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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND 21
father, who provided well for them. He was a great lover and admirer of
Henry Ward Beecher, having heard him preach when he was ill and after losing
his first wife, and his sermon gave Mr. Jones new courage. Life looked less
dark to him and he took heart to press on. He was a good, kind-hearted, loving
man, whose history was a proof of the fact which Lincoln epigrammatically
expressed: "There is something better than making a living—making a life."
GEORGE M. THOMAS.
This is the age of the young men for it is the younger generation who are
forging to the front and infusing new blood into business life. They are now
demonstrating the beneficial effect of conducting their affairs according to new
methods, employing improved machinery and taking advantage of all opportunities
offered by twentieth century civilization. In Cleveland-—the home of
some of the most representative houses in the country—-are to be found men
who have barely passed the thirtieth milestone on life's journey who command
large concerns and are handling a trade that is steadily increasing in volume.
One of these industrial captains is George M. Thomas, who was born in this
city in 1878 but who is now at the head of a house that handles drafting and
engineering supplies and sells to the city trade and throughout northern Ohio.
He is a son of George B. Thomas, who is also a native of this city, having
been born here in 1843, and who was married in 1876 to Nellie Morgan, a native
of Cleveland. She and her husband reside in the city and he is now manager
of the United States Cast Iron & Foundry Company. The Thomas family is
connected with the early history of Cleveland, the grandfather of the subject
of this biography having built the first house on Wood street and the first
lighthouse in Ohio. He was one of the first builders and contractors of the
city and belonged to the early Western Reserve people.
After passing through the public schools of Cleveland, George M. Thomas
engaged in a hardware business with the George Worthington Company for
one year, severing that connection to enter the Atlas Bolt & Screw Company.
For two years he was in its office and then became connected with McBroom &
Company, dealers in drafting and engineering supplies. After two years there,
he was with the Kluger Optical Company for five years, and then, in 1907,
embarking in his present undertaking, has since devoted himself to it and its
expansion.
In July, 1901, Mr. Thomas married Corrian Curtis, who was bora in the
city, and they have become the parents of two children: Jack C. and Willard G.
Mrs. Thomas' grandfather ran a stage line between Cleveland and Buffalo
and was interested in the canal. He, too, was one of the early settlers of this
locality. Mr. Thomas is a republican but has not sought public preferment.
He is a live, prosperous business man, whose success has been gratifying not
only to himself but those who are interested in his progress and proud of his
achievements.
OTTO C. WEHE.
No man is elevated to the position of head of a large concern unless he possesses
in marked degree a fitness for discharging the duties of such a position.
Upon the executive of any enterprise devolves so much responsibility that he
must be able to meet the requirements of his office or the interests centered in
him suffer. Otto C. Wehe, president of the Pioneer Manufacturing Company,
although still young in years, possesses just those characteristics necessary to insure
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