Thomas J. Pickett facts for kids

Thomas Johnson Pickett, Sr. (born March 17, 1821 – died December 24, 1891) was an important American politician from Kentucky. When he was young, he learned how to be a typesetter. This skill helped him start many newspapers in states like Illinois, Kentucky, and Nebraska. He led the Illinois Editorial Association and helped create the Illinois Republican Party. In 1860, he was elected to the Illinois Senate. During the Civil War, he became a Colonel, leading soldiers. After the war, he went back to Kentucky and tried to get elected to United States Congress, but he didn't win. Later in life, he worked on newspapers in Nebraska with his family. He was also a leader (called Grand Master) for a group called the Freemasons in Illinois and Kentucky.

Early Life and Newspaper Career

Thomas Johnson Pickett was born on March 17, 1821. His birthplace was Louisville, Kentucky. In 1830, his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. They moved again in 1836 to Peoria, Illinois.

Pickett learned how to set type for printing. This means he learned to arrange letters and words for newspapers. In 1840, he started his first newspaper, the Peoria News. He later sold this paper. Then he started another one called the Peoria Transcript. He also started the very first newspaper in Pekin, Illinois. After that, he moved to Rock Island, Illinois. There, he started the Rock Island Register.

Political Involvement

In 1851, Pickett became the first president of the Illinois Editorial Association. This group was for newspaper editors. He helped organize a big meeting of editors. This meeting led to the Bloomington Convention. This convention was important because it helped create the Illinois Republican Party. Pickett was a delegate at this convention. He also attended the Republican National Convention later that year.

Pickett was the first person to publicly support Abraham Lincoln for president. He wrote about it in his newspaper, the Rock Island Register, in 1859. In 1860, Pickett was a delegate again at the Republican National Convention. Later that year, he was elected to the Illinois Senate. He served there for four years.

Civil War Service

When the Civil War began, Pickett was offered a high military rank. He was offered to be a brigadier general, but he said no. Later in the war, he helped create the 69th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He served as a lieutenant colonel in this group. He then helped form another group, the 132nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He became a colonel in this regiment.

Post-War Life and Later Career

After the Civil War ended, Pickett moved to Paducah, Kentucky. He started a newspaper there called the Federal Union. He also worked as a postmaster in Paducah. A postmaster is in charge of a post office. He later worked as a clerk for a United States court.

In 1874, he ran for United States Congress in Kentucky. He wanted to represent Kentucky's 1st congressional district. However, he lost the election to Andrew Boone.

In 1879, Pickett moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska. He started a newspaper there called the Nebraska City Sun with his sons. The next year, he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. He started another newspaper there called The Capital. He also started the Franklin County Guard. In April 1891, he moved to his son's house in Ashland, Nebraska. He helped his son run the Ashland Gazette newspaper.

Personal Life and Legacy

Thomas Pickett was married two times. He was also a member of the Freemasons. This is a social and charitable organization. He became a high-ranking leader (called Grand Master) for the Freemasons in both Illinois and Kentucky. Pickett also served as a trustee for the Illinois Normal School. He died on December 24, 1891, in Ashland, Kentucky, after having a stroke.