A. H. Thomas, occupying an attractive and beautiful residence at the corner of Ninth street and Grand avenue, in Racine, is widely known throughout the middle west in connection with engineering and contract work, and in fact his reputation in this connection extends much farther than the states of the Mississippi valley. His pronounced ability and indefatigable energy are the basic principles of his success. He was born in Detroit. Michigan, October 1. 1871, and is a son of John P. and Emma. (Vogel) Thomas. The father, a marine engineer, devoted his life to that business, but both he and his wife have now passed away.
After acquiring a public school education A. H. Thomas turned his attention to the heating and ventilator business and eventually became an engineer and contractor. He was associated with the firm of B. F. Sturtevant & Company of Chicago as superintendent of construction for about twelve years and as their representative did work throughout the middle west. In 1906 he came to Racine and was with the O. C. Davis Company -for two years, at the end of which time he embarked in business on his own account and has so continued since 1908. He does factory, school and public building work and his services are in demand throughout the middle west. He has his main office at No. 708 Ninth street, Racine, and he employs as many as twenty skilled workmen. He takes only large contracts and did more than one hundred thousand dollars worth of work for the state of Michigan on the State University and the Traverse City Hospital. His contracts have taken him as far west as Dakota and east to the Atlantic coast and his work is ever of the highest grade.
In April, 1896, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Mary McCabe, of Detroit, and their children are Norman and Raymond, who are in business with their father. Mr. Thomas has never become a partisan politician but maintains an independent attitude in the exercise of his right of franchise. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of lodge and chapter, and he is also identified with the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles. An analyzation of his life work shows that diligence and determination have been the basis of his success and by perseverance and determination he has overcome the obstacles which have barred his path to prosperity.