Marvin B. Thomas, WHC Collections 0079.001.0002

Marvin Benjamin Thomas

Job Title(s)

Fireman

Dates of Employment

c. 1928-abt 1936

Last Name  Thomas 
First Name  Marvin 
Middle Initial  Benjamin 
Born  2 Sep 1884 in Marshall County, IN 
Home Addresses 

(1929-1934) 

 Turner, OR 
Died  8 Aug 1960 in Salem, OR 
Place Buried  Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, OR.  
Wife  Almeda Sheets 
Date of Marriage  2 Jan 1917 in Clarke County, WA 
Children  Richard P Thomas, Anna K Thomas Van Horn 
Dates of Employment  1928 to about 1936 
Job(s)  Fireman 
Story  Marvin Thomas worked for TKWM between 1928 and about 1932. 

Marvin Benjamin Thomas was born on 2 Sep 1884 in Plymouth, Indiana to Samuel and Katherine Thomas. Father Samuel was a farmer. By 1900, Marvin’s family had moved to North Dakota where Samuel continued to farm. In 1910, when Marvin was 16, the family moved to another farm in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.  

We next find 33-year-old Marvin on 2 Jan 1917 in Clarke County, WA where he married 21-year-old Almeda Sheets of Turner, OR. How the couple met or spent time together is unknown. However, after the wedding, they returned to live in Foremost, Alberta, Canada for two years. 

On 8 Aug 1919, Marvin, Almeda and their first child Richard crossed back into the US at Sweet Grass, MT with the intention of joining Almeda’s father, Sylvester Sheets, in Salem, OR. In the 1920 census, we find Marvin and family in a rented house, in Turner, OR where he worked at a sawmill.   

Marvin had one other job before landing at TKWM in 1928 where he worked as a common laborer. The family kept their home on RD1 in Turner. Marvin remained at TKWM through about 1936. For the next 9 years, we lose track of the Thomas family. 

In 1945, we find Marvin and Almeda back in Salem, in an apartment at 1915 Church St. Marvin worked at the SB Company. Within two years, the couple had moved to a poultry farm in East Salem. Son Richard was a farm laborer and 19-year-old daughter Anna worked as seamstress for the WPA.  

Marvin’s last address was 755 Ratcliff Dr in Salem where he passed away on 8 Aug 1960 at age 75. Almeda passed in 1964. They are both buried at Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem.   
   
References 
Name  Remarks 
Census  1900 Marvin Thomas. Born Sep 1884 in IN. Baker, ND. Son of HOH. Father born in OH. Mother born in IN. Samuel Thomas 53 (farmer), Katherine Thomas 45, Marvin Thomas 15, Edward Thomas 12, Raymond Thomas 10, Kirtha Thomas 4.  

1911 CANADA. Marvin B Thomas. Single. American/Norwegian. Born Sep 1884. Son of HOH. Immigration year 1910. Medicine Hat, Alberta. Farmer. Samuel S Thomas 64, Katherine Thomas 56, Marvin B Thomas 26, Hertha Thomas 15.  

1920 Marvin B Thomas. Born about 1885. Married HOH. Rents home in Turner, OR. Father born in USA. Mother born in OH. Laborer, Sawmill. Marvin B Thomas 35, Almeda Thomas 33, Richard Thomas 11, Anna Thomas 9. 

1930 Marvin B Thomas. Born about 1885 in Indiana. Married HOH. Owns home in Turner, OR. No radio set. Age at first marriage 33. Father born in US. Mother born in MI. Laborer, Woolen Mill. Marvin B Thomas 45, Almeda Thomas 33, Richard Thomas 11, Anna Thomas 9. 

1940 Marvin B Thomas. Born about 1885 in Indiana. Married HOH. Owns home in Turner, OR. Father born in US. Mother born in MI. Farm Laborer. 8th grade education. Weeks worked in 1939, 19.  No other sources of income. Marvin B Thomas 55, Almeda Thomas 43, Richard P Thomas 21 (Farm Laborer), Anna K Thomas 19 (Sewer, WPA Project).  
City Directories  1924 M Thomas (Almeda). Second Hand, S P Co. 

1928 M Thomas. Fireman TKWM. No address. 

1930 Marvin B Thomas (Almeda) Asst Fireman TKWM. RD1, Turner, OR. 

1932 No M Thomas in Salem City or Turner.  

1935 No M Thomas in Salem City or Turner.  

1936 – 1940 Not in Salem or Turner 

1945 Marvin B (Almeda) Lab SB Co. 1915 Church St Apt 1 

1947 Marvin B (Almeda) Farmer. 155 Ratcliff Dr 

1949 Marvin B (Almeda) Thomas Poultry Farm. 155 Ratcliff Dr 

1951 Marvin B (Almeda) Farmer. 155 Ratcliff Dr  
Find a Grave  Marvin Benjamin Thomas  Birth: 2 Sep 1884 in Marshall County, IN. Death: 8 Aug 1960 in Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 156382634  

Almeda Sheets Thomas  Birth: 1897 in MO. Death: 28 Feb 1964 in Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 156382619 
Newspapers.com  Capital Journal 9 Aug 1960 p 13  Marvin Thomas Obituary 
Washington State Marriage Records  Marvin B Thomas (33), farmer, born about 1885 in IN, married Almeda Sheets (21), housekeeper, on 2 Jan 1917 in Clarke County, WA. His father Samuel S Thomas and Mother Katherine Shaffer. First marriage for each. Marvin lived in Alberta, Canada. Almeda lived in Turner, OR. 
WW2 Draft Card  Marvin Benjamin Thomas. Age 57. Birth: 2 Sep 1884 in Plymouth, Indiana. Residence: Rt 5, Box 129 Salem, OR. Self Employed. NOK H H Thomas, 4687 St Green Ave, Detroit, MI.  
US Border Crossings from Canada  Marvin B Thomas accompanied by Wife and Child. Race: English. Age: 35.  Record Type: Cards. Birth: abt 1884 in Marshal Co, IN. Arrival Date: 8 Aug 1919 in Sweet Grass, MT. Last permanent address Foremost, Alta, Canada. Plan to join Father-in-Law Sylvester Sheets in Salem, OR. 
WHC Materials  M3 1966-001        Mill Records 

0079.001.0002     PhotoÂ