Large, Thomas W.

LARGE, GERMAN, THORNE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/28/2003 at 14:13:05

THOMAS W. LARGE. 

The business interests of DeWitt are well represented in Mr. Large, who is not only successfully engaged in contracting and building, but also deals in lumber and all kinds of building material. He is a very wide-awake and energetic business man, and is meeting with excellent success in his undertakings. He is one of Clinton county’s native sons, his birth occurring on the old homestead farm, in DeWitt township, on the 7th of March, 1866. His parents were Thomas and Mary (German) Large, early settlers of this county. The father was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1821, and there he was first married. On his emigration to the United States, in 1844, he located in Boston, Massachusetts, where he engaged in the boot and shoe business for a time, and in 1859 came to DeWitt, where he carried on the same pursuit. Later he purchased a farm near the village and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. There he died in December, 1888. His second wife, the mother of our subject, died August, 1899.

Thomas W. Large grew to manhood on the home farm, and obtained his primary education in the country schools of the neighborhood. Later he attended the DeWitt high school and Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He has always been handy with tools, and during his youth did considerable carpenter work on the home farm and in the neighborhood. Later he commenced contracting and building, and has since given the greater part of his attention to that enterprise. On his removal to DeWitt, in 1895, he bought a half interest with Mr. Small in the lumber business, which his partner attended to, while he devoted his time to contracting and building. Many of the fine residences of DeWitt and surrounding country show the architectural skill and handiwork of Mr. Large, and during the busy season he employs from ten to fifteen men. His brother, R. H. Large, who is a young man of good business ability, has been his partner in the lumber business for some years, and has charge of the general business of the firm of Large Brothers. They carry a complete line of lumber and building material, hardware, wire fencing, etc., and have built up a good trade, being among the most energetic and enterprising business men of the town.

On Christmas day, 1896, in DeWitt, was celebrated the marriage of Thomas W. Large and Miss Zela B. Thorne, also a native of this county, and a daughter of Lyman H. Thorne, who came to DeWitt from Ohio. Francis Waldo, the only child born of this union, died at the age of seven months.

In his political views Mr. Large is a stanch Republican, but has never cared for official honors. He is a member of DeWitt Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is now senior warden, and is also a charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of that place. His wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and while he is not connected with any religious organization, he attends church with her and gives to its support. He has built for himself a good modern residence in DeWitt, and here he and his wife take great delight in entertaining their many friends.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.