James E. Thomas (Iowa auditor)
J. E. Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Iowa State Treasurer | |
| In office January 21, 1925[1] – January 1927 | |
| Preceded by | Gillet Haynes |
| Succeeded by | Katherine Southworth |
| 22nd Iowa State Auditor | |
| In office September 1, 1924 – January 1, 1925 | |
| Governor | Nathan E. Kendall |
| Preceded by | Glenn C. Haynes |
| Succeeded by | James C. McClune |
| Deputy Iowa State Auditor | |
| In office January 1921 – September 1, 1924 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Emmert Thomas February 23, 1894 Anthon, Iowa |
| Died | January 8, 1984 (aged 89) Des Moines, Iowa |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Grace Leola Hewitt
(m. 1919; div. 1934)Bessie Ferne Shiffer
(m. 1936; died 1953)Beatrice M. Hill (m. 1968) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Iowa |
| Military service | |
| Branch | Iowa National Guard US Army[2] |
| Service years | 1912-1953[2] |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | 168th Infantry Regiment[2] 42nd Infantry Division[2] American Expeditionary Forces[2] |
| Battles/wars | Mexican Border War[2] World War I[2] |
James E. Thomas (February 23, 1894[2] – January 8, 1984) was the Iowa State Auditor from 1924 to 1925.[2]
Early life
He was born in 1894 to Dr Louis A. Thomas and Adelia (Gregg) Thomas in Anthon.[2][3] They moved to Red Oak when Thomas was young and he eventually graduated from Red Oak Highschool.[2]
Military career
After high school, he enlisted as a private joining Company M of the 168th Infantry Regiment in the Iowa National Guard.[2] His service began during the Mexican Border War.[2][3] He would rise to be a Sergeant Major, Captain, one of the youngest Majors, and one of the youngest Lieutenant Colonels.[2][3] He was Major of the 42nd Division while in France during World War I.[2][3] By the end of his career, he would be a Brigadier General.[3] During World War II, he was a procurement officer for the Iowa Selective Service office.[3]
At the end of the war, he attended the University of Iowa.[2]
Political career
State Auditor
He was appointed Deputy Auditor of Iowa in 1921.[3] He served in this position until September 1924, when Auditor Glenn Haynes resigned to take a position as Executive Secretary of the Iowa Good Roads association.[2] Thomas became Iowa Auditor of State for the remaining 4 months of Haynes' term.[2]
State Treasurer
He served as Deputy State Treasurer from January 21, 1925 until January 1927.[3][4]
Personal life
Thomas married three times.
He married his first wife, Grace Leola Hewitt, on July 23, 1919, in Red Oak.[5] They divorced in June 1934.[6] She died on March 26, 1972 in Red Oak.[7] They had 2 sons and 2 daughters.[7]
He married his second wife, Bessie Ferne Shiffer, on March 26, 1936, in Grimes.[8] She died on July 3, 1953, at Camp Dodge at age 47.[9]
He married his third wife, Beatrice M. Hall, on March 28, 1968, in Omaha.[10] She died on November 2, 2001 in Urbandale.[11]
Thomas died of a heart issue at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Des Moines on January 8, 1984.[3]
References
- ^ "Thomas Deputy State Treasurer". The Sioux City Journal. December 23, 1924. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Haynes Quits The Auditorship For Good Roads Job". The Daily Nonpareil. August 28, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Brig. Gen. James E. Thomas". The Des Moines Register. January 8, 1984. p. 9. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Iowa Official Register, 1925-26" (PDF). Iowa Official Register. p. 134. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Hewitt-Thomas". The Des Moines Register. July 27, 1919. p. 33. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Divorce Decree". Des Moines Tribune. June 25, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ a b "Grace L. Evans". The Daily Nonpareil. March 29, 1972. p. 19. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Polk Licenses to Wed". The Des Moines Register. March 26, 1936. p. 22. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Mrs. Thomas Funeral Today". The Des Moines Register. July 6, 1953. p. 15. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Marriage Licenses". Omaha World-Herald. March 29, 1968. p. 48. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Beatrice Thomas". The Des Moines Register. November 4, 2001. p. 27. Retrieved July 28, 2025.