William Hannibal Thomas was born in Pickaway County, Ohio on May 4, 1843.  Thomas' family spent the 1850s in Adrian, Michigan and Westerville, Ohio. William Hannibal Thomas applied for admission to Otterbein College in 1859. The admission of a black male became a debate among students, faculty and the trustees. Otterbein was forced to allow William Thomas' admission due to the politics of the United Brethren of Christ, but still opposition lingered. Soon the opposition became vocal in the Westerville community and the university. Otterbein then expelled the Thomas brothers by force, but Governor Salmon P. Chase who had the brothers reinstated. William Thomas never got his degree from Otterbein.
    Thomas joined the Union Army in August 1861 and was discharged in July of 1865.  From 1863 to 1865 William Hannibal Thomas worked for the 42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Thomas served as a personal servant to Captain William Olds. Later the 42od was assigned to the Army of Ohio in December of 1861. Their first movements were to force Confederates out of eastern Kentucky to protect the Union strongholds in the Big Sandy Valley. When the 42nd returned to Ohio, Thomas parted ways and joined the 95th and was marched into another battle against the Confederates in Kentucky. This time the Union was soundly defeated at Richmond, Kentucky. The 95th soon regrouped under the command of William T. Sherman. Thomas served as a servant for the 95th and was present at the surrender of Vicksburg. In 1863, Thomas joined the Ohio 127th which later became the 5th United States Colored Troops. They soon began training in Camp Delaware, Ohio. The 5th would become the most decorated black unit in the Civil War. The 5th USCT
fought battles in Virginia and the Carolinas. Of 16 blacks awarded the Medal of Honor, four were from the 5th. The 5th ranked 16 out of 166 USCT regiments.
    William Thomas received a promotion to second sergeant in October 1863. The 5th was sent to North Carolina to create havoc and free slaves. In 1865, the 5th captured 5 artillery positions and 6 cannon, then captured 2 lines of enemy fortifications as they fought in the Petersburg, Virginia campaign against the army of General Robert E. Lee.  Later the 5th was included in a rush on Richmond in 1864.  The 5th met its toughest challenge in fighting at New Market Heights. Historians have labeled the battles at New Market Heights one of the most important and valiant efforts by black troops.
    William Hanniba1 Thomas lost his right arm in one of the battles that took place between Wilmington and Fort Fisher, North Carolina. As he waded through the waters after being transported by boats his right arm was struck above the elbow.
    After the Civil War, Thomas served as a minister, teacher, lawyer and even a state representative in South Carolina. He is most famous for his book The American Negro, which caused a severe reaction among African Americans in 1901 due to Thomas' views of the black race in America.
    In 1916 he was honored at Otterbein College for his service in the Civil War and once again in 1922 he was awarded with a commemorative medal for Otterbein's 75th year of existence. Thomas died in 1935 and was allowed his request to be buried in the Otterbein Cemetery. The grave of William Hannibal Thomas was unmarked until 1977 when a history student decided to contact the Veterans Administration in regards to Thomas' grave being unmarked.

John David Smith, Black Judas. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2000.

Otterbein College Archives, William Hannibal Thomas files.