Clark County OhArchives Biographies.....Thomas, William S. April 22, 1857 - May 1, 1922
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Carolyn Golowka cgolowka@prodigy.net July 14, 2005, 4:47 pm

Author: Hon. William M. Rockel

HON. WILLIAM S. THOMAS, president of the Mad River National Bank, at 
Springfield, and president and treasurer of The Thomas Manufacturing Company, 
has been identified with important business interests in Clark County during 
the whole period of his active life.  Mr. Thomas was born in Springfield, Ohio, 
April 22, 1857, and is a son of Hon. John H. and Mary (Bonser) Thomas.

William S. Thomas received his early education in both public and private 
schools, and was fourteen years old when he entered Wooster University, where 
he was graduated with honors in 1875, being at the time and for years afterward 
the youngest graduate of that institution.  His father, the late John H. 
Thomas, had been engaged in the manufacturing of agricultural instruments prior 
to this time, and he subsequently organized, with his two sons, William S. and 
Findlay B., The Thomas Manufacturing Company, which has long ranked with the 
leading industrial firms of the state, and which William S. Thomas became 
treasurer in 1886, and also president in 1901.  The name of Thomas appearing on 
agricultural implements is a guarantee of excellence the world over, and the 
products of this company include every kind of useful agricultural implement, 
with a few manufactured only by this concern.  Mr. Thomas has other business 
interests, being a leading financier of this section, and he is also a very 
large property owner, both in the city of Springfield and throughout Clark 
County.

On December 8, 1887, Mr. Thomas was married to Fannie Senteny, who was born in 
Louisville, Kentucky.  They have had three children, namely:  John Henry, 
Wallace Senteny, and Lucretia.  The eldest son died June 26, 1906.  The family 
home at No. 345 East High Street, Springfield, is one of taste and elegance.

Mr. Thomas is an earnest democrat, and since 1895 he has been continuously a 
member of the Democratic State Central Committee, and for hears he has never 
failed to attend all important Democratic conventions as a delegate.  He has 
ably and unselfishly filled many of the important civic offices and in every 
way he is well qualified for any honor in the gift of his party.  He was the 
president of and most zealous worker in that well-known organization, the 
Jefferson Club, from 1880 until 1890.  IN the various organizations of a 
benevolent, educational, religious and business character pertaining to 
Springfield, Mr. Thomas has been more than ready to acknowledge every manly 
obligation, and has been generous in the contribution of time, advice and 
money.  For many years he served as president of the Board of Trustees of the 
First Presbyterian Church, while the Young Men’s Christian Association has 
continually been an object of his beneficence.  He is a member of the 
Springfield Commercial Club, and recently has been chosen president of the Ohio 
Shipper’s Association.


Additional Comments:
Source of this Biography:
"20th Century History of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio and Representative 
Citizens," edited and compiled by Hon. William M. Rockel; Published by 
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, pages 896-897.

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