Thomas Carmichael facts for kids

Thomas Carmichael (born October 12, 1830 – died October 13, 1902) was an Irish-American businessman and politician. He worked in the lumber industry and served several times in the Wisconsin State Assembly, which is like the state's law-making body. He lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Early Life and Moving to America

Thomas Carmichael was born in Kings County, Ireland, on October 12, 1830. He went to school in Ireland. In 1851, when he was 21, he moved to the United States. He started working as a lumberman, which means he worked with cutting down trees and processing wood.

He first lived in Unadilla, New York. Then, in 1857, he moved to Wisconsin and finally settled in the city of Eau Claire.

Serving in the Civil War

When the American Civil War started, Thomas Carmichael wanted to help. He even helped gather money to form a military group. However, his group wasn't ready in time to join the 17th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.

So, he and 35 men he had recruited went to St. Louis. There, they joined the 10th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery. Thomas Carmichael started as a private, which is the lowest rank for a soldier.

He fought in important battles and sieges. These included battles at Corinth, Mississippi, and Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He also took part in other smaller fights with the Army of the Cumberland, leading up to the surrender of Chattanooga.

Later, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in the 37th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He helped with recruiting new soldiers. He left the army in October 1864 because he became ill. He never fully recovered from this sickness.

Working in Public Office

After the war, Thomas Carmichael became involved in politics. When Eau Claire became a city in 1872, he was chosen as an alderman for his local area, called a ward. An alderman is like a city council member who helps make decisions for the city. He also served on the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors.

In 1873, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. He was part of the Liberal Reform Party. This was a group of different political parties working together. He won against William P. Bartlett. In the Assembly, he worked on committees related to lumber, manufacturing, and the military. He did not run for re-election the next year.

He was elected to the Assembly again in 1876, this time as a Democrat. He worked on the committee for state affairs. He did not run again in 1877.

In 1880, he tried to get his old seat back but lost. However, in 1881, he won the seat again as a Democrat. He was assigned to a committee that dealt with rules and elections.

In 1882, he was re-elected, but this time as an Anti-Monopoly candidate. This party was against large companies having too much power. Even though he ran as an Anti-Monopoly candidate, he chose to work with the Democrats in the Assembly. He became the chairman of the committee on lumber and manufacturing. He did not run for re-election in 1883.

After His Time in Politics

After his last term in the Assembly, Thomas Carmichael remained active. He continued his work as a lumberman. In those days, being a politician was often a part-time job.

He was also a popular speaker at events that supported workers' rights. He was seen as a voice for the "workingmen" within the Democratic Party. He believed that workers did not need to form a new political party.

By 1890, he seemed to have changed his mind about the Democratic Party. He ran for the Eau Claire Assembly seat again as a Union Labor candidate, but he did not win. In 1892, he ran as a Populist candidate, another party focused on the rights of ordinary people, but he also lost that election.

In 1896, he supported William Jennings Bryan, a candidate who was backed by both the Democratic and Populist parties.

His Death and Legacy

Thomas Carmichael passed away on October 13, 1902, in Eau Claire. He left behind a large amount of property, including land in several counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota. His estate was worth about $60,000, which was a lot of money at that time.

After his death, it was discovered that he had only one living relative, an elderly sister in Ireland. Some of his former business partners bought her rights to the estate. This led to lawsuits that continued in court until 1909.