Freeman Thomas was born on 4 July 1854 in Licking Co., OH.
1,2 He married
Jennie about 1879.
3 He married
Caroline K. Emigh in June 1904 in Denver, CO.
4 He died on 30 December 1916 in Eugene, Lane Co., OR, Obituary -- Eugene
Morning Register, 31 DEC 1916:
FREE THOMAS PASSES OUT
Was Owner of First Moving Picture Theatre Here
Was Also Prominent in Railroad Construction Work Between Eugene and the Coast
Free Thomas, who gave Eugene its first moving picture theatre, and for eight years prominent in the life of the city, died at his home at 360 Eleventh Avenue East yesterday morning at 10 o'clock at the age of 63 years.
Mr. Thomas came to Eugene from Denver, Col. Soon after his arrival here he noted the absence of moving picture theatres, which were then becoming very popular in the East and Middle West and established the "Little Gem" in the Holden building on Willamette between Ninth and Tenth avenues.
Mr. Thomas was also one of the leading organizers of the Lane County Asset company, which made a survey and obtained right-of-way for a railroad from Eugene to the coast. Some actual construction was done and the company afterward sold certain franchises and most of its right-of-way to the Southern Pacific company, which built the line to Coos Bay. Mr. Thomas was Democratic candidate for county treasurer at the last election.
Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife, besides a daughter, Mrs. Jessie Hogan, of Denver, and a son, Eugene Thomas. He also leaves two step-sons, Charles Koyl, of Brockton, Mass., and George Koyl, of New York, and two step-daughters, Carolyn Koyl, who is teaching school in Polk County, and Mrs. Donald Calkins, who resides in Salinas, Cal.
The funeral services will be held at the Gordon and Veach chapel at 3:30 this afternoon, with interment in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. The rites will be in charge of Rev. George H. Parkinson, of the First Methodist Church. Members of the Methodist Brotherhood, of which Mr. Thomas was a member, will be the pallbearers.
. Obituary -- Eugene
Morning Register, 31 DEC 1916:
FREE THOMAS PASSES OUT
Was Owner of First Moving Picture Theatre Here
Was Also Prominent in Railroad Construction Work Between Eugene and the Coast
Free Thomas, who gave Eugene its first moving picture theatre, and for eight years prominent in the life of the city, died at his home at 360 Eleventh Avenue East yesterday morning at 10 o'clock at the age of 63 years.
Mr. Thomas came to Eugene from Denver, Col. Soon after his arrival here he noted the absence of moving picture theatres, which were then becoming very popular in the East and Middle West and established the "Little Gem" in the Holden building on Willamette between Ninth and Tenth avenues.
Mr. Thomas was also one of the leading organizers of the Lane County Asset company, which made a survey and obtained right-of-way for a railroad from Eugene to the coast. Some actual construction was done and the company afterward sold certain franchises and most of its right-of-way to the Southern Pacific company, which built the line to Coos Bay. Mr. Thomas was Democratic candidate for county treasurer at the last election.
Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife, besides a daughter, Mrs. Jessie Hogan, of Denver, and a son, Eugene Thomas. He also leaves two step-sons, Charles Koyl, of Brockton, Mass., and George Koyl, of New York, and two step-daughters, Carolyn Koyl, who is teaching school in Polk County, and Mrs. Donald Calkins, who resides in Salinas, Cal.
The funeral services will be held at the Gordon and Veach chapel at 3:30 this afternoon, with interment in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. The rites will be in charge of Rev. George H. Parkinson, of the First Methodist Church. Members of the Methodist Brotherhood, of which Mr. Thomas was a member, will be the pallbearers. He was buried on 31 December 1916 in Eugene Pioneer Cemetery, Eugene, Lane Co., OR.
Freeman Thomas was educated between 1872 and 1875. Occupation: Hotel Keeper in 1880 in Culbertson, Hitchcock Co., NE.
2 Occupation: Sawmill operator in 1910 in Eugene, Lane Co., OR. Sawmill operator
Cemetery record (1916) indicates he was an architect.
From Who's Who on the Pacific Coast, 1913, page 560 (note multiple errors):
"THOMAS, Free, Architect; born, Licking Co., Ohio, July 4, 1854; son [of] Thompson P. and Olive (Kirkendall) T.; descendant of Phil Sheridan on mother’s side; Israel Putnam, father’s side. Edu.: State Univ. of Nebr., 1872-74. Married, Carrie Emigh of Cherry Tree, Pa., June, 1904, at Denver, Colo. (second marriage). Reared on farm, 7 to 23 years old, in Neb. Eye witness of the Plum Creek massacre, Aug. 8, 1864. Took first premium, State Fair, Neb., in oil painting. Res.: 227 West 8th st.; Office: Room 12, Walton block, Eugene, Ore.".
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