the next election, was retired from the pinacle of his brilliant career to the obsurity of private life.

From that election of President Adams by the House of Representatives dates the furious party antagonisms that have descended, with increasing asperity, to the present day. The adherents of Jackson appropriated to themselves the title of "Democrats," and stigmatized their opponents as "Federalists," and later, "Whigs" In. deed, no doubt, by his antipathy to General Jackson, Senator Thomas, strangely, gave his support to the Adams administration-the very embodiment of anti slavery sentiment-and was thereafter identified with the Whig party. That course, he well knew, amounted to political suicide in Illinois, It at once alienated him from the powerful party where he had for years controlled absolutely, that had now become intensely loyal to Jackson. Had he also given his allegience to Old Hickory he could have retained his place in the Senate indefinitely; but too honorable to stultify himself by such duplicity as the pretense of supporting Jackson-even for a life tenure of the Senatorship-he chose to relinquish his high position and become a private citizen. At the close of his term, March 3d, 1829, he left Illinois and located in Mt. Vernon, O.

In 1840 he attended the Whig national convention as a delegate, at Columbus, O., and then exerted himself in securing the nomination of his old friend, General Harrison, for the Presidency. With that exception he ignored all political matters, and passed the remainder of his life in quiet retirement, but not in idleness. Naturally a financier, the accumulation of property was his constant pleas ure and pastime. He was one of the founders, and the principal proprietor of the town of Brookville, in Franklin county, Ind., and owned large amounts of real estate in Mt. Vernon and other localities. He was a large, stately man, full six feet in height with florid brown complexion, dark hazel eyes, dark brown, almost black, hair, and usually weighed over 200 pounds. The expression of his somewhat coarse features was kindly and pleasing, and when presiding over a deliberative body, or seated in the Senate, he was quite a majestic figure. His personal habits were without blemish; his manners courtly, and in dress and bearing he had the appearance of a refined gentleman of the colonial period. In all things' he was just, reliable and conscientiously honorable, and very considerate of the rights and feelings of others. After locating in Mt. Vernon in 1829, he assisted in organizing St. Paul's Episcopal church there, of which he remained a consistent member.

No children came to bless either of Judge Thomas' marriages. For his wife, Rebecca, he retained all his youthful affections; and in their elegant mansion they lived for each other in perennial happiness that defied the vicissitudes of passing years. But the death of Mrs Thomas in 1851 cruelly dispelled that elysium, and overwhelmed the Judge with grief. He was utterly disconsolate and could not be comforted. From constantly brooding over the loss of his beloved

companion, and his lonely condition, his fine intellect became unbalanced. Gradually overcome by deep dejection and melancholy, his existence became an intolerable burden. All that devotion of friends and relatives could do, or suggest for the relief of his mental depression was done, but in vain. All the resources of medical science were brought to his aid, and he was faithfully attended every moment, but the gloom became more confirmed. On the 4th day of May, 1853, evading the watchful vigilance of those caring for him, he committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. Thus he died, in the 76th year of his age. His remains were interred by the side of his deceased wife in the Mt. Vernon cemetery.

JESSE BURGESS THOMAS, JR.

A year or more before the expiration of Judge Thomas' last term in the Senate, his nephew, Jesse Burgess Thomas Jr., second son of Richard Symmes and Frances (Pattie) Thomas, born in Lebanon, Ohio, on July 31, 1806, came, by request of his uncle, to reside with him at Edwardsville. There he studied law and was admitted to the bar, and there on Feb. 18, 1830, he married a daughter of Supreme Court Justice Theophilus Washington Smith, and for some years occupied the residence of his uncle, the former U. S. Senator.

Following the precepts and example of his distinguished relative he cast his political lot with the Whig party, but was at no time considered a pernicious partisan; his conservatism and moderation in politics being probably in deference to his illustrious father-in-law, who was one of the prominent leaders of the democratic party in Illinois.

In stature he resembled Senator Thomas; of prepossessing figure and features, large, muscular and well formed, with pleasing address, dignified carriage and the refined manners of a courtier. He was well educated, a ready speaker, and, with studious habits and clear intellect, in time became a good lawyer.

Emulating the successful course of his honored uncle he soon displayed an eagerness for public life, and cultivated the arts and methods of the office-seeking politician. Upon the organization of the Seventh General Assembly, in 1830, he was elected Secretary of the Senate, and re-elected to that position in the next legislature, in 1832.

In 1834, though a Whig, he was elected, with General James Semple, a sterling Democrat and Jackson man, to represent Madison county in the lower house of the Ninth General Assembly, from which he resigned, on Feb. 13, 1835, to accept the office of Attorney General, having on that date been elevated to that position by the legislature. That office he also resigned, on Jan. 8, 1836, when he was again chosen Secretary of the Senate in the Tenth General Assembly. In that era, up to 1840, the Attorney Generalship of Illinois was not the exalted and important position it now is considered

to be, and almost every incumbent of it resigned just as soon as he could get into any other place, even one of as little consequence as Secretary of the Senate.

That same legislature, the tenth, elected Mr. Thomas judge of the circuit court for the first district, his term commencing on the 20th of July, 1837. After serving on the bench for 19 months he became tired of the routine drudgery of the circuit and resigned on the 25th of February, 1839, resuming, at Edwardsville, the practice of law. On the 6th of August, 1843, then a resident of Springfield, he was elected by the legislature. a justice of the Supreme Court to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Stephen A. Douglas, who had been elected to represent the Quincy district in Congress. Mr. Thomas' term as Supreme Court Justice expired on the 8th of August, 1815, when he removed to Chicago and there again embarked in the practice of his profession. On the 27th of January, 1847, he was again elected to the Supreme bench, by the legislature, in place of Judge Richard M. Young, who had resigned to accept, from President Polk, the Commissionership of the General Land Office. Mr. Thomas' term as Supreme Court Justice expiring on Dec. 4, 1848, he once more resumed the practice of law at the Chicago bar, in which he continued until his death, occurring on the 21st of February, 1850.

Judge Thomas had the reputation of a learned and able jurist, and a sound and clear-headed lawyer, and a citizen of exemplary character and moral worth.

His wife, Adeline Clarissa, daughter of Judge Theophilus W. and Clarissa (Rathbone) Smith, was born in New York city on May 13, 1812, and died at Chicago Dec. 14, 1866.

RICHARD SYMMES THOMAS, JR.

Richard S. Thomas, Jr., the youngest son of Richard Symmes and Frances (Pattie) Thomas, was born at Jackson, Missouri, on June 3d, 1817. In 1836, after having received a common school education, he came to Illinois and entered Illinois college at Jacksonville, where he pursued his studies until the suspension of that institution caused by the slavery agitation in 1837. He then commenced the study of law with his brother, Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., in Edwardsville, and continued it at Mt Vernon, Ohio, in the office of Henry B. Curtis, brother of Gen. Samuel R Curtis. Returning to Edwardsville he was admitted to the bar June 29, 1840, and settled at Virginia, the then county seat of Cass county, where he commenced the practice of law before Judge Samuel D. Lockwood. On Aug. 2, 1811, he was elected school commissioner of Cass county On July 9, 1843 he was appointed by Governor Ford, Adjutant of the Twenty-first regiment of Illinois militia. He followed the county seat to Beardstown in Nov., 1815, but returned to Virginia in June, 1846.