William G. Thomas

   WILLIAM G. THOMAS.  As editor of the Western Enterprise at Anson, Mr. Thomas has been able to wield a very effective influence for the betterment and advancement of his section of West Texas. Both through his paper and through his personality he has been one of the loyal boosters of west Texas in general, and Jones county, in particular, for a number of years.
   William G. Thomas was born in Llano county, Texas, June 29, 1875, and was the third in a family of eight children born to Rev. William G. and Mary (Chamberlain) Thomas. His father, who died in 1889, at the age of about forty-one years, and is buried in Fisher county, was a native of this state, and was a prosperous cattle rancher, took an active part in politics, and served as the first county elective judge of Fisher county. He was a minister of the Baptist faith, but never took a salary, and preached for the good of souls. His widow, who was born in Texas, and who shared with her husband in his devotion to the church, now resides at Anson with her son William.
   Mr. William G. Thomas, who has spent all his career in Texas, obtained his early education in the public schools of Llano county. His father died when the son was thirteen years old, and that event threw him upon his own responsibility, and not only did he have to provide for his own livelihood, but for a number of years contributed to the support of his widowed mother, and the younger children in the family. When hardly old enough to mount into the saddle he became a cowboy, and continued working on cattle ranches, until he was about twenty-six years of age. Finally his means allowed him to direct his energies to a more congenial field, and he found a place in the printing office of the Roby Banner in Fisher county. He has been in the printing and publishing business ever since. For several years he worked on various newspapers and in all capacities from compositor to editor, in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. On April 15, 1905, he came to Anson and bought the Western Enterprise, a paper which under his management has become one of the best country journals in the western section of the state. It enjoys a large circulation throughout Jones and adjoining counties.
   Mr. Thomas was married in Fisher county, October 7, 1903, to Miss Minnie Davis, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vol Davis, of Fisher county. The four children, three sons and one daughter, born to their marriage are:  Willard, Velma, William G., Jr., and Frederick. Mr. Thomas, while not an active member of any church prefers the church of his parents, the Baptist. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed through all the chairs of his local lodge. A Democrat, he interests himself especially in state and national politics, and has always supported good government in his home locality. Mr. Thomas through many years of thrifty management and honorable business relations, has built up a generous prosperity, and has other interests outside of his publishing plant. He finds great pleasure in the handling of live stock, and enjoys hunting and fishing.


from A History of Texas and Texans, by Frank W. Johnson.  The American Historical Society.  Chicago, 1914.  Vol. III, p. 1092.