Pitkin County CO Archives Biographies.....Thomas, John L. 1861 - ? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 16, 2006, 12:10 am Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado John L. Thomas is one of the prosperous, enterprising and progressive ranchmen and stock-growers of Pitkin county, with a well improved and wisely cultivated ranch on Crystal river and Thomas creek, and both in his business relations and his citizenship he stands well in his community. He is a native of Rushville, Indiana, born in 1861, and is the son of George L. and Catherine (Lewark) Thomas. His father was a native of New York and his mother of Indiana, and they came to live in Colorado in 1877, settling at Lake City. Later they lived at Leadville and Aspen, and finally located the ranch in Pitkin county which they sold to their son and which he now occupies, and themselves retired from active business pursuits. Their son John grew to manhood in Iowa and Kansas, beginning life for himself at the age of eighteen. During his first year in Colorado he burned charcoal at Leadville. He then went to Mexico and bought a train of burros which he brought to Leadville, and during the next three years used them in a freighting enterprise. On November 1, 1881, he located on the ranch which is now his home on Crystal river, pre-empting a claim. Later he purchased his father's ranch near by and since then he has given his whole time and attention to improving his property and building up his business in the stock industry. He has, however, never failed of a warm practical interest in the welfare of his community, and during the last seven years, has served it well and faithfully as a justice of the peace. In 1887 he was married to Miss Cora Facer, and they have six children, Bessie, Annie C., Charles E., Frank L., Nellie and John W. Mr. Thomas is an interested member of the Woodmen of the World, holding his membership in the camp of the order at Carbondale. The cattle industry in Colorado is an extensive and valuable one, and many of the best men in the state make it their chief business. Among them Mr. Thomas is entitled to a high rank both for the vigor and success with which he conducts his business and the excellence of its output, and also for his excellence as a man and citizen and his genuine good fellowship. Additional Comments: From Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/thomas291gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cofiles/ File size: 2.8 Kb