Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Thoms, James H. 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 8, 2020, 8:39 pm

Source: Alden, Ogle & Co.
Author: See Below

  James H. THOMS, a resident of Union 0 Grove township, is one of the successful
farmers and stock-raisers in the northern part of the county.

   The subject of our sketch is the son of James and Lucy (Brown) Thoms, and was
born in the town of Sebec, Me. While he was quite young his parents removed to
Kilmornac, Me., where his father engaged in farming and lumbering, but finding it a
hard place to make a living in, he moved to Bangor, Me. When James H. was fourteen
years of age he learned the carpenter’s trade, and remained at home until he was
twenty; then, with some acquaintances, he left for the West, stopping in Wisconsin a
short time., He came to Minnesota in the fall of 1849. It was then a territory, St.
Paul and St. Anthony being small villages at that time, and Minneapolis was not even
started. Hauling supplies to the Indians was the main business done outside the
villages.

   Mir. Thoms engaged for four years in hauling supplies from St. Paul to Fort
Ripley, and any other points where the Indians were to be paid their annuities.

   Some of the log hotels, or stopping places, had squaw landladies, and others were
kept by bachelors. Mr. Thoms left the road and worked at his trade for two years,
and finally took up a claim in Eden Prairie township, sixteen miles south of
Minneapolis, in Hennepin county.

   On August 12, 1855, he married Miss Annette F. Hamblet, of Eden Prairie, a young
lady, nineteen years of age. He remained on his farm a few years, then moved to
Chanhassen, Carver county, where he stayed but a short time, then moved to Castle
Rock, Dakota county, where he stayed a few years, engaged in farming. Then, hearing
of the many virtues of Meeker county, he removed to Union Grove township in the fall
of 1867, and took up a homestead on section 20. Five years later, he sold that place
and bought a farm of 100 acres, on section 25 and 36, where he has since lived.

   The farm is one of the most valuable in the township, and the building
improvements are a credit to the neighborhood in which they are located.

   Mr. and Mrs. Thoms have been blessed with nine children, seven of whom are now.
living, two girls and five boys— Frank, the eldest, is married, and lives at Newark,
D. T., where he is, in company with a partner, running a grain elevator. E. L. and
D. C. Thoms, the two next oldest, own a roller flour mill at Ashby, Grant county,
Minn. The fourth son, Ben. H., is a graduate from Curtiss’ Business College,
Minneapolis, and is in Minnesota at the present time. One daughter is a
stenographer, amd the other is a seamstress; both reside in Minneapolis at present.
Earl W., the youngest, remains at home with his parents. In politics, Mr. Thoms is a
strong democrat. He came to the county comparatively a poor man, but is now well
fixed as to this world’s goods, and is rated as one of the most solid and
substantial citizens of the county. He is truly a pioneer in the State, and also of
the county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
Illustrated Album of Biography
Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota
1888


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/meeker/bios/thoms151nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mnfiles/

File size: 3.6 Kb