James K. Thomas

As printed in 1905

JAMES K. THOMAS.

The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader’s attention is herewith directed is among the foremost business men of Middletown and has by his energy and progressive business methods contributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of the city and county. He has in the course of an honorable career been most successful in the business enterprises with which he has been connected and is well deserving of mention in the biographical history of Butler county.

James K. Thomas is a native of the city of Hamilton, Ohio, having first seen the light of day on the 29th of September, 1829. He is a son of James B. and Lydia (Jones) Thomas, the former of whom was a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, born in September. 1792. In early life he removed to Erie, Pennsylvania, and served as a private soldier all through the war of 1812, participating in the battle of Lake Erie. He was a carpenter by trade and after the close of the war he went to New Orleans and there followed his trade for a time. Subsequently he came to Hamilton, Ohio, and resided there during the remainder of his life. In 1828 he was appointed postmaster of Hamilton by General Jackson, retaining the position until 1848, when he resigned and for a while served as deputy postmaster. He was a man of pronounced ability and energetic temperament and stood high among his associates.

James K. Thomas received his education in the common schools and was also for a time under the instructions of a private tutor, becoming thus fairly well equipped for life’s struggle. Upon the completion of his education he accepted a clerkship in a private bank, in which position he was enabled to acquire an insight into practical business methods which was of inestimable value to him in later years. As soon as practicable Mr. Thomas engaged in business upon his own responsibility, by engaging, with others, in the milling business. After conducting this enterprise for six years, with fairly satisfactory results, the subject went to Cincinnati and for six years was there engaged in the commission business. In 1866 he moved to Middletown and the following year established the firm known as the Wardlow-Thomas Paper Company, with which he is still connected. This firm has acquired a splendid reputation for the high grade of products it puts on the market and is enjoying a high degree of prosperity. Not a little of this prosperity is due to the indefatigable efforts of the subject, who has given the major part of his time to the business. The company employs a large force of efficient workmen, the pay-roll amounting to about six hundred dollars per week, while the mill output amounts to an average of twenty thousand pounds daily. It is one of the foremost enterprises of Middletown and because of the progressive spirit evinced by the promoters they have won the confidence of the business world.

Mr. Thomas was united in marriage, October 27, 1852, to Miss Harriet A. Mc- Maken, a daughter of M. C. McMaken and a native of Butler county. Her father was also a native of this county and was the father of five children, four, daughters and a son, the latter being at the present time the secretary and treasurer of the company with which his father is connected. Mr.

Thomas was the father of three daughters and one son. Mr. Thomas is a member of the First Presbyterian church of Middletown and has taken an active part in religious matters from his youth up. He takes a deep interest in everything looking to the advancement of the material, moral and educational interests of his community and contributes liberally of his time and means to all worthy objects. Politically he is a firm advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, having formerly been a Democrat and having cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. He is a man of broad humanitarian principles and of upright life and by all is esteemed for his genuine worth.

As printed in Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.