Biography of William A. Thomas, pages 501/502/503.  History 
of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.,  
Indianapolis, 1914.



The subject of this review enjoys distinctive prestige 
among the enterprising business men of the thriving city of 
Auburn and as a neighbor and citizen is highly esteemed by 
all who know him. He has earned the right to be called one 
of the progressive men of DeKalb county,  having fought his 
way onward and upward to a prominent position in industrial 
circles and in every relation of life his voice and 
influence are on the side of right as he sees and 
understands the right. The gentleman whose name appears at 
the head of this sketch is well known through his business 
activities, his participation in important political 
affairs and his social connection with fraternal 
organizations, and is also widely known because of his 
interest in the Island Park Inn at Hamilton lake, which he 
and his partner, H. C. Henry, have recently established, 
and which is rapidly becoming one of the most popular 
summer resorts of the country.  William A. Thomas was born 
on the present site of Garrett, Indiana, on November 14, 
1868, and is a son of David and Jemima (Link) Thomas. He is 
also a brother of Ralph L. Thomas, in whose sketch, found 
elsewhere in this work, are given the particulars of the 
Thomas family history. At about the age of three years the 
subject of this sketch came to Auburn with his parents and 
has ever since been a resident of this city. He  received 
his education in the public schools and in his young 
manhood he learned the baker's trade. In 1890, in 
partnership with his brother, Ralph L., he engaged in the 
bakery business, with which he has been identified 
practically all of the time since, in partnership with his 
brother up to the time the latter was elected sheriff in 
1909, since which time he has continued alone under the 
name of Thomas Baking Company. Twenty-five years' 
experience has given him a thorough understanding of every 
detail of his business and he now has a plant up to date in 
every respect and the largest in the eastern part of 
Indiana north of Fort Wayne. He not only supplies the local 
trade, but also ships large quantities of bread to other 
towns in this section, his products begin in large demand 
wherever a discriminating taste is consulted. In the fall 
of 1912 Mr. Thomas and Harry C. Henry bought an island of 
fifteen acres at Hamilton lake,  and there they have 
established a strictly modern summer resort which in an 
admirable location has already attracted the attention of 
those seeking a pleasant place in which to spent the summer 
months. Messrs. Thomas and Henry have erected a thirty-room 
hotel known as the Island Inn and elegantly located at the 
most conspicuous and favorable location on the island, 
furnished with furniture equal to the most desirable home, 
has electric lights, running water, a large veranda, out-of 
doors sleeping rooms, a spacious dining room, ice cream 
parlor,  pavilion, experienced cooks, tennis grounds, 
boats, swings, tables, sanitary drinking fountains and 
lavatories and all other features which are characteristic 
of the most up-to-date resorts of this kind. Cottages are 
also being erected nearby and broad roads and a two-
hundred-foot bridge has been made to connect with the 
mainland, other features being added which have enhanced 
the natural advantages supplied by nature. The bathing 
beach is one of the finest in Indiana and altogether Island 
Park is destined to become one of the notable pleasure 
resorts of northern Indiana. These gentlemen deserve great 
credit for the enterprise which they have exhibited in the 
establishment and completion of this ideal haven of rest.  
Mr. Thomas is a Democrat in his political views and has for 
many years been active in the local organization of this 
party, being an influential factor in its campaigns. 
Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Maccabees, 
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and other 
organizations, in all of which he has taken an intelligent 
interest.  In March, 1887, Mr. Thomas was united in 
marriage with Frenchie Stonebraker, a daughter of George 
and Mary (Myers) Stonebraker, her birth having occurred at 
McClure, Ohio, where she was reared and where she lived 
until a year or two before her marriage, when she came to 
Auburn. She lost her mother by death early in life and her 
father married two years later Rosaline Galmore. He moved 
to Auburn and there became a foreman in the Church 
furniture factory, but is now farming four miles east of 
Auburn, where he owns a splendid tract of land. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Thomas has been born a son, Winfred, who first saw the 
light of day on September 22, 1894. Mr. Thomas is a man of 
sterling qualities and has made his success in business by 
being honest, strictly square in all his dealings, his 
upright principles and genial disposition not only winning 
and retaining numerous customers, but a host of friends as 
well.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com