BioA: Thoma, Mr./Mrs. Wm. C. (50th Anniversary 1931)

Transcriber: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Thoma, Floerke, Beyer

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 11 June 1931

Thoma, Mr./Mrs. William Carl (50th Anniversary 5 June 1931)

Fifty years of life’s journey together was celebrated Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Thoma by a large gathering of relatives and friends, June 5 was the anniversary, but the meeting for convenience sake was held Sunday. Few married couples reach the half-century goal and few there are who have led more active and useful lives to the community than Mr. and Mrs. Thoma.

After the manner of women of pioneer times Mrs. Thoma’s activities were confined largely to the duties of home and family and neighborly needs. Mr. Thoma’s energies carried his work in many and various private and public enterprises.

William Carl Thoma was born at Oak Creek, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sept. 10, 1860. His father was a Lutheran minister, who died when the son was three years old. The mother moved to Jefferson county where William C. grew to manhood attended school and engaged in farm work. On June 5, 1881 he was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Floerke, who was born in Jefferson county. They engaged in farming in the south part of the state until 1892, when they moved to the town of Weston in Clark county, and secured land of their own; gradually increasing their holdings and enlarging their clearing, putting up modern farm buildings and equipping the farm with good machinery and fine livestock. Mr. Thoma helped to organize the Clark County Butter Co., one of the first successful milk concerns in this region. He was president of this company for more than ten years. He took an active part in town affairs, holding the office of town treasurer, assessor and representing the town for some time on the county board. In 1907 he was elected Supervisor of Assessment, serving for four years most efficiently. He was later elected County Highway Commissioner. He had long taken an interest in highway construction; at the time of his election the road systems of the state were just in their infancy and Mr. Thoma had to depend largely on his own constructive ability in carrying out his work, but he was considered one of the most efficient highway commissioners in the state. In 1920 the Wisconsin Highway department offered him the position of State Road Inspector, but on account of poor health, he was obliged to decline, resigning from all road work that year.

Mr and Mrs. Thoma moved to Neillsville in 1913 and have since made their home here. He was elected to the city council in 1921, serving till 1924, when he was elected Mayor, holding this office several terms. In every public office and in all his public and private business Mr. Thomas has shown himself to be a worthy and upright citizen.

Mr and Mrs. Thoma are the parents of five children: Paul in Roswell, New Mexico; Will H. at Toledo, Oregon; Carl in Neillsville; Ben on the home farm; Helen, Mrs. Wm. F. Beyer in Pine Valley. They leave also 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The gathering at the home to commemorate their marriage was greatly enjoyed by all present. A fine dinner was served at about 5 o’clock p.m., many remaining during the evening and a lunch was served at midnight. This entire community joints in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Thoma and in wishing them many more happy years along the sunset slope of life.

 

 


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