Dillard Jefferson Thomas

As printed in 1910

DILLARD JEFFERSON THOMAS, D. D. S.

The popular and efficient dentist. Dr. D. J. Thomas, of Maryville, Missouri, has attained an influential position in the professional circles of Nod away county while yet young in years, and it is a pleasure to the biographer to take up the record of his life, incorporating with it also a brief mention of his immediate ancestors.

Doctor Thomas was born April 4, 1881, at Whitesville. Andrew county, Missouri. His father is D. J. Thomas, a native of Kentucky and now a resident of Tarkio, Missouri, having come to this state about forty years ago. spending the past twenty-eight years in northwestern Missouri, where he is widely known, being engaged as a commercial traveler.

D. J. Thomas. Sr., has been a traveling salesman for twenty-eight years, beginning with the Turner-Frazer Mercantile Company of St. Joseph, Missouri; he is now with the Nave-McCord Mercantile Company, of that city. He educated his five boys in the best colleges. When fifteen or sixteen years old he entered the army during one of the late Indian wars, as a cook, which accomplishment he still retains. After three years in the army he returned to his “old Kentucky home” and worked his way through night school, and received a good education, taking the degree of Master of Arts. He then came to Missouri, settling in Whitesville, where he taught school for a few years, then he operated a mercantile business which he continued until he went on the road over half a century ago. He is one of the best known traveling men in the state.

The Thomas family is of Welsh descent. Grandfather Thomas was a native of Kentucky and in the early days he ivas in great demand as a stonemason. This family is related to General Thomas of Civil war fame, and its representatives through each generation in America have been noted for their willingness and ability to do things.

The Doctor’s mother was known in her maidenhood as Phoebe Kesterson, a native of Indiana, in which state her people were highly respected. She has hosts of friends about her home in Tarkio. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Thomas, Sr., named as follows: Ralph V. is auditor with the Harper Brothers Publishing Company of New York City: Dr. William A. is practicing dentistry at Omaha, Nebraska; Dr. Eugene L. is practicing dentistry at Fullerton, Nebraska; Lloyd E. is a traveling salesman out of St. Joseph, Missouri; Dr. D. J., Jr., of this review.

Doctor Thomas spent the first seventeen years of his life at Whites ville and there received his primary education in the public schools. Later he entered Tarkio College at Tarkio, Missouri, where he made an excellent record and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1899. Being musically inclined and having devoted considerable attention to the study of music, he began teaching this, one of the highest of the esthetic arts, and continued successfully at St. Joseph, Missouri, until 1901, then spent one year at Fullerton, Nebraska, in the dental office of his brother. Then, in 1902, he

45 entered the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, taking a three-years course in dentistry, graduating in 1905. He began practice in Philadelphia and remained there two years, while there he was a member of the faculty as demonstrator of operative dentistry in the University of Pennsylvania, being the youngest member of the faculty. This is evidence of his thorough mas tery of the science of dentistry and of his high standing with the instructors of that institution. In May, 1907, he located in Maryville, Missouri, and has been in the practice here ever since, building up an extensive patronage in the city and surrounding country. He has a neat and well-equipped office, which is always a busy place, and his practice is steadily growing. While in the university he took a course at the Philadelphia Hospital of Surgery and received a diploma from the same.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Doctor Thomas is a life member of the Dental Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania, and also of the General Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania, the Delta Sigma Delta fraternity, the Darby Dental Society of Pennsylvania, the State Dental Society and Academy of Stomatology. In all these he takes much interest and has an excellent stand ing among his professional brethren.

The Doctor is organist at the Christian church at Maryville. While in the university he was an officer in the Greek fraternity two years, was secretary of the Darby Dental Society, was conductor of the university band for two years, was editor-in-chief of the Class Record Book, and pianist in the university orchestra.

Mrs. Thomas is prominently associated with musical affairs in Maryville, being a musician of no mean ability, having studied under a special instructor in Philadelphia, and is an accomplished vocalist, singing in local churches.

As printed in Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.