from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, March 10, 1898--page 1, column 3:
Republican candidates for county offices:
is a son of Capt. B.F. Thomas and was born in Hendricks county Sept. 29th, 1874. He graduated from the Danville High school with the class honors receiving a scholarship in DePauw university where he is now attending. He has made mathematics his major study there and at time has turned his attention to surveying. He passed a civil service examination which gave him a position on the civil engineer's force in Indianapolis where he served for some months. For the past few summers he has been deputy surveyor of this county. He is now tutor in mathematics in DePauw university.