Anderson, William B. Born in Jefferson County, Illinois, April 2, 1830 ; 
studied law, but never practiced the profession ; was twice elected to the 
State Legislature, and once to the State Senate ; was a delegate to the 
Convention which framed the present Constitution ; in 1861 he exerted himself 
to raise a regiment of volunteers for the army, and commanded it through the war, 
receiving the brevet title of Major-General ; and in 1874 he was elected a 
Representative from Illinois to the Forty-fourth Congress.

*Source: Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States
by Charles Lanman



E1GHTEENTH D1STR1CT. 
Counties. — Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Union, 
and Williamson. 
JOHN R. THOMAS, of Metropolis, was born at Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, 
October 11, 1846; received a common-school education ; served in the Union Army during 
the war of the rebellion ; rose from the rank of private to that of Captain of Infantry ; studied 
law, and was admitted to the bar in 1869 ; was elected and served as State's Attorney from 
1872 to 1876; was elected to the Fcrty sixth Congress, and was re-elected to the Forty-seventh 
Congress as a Republican, receiving 16,873 votes against 15,146 votes for William 
Hartzell, Democrat, and 1,000 votes for A. B. Roberson, Greenback candidate. Re-elected.

*Source: Official Congressional Directory 
By United States Congress