John C. Thomas Biography


	This biography appears on pages 170-171 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN C. THOMAS.  

	John C. Thomas, a successful and enterprising representative of 
commercial and financial interests in South Dakota, in which state he 
has made his home for about a third of a century, has been engaged in 
business as a druggist of Marion since 1907 and has been the president 
of the Farmers Trust & Savings Bank since 1908. He was born in South 
Russia, of German parentage, on the 4th of June, 1872, a son of 
Cornelius and Annie Thomas, who emigrated to the United States in 1873. 
During the first eight years of their residence in this country they 
lived in Kansas and then, in 1881, came to South Dakota, locating on a 
homestead in Turner county, where the father carried on general 
agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. The mother, who 
survives, is well known and highly esteemed throughout her community.  

	John C. Thomas obtained his early education in the district 
schools and subsequently entered the South Dakota State College of 
Brookings, where he pursued a preparatory course and then began the 
study of pharmacy, completing the prescribed course with the class of 
1902. During the following four years he was engaged in clerking at 
Hartford, Arlington, Yankton and Wakonda and in 1907 he embarked in 
business on his own account as a druggist of Marion, where he has since 
enjoyed a gratifying and constantly growing patronage. Ho carries a 
complete line of drugs and druggists' sundries and has trebled his 
original stock. He is a popular member of the State Druggists, 
Association. In 1908 he became an active factor in financial circles as 
president of the Farmers Trust & Savings Bank and has since remained at 
its head and is also one of its directors. He manages the interests of 
the institution so wisely and well that it has enjoyed continued growth 
and success.  

	On the 10th of October, 1906, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage 
to Miss Eva Bohlman, a daughter of George Bohlman. He gives his 
political allegiance to the republican party and is a most public-
spirited and enterprising citizen whose cooperation is given in support 
of many projects instituted to promote the general welfare. He has held 
the office of school clerk for four years and has served as town clerk 
for a period of three years, making a creditable record in both 
connections. In religious faith he is a Protestant, while fraternally 
he is identified with the Woodmen and the independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. Mr. Thomas is deeply interested in South Dakota and its 
development and is widely recognized as one of the respected and 
representative citizens of his community.