MS-146
THOMA FAMILY COLLECTION
INTRODUCTION
The Thoma Family Collection was originally donated to the Flesh Public Library Archives and Special Collections in 1986 by Eleanor Thoma. Additional material was donated in 1988. This material includes deeds, mortgage documents, a scrapbook of Piqua events, c. 1900-1930, list of vital events, photographs, and miscellaneous items. It is housed in one Hollinger Box, organized into 42 files. There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
MS 146, The Thoma Family Collection, is organized into 5 Series and 42 file folders. It is contained in one Hollinger box.
SERIES I – Deeds, mortgages and other documents
SERIES II – Scrapbook
SERIES III – List of Vital Events, 1803-1862
SERIES IV – Photographs
SERIES V - Miscellaneous
HISTORY
Joe Thoma & Sons Jewelry Store, supposedly the oldest family owned business in Ohio, was founded in 1838 in Piqua by Augustine Thoma, who immigrated to the United States from Germany.
Current owner Joe Thoma, Sr., the fourth generation Thoma, has worked there, at 321 North Main Street, ever since he learned “which end of a broom to use” in the late 1930’s. He is 90 years old.
President of Joe Thoma and Sons, Joe Thoma III, the son of Thoma, Sr. and fifth generation Thoma, also works there with his father and son, Luke, a sixth generation.
In 1988, Joe Thoma and Sons Jewelry, Inc. celebrated its 150th anniversary of being owned and operated by six generations of the Thoma family.
Clocks in St. Boniface’s tower, the Hotel Favorite (Fort Piqua Hotel), and Piqua National Bank’s (Fifth Third) mezzanine were Thoma made. Joseph Thoma, Sr. installed the clocks in St. Boniface and Piqua National Bank. Another Thoma installed the clock in the Hotel, which has since been removed.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad retained the jewelry firm to check all employee watches. Each man employed by the railroad was required to go to Thoma’s monthly to have the accuracy checked and then twice a year for Thoma’s Jewelers to determine the ‘condition of the timepiece’.
Thoma’s was the first store in the area to have a bridal registry.
Thoma’s at one time owned stores in Troy, Bradford, and Sidney.
CONTAINER LISTING
BOX I
SERIES I
FILE NO.
- Warranty Deed: Bertling to Thoma, 1854
- Warranty Deed: Piqua to Thoma, 1857
- Deed: Dittmer to Thoma, 1865
- Deed: Miami County to Thoma, 1853
- Deed: Norton to Thoma, 1881
- Warranty Deed: Klopf to Deirker (?) 1859
- Warranty Deed: Dunlap to Holcomb (?) 1855
- Deed: Alexander to Freeman, 1914
- Deed: Biggen to Pegan, 1846
- Mortgage Deed: Weigler to Kitchen, 1866
- Warranty Deed: Sprong to Davis, 1858
- Deed: Pegan to Dittmer, 1849
- Deed: Adams & Young to Winans, 1843
- Deed: Wood to Smith, 1838
- Deed: Biggen to Pegan, N.D.
- Warranty Deed: Pegan to Pegan, 1849
- Warranty Deed: Dorsey, Conover to Weber, 1873
- Mortgage Deed: Butcher to Wright, 1880
- Deed: Pegan to Dittmer, 1849
- Warranty Deed: Winans to Kitchen, 1849
- Deed: Wood to Schmidt, 1843
- Warranty Deed: Blair to Thoma, 1854
- Mortgage Deed: Thoma to Piqua, 1881
- Mortgage Deed: Thoma to Dorsey, 1877
- Warranty Deed: Dunlap to Thoma, 1854
- Warranty Deed: Bartel to Thoma, 1875
- Warranty Deed: Schmidt to Bertling, 1854
- Quit-Claim Deed: Heater to Thoma, 1886
- Warranty Deed: Thoma to Thoma, 1882
- Mortgage Deed: Thoma to Conover, 1877
- Mortgage Deed: Davis to Thoma, 1860
- Mortgage Deed: Thoma to Wood, 1893
SERIES II
- Scrapbook: Minstrel Program – May 11, 1905
- Scrapbook: Ohio Convention (Jewelers?) – Canton, Ohio, 1901
BOX I
SERIES II
FILE NO.
- Scrapbook: Miscellaneous, c.1900-1930
SERIES III
- List of Vital Events (Thoma family) – 1803-1862
SERIES IV
- Photos of identified men
- Unidentified photos
SERIES V
- 1951 Bridge dedication material
- License to sell jewelry, 1918
- Slip of pew rental: St. Marys church – Jan. 5, 1902
- Photo of 75th Golden Anniversary Cake – Mr. A.S. Clouse