THOMAS B. THOMAS, dealer in dry goods, cloaks, boots and shoes, is one
of the leading merchants of Murphysboro, and an enterprising and
public-spirited citizen. A native of Wales, he was born August 15, 1857, and
is a son of D. B. Thomas, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. At
the age of seven, he accompanied his father on his emigration to America,
and in April, 1870, he reached Murphysboro, His home has since been in
Jackson County, and those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among
his stanchest friends, a fact which indicates a well spent life. He was
educated in the public schools of Mt. Carbon, and in 1874 began clerking for
E. B. Pellet, a general merchant of Murphysboro, with whom he continued
until 1878. He was then in the employ of Samuel Desberger for six months,
and afterward was with A. C. Bryden & Co., dealers in general merchandise,
until 1883. In that year Mr. Bryden failed.
Soon afterward Mr.
Thomas, in connection with Messrs. Chapman and Kent, purchased Mr. Bryden's
stock and carried on the business under the firm name of W. C. Kent & Co.,
until the spring of 1886, when Mr. Thomas retired and entered into
partnership with W. P. Hubble. They purchased a new stock of dry goods and
boots and shoes and opened a store in the Kennedy Block, where they
continued until 1887, when they removed to the present location. The
following year our subject bought out his partner and has since been alone
in business. He enjoys a most excellent trade, and his enterprise and
industry have made him one of the leading merchants of Murphysboro.
In 1882, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Mariah Kane, a native
of Missouri, and a sister of John R. Kane, whose sketch appears elsewhere in
this work. Their union was blessed with eight children, of whom five are
living: Leonard, Aritus, Willis, Thomas B. and May.
In 1881, Mr.
Thomas and Mr. Chapman purchased one hundred and forty acres of land at
Vergennes Station, and from it secured enough timber to pay for the
property. Then prospecting, they found upon it a four and a-half foot vein
of coal, and sold the place for $25 per acre, thus realizing considerable
profit. In 1892, our subject built the Thomas Block, 45x75 feet, on Broad
Street. His store at the northwest corner of the square is 44x50 feet. He
was also one of the organizers of the City National Bank, and a member of
the first Board of Directors. He has since resigned that position, however,
but is yet a stockholder. He was an organizer of the Southern Illinois
Building and Loan Association, and has been its Treasurer from the
beginning. He is connected with the Cripple Revenge Threshing Company, and
is its Treasurer and Director. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to
a successful completion, and hence his business career has been a prosperous
one. He is now the possessor of a handsome competence, and in his various
enterprises he has aided materially in the advancement of the city's
interest. He belongs to the Odd Fellows' society of Mt. Carbon, and
exercises his right of franchise in support of the Democracy.
Extracted 01 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1894 Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry, and Monroe Counties, Illinois, pages 664-665.