Bio of THOMAS, Guy Alfred (b.1874), Hennepin Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Laura Pruden Submitted: June 2003 ========================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ======================================================== EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical ======================================================== Vol III, pg 659-660 GUY ALFRED THOMAS For many years Guy Alfred Thomas has been active in the business circles of Minneapolis and he is now one of the directors and department managers of the Wash-burn-Crosby Company, which concern is known as the world's greatest flour milling institution. A native of New York, his birth occurred in Keeseville, Essex county, on the 28th of October, 1874, a son of Gorton Tallman and Francis (Nimocks) Thomas, the former a native of New York and the latter of Michigan. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war Gorton Tallman Thomas put all personal interests aside and enlisted in the Twenty-second New York Regiment, receiving a captain's commission. He served throughout the struggle and participated in most of the strategic engagements. Some time after the close of the war he moved from his native state to New Orleans, where for many years he was actively identified with the flour commission business. He was one of that city's leading and substantial citizens and his demise in 1912 came as a severe shock to his family and many friends. Mrs. Thomas died in Minneapolis in 1894. She was a member of one of this city's oldest and most honored families. The Nimocks located in Minneapolis in i860 and during the early days of their residence here, lived on Sixth street and Nicollet avenue, the present site of the L. S. Donaldson Company. Their home was built on the one high point of the town and overlooked the vicinity for miles around. The Nimocks produced a family of journalists and they established the Minneapolis Journal & Times, which paper became one of the leading sheets in the city and throughout the state. In the acquirement of his early education Guy Alfred Thomas attended a private school in Fargo, North Dakota, and withdrew from school at the age of twelve years. He continued to educate himself, however, studying in his spare time, and his association with men of fine mentality and high intellectual attainments aided him to a great degree. He first came to Minneapolis in 1880, but returned to Fargo in the same year, remaining there until 1889, when he again came to Minneapolis, where he has since resided. His initial step into the business world was made as a newsboy, selling the Minneapolis Times, Penny Press, Journal & St. Paul Globe, and soon afterward he became associated with the Washburn-Crosby Company, as errand boy. His innate ability, laudable ambition and close application won for him steady advancement and he worked in every department, making for a number of years an excellent record as a salesman for the company. He is now one of the directors and managers and also has an interest in all of the concern's subsidiary companies. Mr. Thomas is like­wise identified with other enterprises of note being president of the Millers & Traders State Bank; director of the St. Anthony & Dakota Elevator Company; president of the Snelling Field Corporation; and he is owner of the Twin City aero landing field at Fort Snelling. In addition he has important food interests. On the 8th of February, 1901, occurred the marriage of Mr. Thomas to Miss Lulu Frisk, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Frisk of St. Paul. Her father was the organizer of the Bank of New Richmond, Wisconsin, of which institution he was president until 1912. He is now living retired, a highly esteemed and beloved citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have one son, Guy Alfred, Jr., who was born on November 18, 190S. Mrs. Thomas is a woman of much culture and refinement, possessing a charming personality, and she is socially prominent. Since attaining his majority Mr. Thomas has given his political endorsement to the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. He has long been a member of the. State Central committee of his party and has also served as president of the Hennepin County Democratic committee. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church and fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has held membership in Minneapolis Lodge, No. 44, for over twenty-five years and is considered an exemplary member of the order. Socially Mr. Thomas is connected with the Minikahda Club, Minneapolis Club, Minneapolis Athletic Club, Interlachen Club and Everglades Club, the last named an organization at Palm Beach, Florida. For four years following its organization, he was one of the directors of the Minneapolis Civic & Commerce Association and was a prime factor in its growth. Mr. Thomas is essentially a public-spirited citizen and his faith in Minneapolis is evidenced by his large property holdings. Since taking up his residence in this city he has wielded a great influence for the good of the general welfare and is highly esteemed for his integrity and sterling worth.