Alachua County FlArchives Biographies.....Thomas, William R. May 24, 1866 - 
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Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 February 9, 2014, 11:06 am

Source: The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol II , page 8 , 1923
Author: The History of Florida: Past & Present

        THOMAS, WILLIAM REUBEN.  Loyalty to one's birthplace and home community 
is perhaps no more illuminating example than the case of WILLIAM REUBEN THOMAS 
of Gainesville, whose work, plans and enthusiasm have for years been listed in 
enterprises that would directly promote the welfare and prosperity of the City 
of Gainesville, which during his boyhood was a struggling village.  He has been 
a leader in practically every movement for the uplift of that community.
	He was born at Gainesville, May 24, 1866, son of Dr. GABRIEL PHILLIP 
THOMAS, and grandson of REUBEN THOMAS, who was a planter and slave owner in 
Laurens, South Carolina.  Dr. GABRIEL PHILLIP THOMAS was born near Laurens, 
South Carolina, finished his education for the medical profession in 
Philadelphia, and in 1855 moved to Gainesville, then a country village.  He 
acquired extensive property interests both in town and in the country, built 
what was then the finest home this section, and it was the first painted house 
in the town.  He was a large land owner in Alachua County.  He served as a 
physician in the Confederate Army.  Doctor Thomas married OMEREA BRAZIEL 
FRASER, a native of Columbia, South Carolina, and they were the parents of five 
children, WILLIAM R. being the third.
	Mr. Thomas as a boy attended the common schools at Gainesville, 
continued his education in the East Florida Military Seminary, a military 
school at Gainesville, attended the State Normal at Bowling Green, Kentucky, 
spent two years in Peabody College, and in 1888 graduated A. B. from Vanderbilt 
University at Nashville, Tennessee.  He was a member of the Kappa Alpha 
fraternity.  After his college career Major Thomas was for two years principal 
of the Fort Meade High School in Florida, and then took the chair of languages 
in the East Florida Seminary, and while in that military school held the rank 
of major, a title by which he is still known.  He was for two years principal 
of the Gainesville High School.
	Having devoted a number of years to the cause of education, Major 
Thomas in 1894 engaged in business, being associated with the early fortunes of 
what is now the Thomas Company, hardware, building material, farm implements 
and undertaking.  He is still a stockholder, but his brother, T. F. THOMAS, is 
president of the company.  Major Thomas has served as president of the 
Gainesville Furniture Company and secretary and treasurer of the Wilson 
Company, operating the largest dry goods store in Gainesville.  He reorganized 
Dutton & Company and established and became president of the Dutton Bank, and 
was also president of the Gainesville National Bank, but since 1919 has retired 
from banking.  He was a leader among the bankers of Alachua County and 
disposing of Government securities and feeling the financial quota of this 
district.
	Major Thomas was chairman of the local committee that was instrumental 
in securing the location of the University of Florida at Gainesville.  He 
served ten consecutive years as mayor of Gainesville, holding that office until 
he would consent to serve no longer.  During that time Gainesville was raised 
from the position of a struggling country village into a community of modern 
improvements, and in that time much of the important work of sewerage 
construction, sidewalks and other facilities were provided.  Major Thomas has 
been strongly prohibition, and while not a politician he served four years as a 
member of the Senate from the Thirty-second District.  He was chairman of the 
bond trustees of the county and a prime mover in good roads movement.  Major 
Thomas has one of the most perfectly appointed and beautiful homes of 
Gainesville, and has been ready with his time, money and energy in every good 
cause.  He is president of the Men's Bible Class of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and was one of the founders of the Gainesville Golf and Country Club in 
1921, and is one of its Board of Governors.  He is president of the Chamber of 
Commerce, and is president of the W. R. THOMAS Real Estate Company, which laid 
out several additions and built a number of homes.  He is a member of the 
Rotary Club, any built the White House, one of Florida's fine hotels and 
recently established the White filling stations.  Major THOMAS is affiliated 
with the Gainesville Lodge No. 41, F. and A. M., Gainesville Chapter No. 2, R. 
A. M., Pilgrim Commandery No. 7, K. T., Morocco Temple of the Mystic Shrine of 
Jacksonville and the Scottish Rite Consistory of Jacksonville.  He is also 
affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 990.
	At Brunswick, Georgia, January 21, 1896, Major Thomas married Miss 
KATIE M. KRAUSE, of Brunswick.  He is also an active member of the Methodist 
Church.  They have five children: CLARENCE S., a graduate of the University of 
Florida, who served in the Army during the World war; PHILLIP E., who during 
the war was in the Navy of the transport Von Steuben; W. R., Jr., JOHN HENRY; 
and MARGARET OMEREA.

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