From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 940-941
 
R. H. THOMAS.  It is customary for the people of the United States to look 
upon every boy as a possible future occupant of every or any office within the 
gift of the people.  This is one of the main reasons that we rejoice in this 
country and its institutions, for all parents know that is not an 
impossibility 
for their boy to occupy the highest positions in public and business life in 
the land.  There is something in this thought to work for.  Not merely the 
accumulation of dollars and cents, but the acquirement of an honored position 
in the civic and social circles is something worth fighting for in the great 
war for existence.  In pioneer times people had enough to do to make a 
respectable living, without taking into account the higher problems of society 
and civilization, but that time is past and a better time has arrived, with 
higher hopes, praises and rewards.  Accordingly where once stood the pioneer 
cabin is now the large and comfortable residence of the well-to-do descendant, 
with its organ or piano, its college graduate and its library of books and 
periodicals.  But the children of today little reckon of the many weary steps 
taken by their fathers to reach this desirable state of advancement and 
comfort.  R. H. THOMAS, one of the most progressive of Delavan township's 
farmers, is a descendant of such a pioneer and he himself comes down to us 
from the pioneer epoch, having spent his busy life in Walworth county, his 
birth having occurred at Millard, Sugar Creek township, on March 3, 1855.  He 
is the son of Harrison and Marjorie (JACKSON) THOMAS, a sturdy Canadian family 
who came to Sugar Creek township, this county, in an early day, developed a 
good farm and established a comfortable home and here the father remained 
until his death in 1896; his widow survives and still makes her home in Sugar 
Creek township where, like her husband before her, she enjoys the friendship 
of a wide acquaintance.  They were the parents of four children, namely: 
Marjorie A. married a Mr. WEAVER; R. H., of this review; Lilly, who married a 
Mr. EDWARDS, is now deceased; Edward is the youngest of the family.
 
Mr. THOMAS grew up on the home farm and assisted with the general work about 
the place during his boyhood days and attended the district schools and the 
schools at Milton, Wisconsin.  On March 14, 1883, he was united in marriage 
with Mary STEWART, daughter of Arthur and Elizabeth STEWART, both now 
deceased.  This union has resulted in the birth of two children, Frank S. and 
Walter H.
 
Mr. THOMAS has devoted his life very successfully to agricultural pursuits and 
stock raising and he is now the owner of one of the choice, well improved and 
productive farms of this township, consisting of two hundred acres in section 
14.  He has a very pleasant and neatly kept dwelling and substantial 
outbuildings and everything about the place denotes thrift and prosperity as 
well as good management.  He has lived to see this locality develop from a 
wild forest to one of the leading sections of the great Badger commonwealth 
and he has played well his part in the work of transformation.  Politically, 
he is a Republican and he belongs to the Baptist church and the Mystic Workers 
at Millard.
 
Submitted by Carol