THOMAS, Charles Randolph, (father of Charles Randolph Thomas [1861-1931]), a Representative from North Carolina; born in Beaufort, Carteret County, N.C., February 7, 1827; attended a private school in Hillsboro, N.C., and was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1849; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1850 and commenced practice in Beaufort, N.C.; moved to New Bern, N.C., and continued the practice of law; member of the State constitutional convention in 1861; secretary of state of North Carolina in 1864; appointed by the Governor president of the Atlantic & North Carolina Railroad in 1867; judge of the superior court 1868-1870; elected as a Republican to the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1875); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1874; resumed the practice of law in New Bern, N.C., and died there February 18, 1891; interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States 1774-present.)

CHARLES R. THOMAS; of New Berne, was born in Carteret County, North Carolina, February 7, 1827; graduated at the University of North Carolina in June, 1849; studied and practiced law; was elected one of the Judges of the Superior Court in April, 1868, and resigned on his election to the Forty-second Congress; was re-elected to the Forty-third Congress as a Republican, receiving 20,072 votes against 11,627 votes for Kitchen, Democrat.
[Source:  Forty-Third Congress Congressional Directory, Complied for the use of Congress; By Ben Perley Poore; Publ. 1872; Transcribed by Andrea Stawski Pack]