The family's wealth was decimated by the Panic of 1837 and, at age 16, Thomas moved to Lockport, took a job as a merchant, and continued his studies.
[1] In the Senate, he was Chair of the Select Committee to consider liability and compensation for victims of the so-called "Ozaukee Riot," and recommended in favor of recognizing the legality and paying the claimants from the state treasury (1863 Wisconsin Act 211).
In 1880, he was the Greenback Party nominee for Wisconsin's 5th congressional district, receiving 1,188 votes to 16,984 for Democratic incumbent Edward S. Bragg and 14,753 for Republican Elihu Colman.
He was again the nominee in 1882, receiving 764 votes to 12,933 for Democrat Joseph Rankin; 6,108 for Republican Levi Howland and 813 for Prohibitionist R. L. Wing.
[3] In 1888, he was their original nominee for Railroad Commissioner, but in the wake of a dispute over electoral fusion, he apparently withdrew his candidacy, as another candidate was on the ballot in November.