Samuel Russell Thomas facts for kids

Samuel Russell Thomas (born April 27, 1840 – died January 11, 1903) was an important American businessman and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was known for his military service and later for building many railroads across the United States.

Early Life and Beginnings

Samuel Russell Thomas was born on April 27, 1840, in South Point, Ohio. His parents, Captain James Thomas and his wife, were early settlers in the Ohio region. They had moved there in 1807 from Virginia.

After a short time in school in Marietta, Ohio, Samuel began working. He started as a junior clerk at the Keystone Iron Company in Jackson, Ohio. There, he learned a lot about mining and engineering.

Service in the Civil War

Joining the Union Army

When the American Civil War began, Samuel Thomas was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. In July 1861, he joined the Union Army as a Second Lieutenant in the 27th Ohio Infantry.

For three years, he served under Colonel John W. Fuller in a group called the "Ohio Brigade." He was promoted many times for being brave and doing excellent work. He rose through the ranks from Captain to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and then Colonel. He was even given an honorary promotion to Brigadier General.

Key Battles and Leadership

Thomas fought mostly in the southern and western parts of the country. He served under famous generals like Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. He took part in major battles such as the Battles of Pittsburgh Landing, Chattanooga, and the Siege of Vicksburg.

He became well-known for leading the first African American Union troops into battle. These were the 63rd and 64th United States Colored Infantry regiments.

After the War

During General Sherman's famous "March to the Sea," Thomas was with the reserve forces. After the war, during the Reconstruction era, he helped formerly enslaved people. For one year, he was in charge of departments that helped these individuals in Mississippi. He worked on the staff of Oliver Otis Howard until January 1867, when he left the army.

Building a Business Empire

From Iron to Railroads

After his military service, Samuel Thomas moved to Zanesville, Ohio. He started working in the industrial world. First, he made pig iron and supplies for railroads.

In 1869, he got involved in coal mining when the Hocking Valley coal mines opened. By 1878, he had moved into the railroad business. He began building railroads in many states, including Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.

Leading Railroad Companies

From 1878 to 1882, Thomas held important positions in various railroad companies. He was a vice president and president of the Creek Valley Railroad. He also served as a director and general manager of the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, which was known as the Nickel Plate Road.

Starting in 1882, he became the president of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway Company. He was also a director for several other major railroads, such as the Lake Erie and Western Railroad, the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway, and the Marquette, Houghton and Ontonagon Railroad. He also worked with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and the Richmond and Danville Railroad, which later became part of the Southern Railway.

Family and Interests

His Family Life

In September 1872, Samuel Thomas married Ann Augusta Porter (1847–1944). Ann was the daughter of Carson Porter, a well-known person from Zanesville.

Together, they had three children:

• Edward Russell Thomas (1873–1926), who became a banker and owned a newspaper called the New York Morning Telegraph.
• Harold Edgell Thomas, who became a doctor.
• Eleanor Nancy Thomas (1878–1920), who married Robert Livingston Beeckman. Robert later became the Governor of Rhode Island from 1915 to 1921.

Clubs and Hobbies

Samuel Thomas was a member of many different clubs. These included the New York Yacht Club, the Riding Club, the Southern Club, the Union League Club, the Country Club, the Ohio Club, the Lotos Club, the Lawyers' Club, and the Jekyl Island Club. These clubs were places where people with shared interests could meet and socialize.

Later Years

Samuel Russell Thomas passed away from heart disease at his home in New York City on January 11, 1903.