Thomas Clarke Theaker

  General Notes:

Belmount County Ohio Congressman (36) from 1859 to 1861

Thomas Clarke Theaker
Birth: Feb. 4, 1812 Death: Jul. 16, 1883 US Congressman. This native of York, Pennsylvania moved to Bridgeport, Ohio in 1830 where he began a career as a machinist and wheelwright. The Republican was elected to represent his district in the Thirty-Sixth Congress from 1859 to 1861. He lost his bid for re-election but remained in Washington DC when he was appointed to a seat on the US Patent Office's Board of Appeals. On August 15, 1865 he was appointed commissioner of the US Patent office. In his new position the former Congressman faced several post -Civil War issues, including how to deal with the large numbers of new patent requests that flooded the office. Theaker also had to address the issue of what to do with requests from "citizens of the states in the rebellion". After consultation, President Andrew Johnson decided that each "former Confederate" applicant must present an authenticated copy of their amnesty oath to the patent office and that those who were of the "excluded class" must present evidence of a pardon. Under his leadership the number of patents applied for increased by up to forty per cent annually and new larger work spaces were gained for the fast growing Patent Office. He resigned and left this position in January of 1868.
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  Research Notes:

THEAKER, Thomas Clarke, a Representative from Ohio; born in York County, Pa., February 1, 1812; attended the common schools; moved to Bridgeport, Belmont County, Ohio, in 1830; became a machinist and wheelwright; was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861); was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1860 to the Thirty-seventh Congress; member of the board of commissioners to investigate the Patent Office in 1864, and later was appointed a member of the board of examiners in chief; served as Commissioner of Patents from August 17, 1865, to January 20, 1868; engaged in the practice of patent law in Washington, D.C., until his death in Oakland, Md., July 16, 1883; interment in Weeks Cemetery, near Bridgeport, Ohio.

Thomas married Mary McConahey, daughter of Hugh McConahey and Margaret McCune, on 19 May 1836. (Mary McConahey was born on 4 Jul 1816 and died on 22 Dec 1861.)