(September 22, 1808 — August 4, 1876) James Houston Thomas, a Representative from Tennessee; born in Iredell County, N.C., September 22, 1808; attended the rural schools; was graduated from Jackson College, Columbia Tenn., in 1830; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1831 and commenced practice in Columbia, Tenn.; attorney general of Tennessee 1836-1842; elected as a Democrat to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1851); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress; elected to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861); resumed the practice of law in Columbia, Tenn.; died near Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tenn., on August 4, 1876; interment in St. John's Cemetery, Ashwood, Maury County, Tenn. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/T000170]