THOMAS, Clarence

THOMAS, JERAL, DUNCAN, KNIGHT, NELSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/25/2003 at 09:20:46

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

CLARENCE THOMAS.

Among the citizens of Clinton who have devoted their time and attention to railroading since early manhood is Clarence Thomas, who has been in the employ of the Chicago & Northwester Railway since 1881, and during this time has made his home in Clinton. He was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, February 12, 1862, a son of John and Susan Jeral Thomas, the former a native of Gloucester, the latter also of Gloucester. The father, who was a sea captain, died at Gloucester in 1867, but the mother is still living at the age of sixty-five years, and is now the wife of William H. Knight, aged eighty-five. They now reside at 329 First avenue, Clinton. Mr. Knight was one of the early settlers of Fulton, Illinois. Our subject is the youngest of a family of three children, the others being Mabel, wife of L. Duncan, of Kansas; and F. N., a railroad man of Clinton. By the mother’s second marriage she has one son, E. E. Knight, who is employed in a sawmill at Clinton.

Clarence Thomas was reared on a farm near Fulton, Whiteside county, Illinois, and obtained his education in the country of the neighborhood. On leaving home in 1878 he went to Kansas, where he followed farming until 1881, when he came to Clinton, Iowa, and secured a position as brakeman on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. In 1885 he was promoted to conductor with a run between Clinton and Belle Plaine, and when the division was changed his run was also changed to Boone. He now has a regular fast freight run on the California Special and No. 26. His railroad career has been especially fortunate, in that he has met with no personal injury, and he has always had the confidence of the company, as well as the respect of his associates. In 1886 he and his brother purchased the home of the latter on First avenue.

In December, 1898, at Clinton, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Annie Nelson, who was born in this city, in 1877. Her father, who was a shoemaker by trade, is now deceased, but her mother still survives him and continues her residence in Clinton. Mr. Thomas is a member of Division No. 33, O. R. C., and is a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.