James Sheridan Thomas
James Sheridan Thomas was born in Meigs Township, Adams County, one of the youngest sons of George A. Thomas and Sarah J. Wittenmeyer, his wife. He has a twin brother, Prof. Stephen S. Thomas, of Bloomfield, Mo. He attended school in the district of his home and labored on his father's farm until he was seventeen years of age. when he attended North Liberty Academy for one year. In 1889 and 1890, he attended the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he graduated in the Scientific course in 1890. From the Fall of 1800 until Spring of 1892, he taught school at Otway, Ohio. From the Fall of 1892 until the Spring of 1894, he had charge of the schools at Sciotoville. In 1893, he taught a Summer school at Wheelersburg. He began the study of the law with the Hon. Ulric Sloane at Winchester in the Summer of 1892, and kept it up until the Fall of 1894, when he entered the Cincinnati Law School, and attended that during the Fall, Winter and Spring of 1894 and 1895. He stood fifth in a class of one hundred and fifteen in his studies. He was admitted to the bar. May 31, 1895, on his twenty-fifth birthday. On July 1, 1895, he began the practice of law in the city of Portsmouth, where he has since resided. In politics, he is and always has been a Democrat, and has taken an active interest in his party. In 1895, he was the candidate of his party for State Senator in the Seventh Senatorial District, but was defeated by Elias Crandall, the Republican candidate. He canvassed the district in the interest of his party.
In the Spring of 1899, there was a special election to vote on the adoption of a new charter for the city of Portsmouth. This occurred about three weeks before the regular municipal election. He took strong grounds against the charter, and spoke against it in public meetings. The charter was defeated and its defeat resulted in his election to the office of City Solicitor in the strong Republican city of Portsmouth, where a Democratic City Solicitor had not been elected since 1875. He defeated one of the very best young Republicans of the city—Harry W. Miller, who was a candidate for re-election.
As a lawyer, Mr. Thomas is very active and industrious. He is careful and painstaking, and bids fair to make his mark high up in his profession.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900