Willard D. Thomas, who is assistant
postmaster of Wadsworth, is a veteran of the World War and a member of
an honored pioneer family of Medina County. He was born at Wadsworth,
Feb. 13, 1898, the son of Lewis C. and Mamie C. (Lucas) Thomas.
Lewis C. Thomas was born at Thomastown,
now a part of Akron, Ohio, July 14, 1874, and spent his early life
there. He was the son of John and Emily (Hamlin) Thomas. The
former was a native of Wales and came to the United States in middle
life and settled at Thomastown, Ohio, where he engaged in coal mining.
Later he purchased a farm near Hamtown, Summit County, where he spent
the remainder of his life. He died at the age of 80 years, and his
wife, a native of England, died in 1921, at the age of 84 years. Both
are buried at Akron. They were the parents of nine children, of whom
Lewis C, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the
youngest. He was married Nov. 24, 1897, at Doylestown, Ohio, to
Mamie C. Lucas, who still resides in the old Lucas homestead in
Wadsworth Township, where she was born, June 2, 1879. She is the
daughter of Samuel and Susan (Long) Lucas. Samuel
Lucas was born at Mt. Jackson, Va., and came to Wadsworth Township
about 1875. For a number of years he engaged in general farming and
stock raising and at the time of his death in 1928 was living retired
at Wadsworth. His wife was born in Wadsworth Township, Feb. 19, 1849,
and died March 20, 1928. Both are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery,
Wadsworth. Susan (Long) Lucas was the daughter of David and
Catherine (Snyder) Long, who were natives of Westmoreland County,
Pa.
David Long was two years old when his parents
came to Ohio and settled on a farm south of Wadsworth. They were among
the first families to settle in Richland County and became prosperous
farmers.
To Lewis C. and Mamie C. (Lucas) Thomas were
born six children: 1. Willard D., the subject of this sketch.
2. Harold, born Aug. 28, 1899, unmarried, lives at home. 3.
Wayne, born Nov. 20, 1902, unmarried, lives at home. 4. Glenn
E., born Dec. 24, 1905, employed in the Akron office of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, lives at home. 5. Leonard W., born
May 11, 1909, employed with the B. & F. Rubber Company at Akron. 6.
Catherine Eileen, born Feb. 27, 1921.
Willard D. Thomas received his education in the public schools
of Wadsworth and entered the employ of the Ohio Match Company,
Wadsworth, after his graduation from high school in 1916. During the
World War he enlisted for service in April, 1918, and served as a
member of Battery B, 73rd Artillery, being stationed at Fort Adams, R.
I. He was later transferred to Camp Mills, N. Y., and sailed for
France Aug. 2, 1918. After the close of the war he returned to
the United States and was discharged from Camp Sherman, Ohio, Feb. 12,
1919. Mr. Thomas was then employed by the Ohio Injector
Company at Wadsworth until April, 1924, when he entered the local post
office as a clerk. He was appointed assistant postmaster on July 1,
1927.
On March 17, 1926, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with
Miss Pauline Derhammer, a graduate of Wadsworth High School, class
of 1924. She is the daughter of William and Delsie
(Boyer) Derhammer; the former is deceased, and the
latter lives at Wadsworth. She is now the wife of Charles
Keckler. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have a daughter,
Marjorie Jean, born Oct. 28, 1927.
Mr. Thomas is a Republican and a
member of the Medina County-Republican Club. He holds membership in
the Lutheran Church and belongs to the Lions Club, and the American
Legion, Post No. 170.
(SOURCE: History of north central Ohio : embracing Richland, Ashland,
Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron and Knox Counties) |
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