. . . . ""@en . . "John W. E. Thomas"@en . . . . . . "2"^^ . . . "1887"^^ . "3.0"^^ . . "Republican"@en . "1883"^^ . "1880"^^ . "1878"^^ . . . . "Chicago, Illinois"@en . "1847-05-01"^^ . . "1864"^^ . . "5045"^^ . "Maria Reynolds"@en . . . . "1899-12-18"^^ . . "John W. E. Thomas"@en . . . "1899-12-18"^^ . . . . . . "Crittie E.O. Marshall"@en . . . . . . "1877"^^ . . ""@en . "John W. E. Thomas"@en . "Grocer; real estate developer"@en . . "1879"^^ . . . . . . . . . "1886"^^ . "1882"^^ . . . . . "Lawyer; teacher"@en . . . "Illinois"@en . . "54973402"^^ . . . "1847-05-01"^^ . . "Montgomery, Alabama"@en . . . . . "Justine Latcher"@en . . "8"^^ . . . . . . . . "died"@en . "John William Edinburgh Thomas ( May 1, 1847 \u2013 December 18, 1899) was an American businessman, educator, and Illinois politician. Born into slavery in Alabama, he moved to Chicago after the Civil War, where he became a prominent community leader. In 1876 he became the first African American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Thomas was instrumental in passage of Illinois' first anti-discrimination in public accommodations law, which he introduced in 1885."@en . . . "1118930037"^^ . . . . "John William Edinburgh Thomas ( May 1, 1847 \u2013 December 18, 1899) was an American businessman, educator, and Illinois politician. Born into slavery in Alabama, he moved to Chicago after the Civil War, where he became a prominent community leader. In 1876 he became the first African American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Thomas was instrumental in passage of Illinois' first anti-discrimination in public accommodations law, which he introduced in 1885."@en . . .