Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 28

Emmet E. Thomas, secretary and treasurer of the E. E. Thomas Optical Company, has for many years been a representative of one of Milwaukee's most important business interests. A native of Michigan, he was born in Hartford, November 15, 1872, and is a son of Nathan and Rebecca A. (Votaw) Thomas, both of whom are deceased. The father was born in Winona, Ohio, and in early life removed to Michigan, locating in Hartford, where he won prominence in mercantile circles and also as postmaster of that place. For eight years he filled the office of sheriff of Van Buren county, and his death in 1915 came as a severe blow to his many friends in the community. Mrs. Thomas was born in Gilford, Ohio, and was a daughter of Moses Votaw, a representative agriculturist of that section of the country.

Emmet E. Thomas is indebted to the public schools of Hartford, Michigan, for his early education and after graduating from the Paw Paw high school enrolled as a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. There he took a commercial course, upon completion of which he went to work for his father as deputy sheriff and was also for a part of the time engaged on his father's farm. Subsequently, however, he decided to become an optician and, going to Laporte, Indiana, entered an optical school, where in addition to learning all about eyes and glasses, he became an expert engraver. After six months in that school he went to Evansville, Indiana, where for one year he put his learning into practical use, and after two years in Ottawa, Illinois, and Waukesha. Wisconsin, removed to Milwaukee about 1900. He was associated with a wholesale optical company for thirteen years and during that time his ability and conscientious performance of every duty assigned him won him constant promotion. He was first employed as shop foreman and as traveling salesman for six years, covering the country from coast to coast. During the last five years of his association with that company he filled the position of manager. In 1915 he determined to go into the business on his own account and, buying out the Federal Optical Company, changed its name to the E. E. Thomas Optical Company, having been active in its operation ever since. At first offices were maintained in the Caswell block but in 1919 were removed to suite 514, Security building, 209 Grand avenue. On the 15th of September, 1921, The Thomas Optical Company of Madison, Wisconsin, opened a wholesale business in the new First Central building. As the result of the keen business ability and careful management of Mr. Thomas, the business has grown to extensive proportions, covering Wisconsin and surrounding states and requiring the services of many traveling men. A strictly wholesale business is carried on by the company and they specialize in filling prescriptions for glasses for oculists and opticians.

In 1898, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Grace Churchill, a daughter of Lewis Churchill, who was for many years postmaster of Gobleville, Michigan, and is now in the automobile business. Mr. Churchill was born in Canada. One son, Edward Churchill Thomas, has been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, and his natal day was the 15th of May, 1907. Mrs. Thomas is prominently known in club and social circles of Milwaukee and took an active part in the prohibition movement. She devotes a great part of her time to church work and is president of the Woman's Guild of the First Baptist church.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Thomas has given his allegiance to the republican party, although he has never sought nor desired political preferment as a reward for party fealty. He is secretary of the board of trustees of the First Baptist church and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias. He likewise holds membership in the Kiwanis and City Clubs and the Association of Commerce, and along the line of his business interests is a member of the American Association of Wholesale Opticians, has been on its board of directors, and is now territorial president. His time and energies are concentrated upon his business affairs, and he has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community.