The (-1G), etc. after the names indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma.

A brother, Otto H. L. Thoma (Jr) (-1G) was born before Walter, on 16 Dec. 1890 in St. Louis, MO

Perhaps his middle name is Albert. If so, that could explain Albert Thoma's (-1G) name.

A man named Christian Stettner and Walter's father Otto Thoma (Sr) (-2G) took over a St. Louis brewery in 1886. They operated under the name Stettner and Thoma Weiss Beer Brewery. In 1906, they moved the brewery to 128-130 Sidney Street. In 1908, they merged with the Missouri Weiss Beer Brewing Company and operated as a branch of that concern until closing in 1913. As was typical of these brewers at the time, they only produced Weiss beer. Walter's uncle, Leo Thoma (-2G), assisted Otto in the brewery, as did Walter and his brother Otto (Jr)

In the 1900 Missouri Census from St. Louis (enum. dist. 154, sheet 10, ward 10, line 52), Walter, his parents and siblings are living at 2817 Wyoming St. in St. Louis. At this time (June 8) the father is 35 years old and has been married 10 years. 1880 is given as his year of immigration and he has been in the country 20 years. The father owns his house and it is mortgaged. He can read and write and can speak English. Walter's mother is 34, born in Missouri in July 1865. She can read, write and speak English. She had three children and all are living. Walter's brother Otto (Jr) is 10, born in Dec. 1889 in Missouri. Walter is 7, born in Apr. 1893 in Missouri. The two boys are at school at the time of the Census. Sister Clara is 3, born in Oct. 1896 in Missouri. Living with the family is the father's half-brother, Emil Thoma* (-2G).

Picture of Otto Jr. and Walter when very young. Taken ca. 1894
The house at 2817 Wyoming where Otto Thoma and family lived from ca 1891 to after 1922. The house still stands (in Aug. 2001) but is in very poor condition.
Here is a picture of Otto and his children from ca. 1900, perhaps in the backyard at his home at 2817 Wyoming. Walter is the younger boy.

In the St. Louis City Directory (Gould's) of 1904 we see Walter's father as a partner in the Stettner & Thoma Weiss Beer Brewery Co. at the rear of 1535 S. Broadway. Their residence is 2817 Wyoming.

The 1910 Fed. Census for Missouri (district 170, sheet 163?) taken on 23 April has the Soundex index 102 0170 0379. The family is living still at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis City. The father, Otto, is 45 years old, born in Germany, immigrated in 1880, naturalized. He and his wife have been married 22 years. The parents of the father were born in Germany. The mother, Elizabeth, is 44 and was born in Missouri. She is a clerk at a packing house and her parents were born in Germany. Walter's parents own the house but it is mortgaged. Otto's brother, Otto (Jr) is 19 and was born in Missouri. Walter A. is 17 and was born in Missouri. His sister, Clara, is 13 and was also born in Missouri. With the family is the mother's sister, Amalia Juenel (Juengel), 53 years old, born in Germany.

The 1913 St. Louis Directory lists Walter Thoma as a clerk living at 2817 Wyoming. The 1915 Directory (Gould's) has the same listing.

Married Elvira Lalla (-1G) sometime ca 1915, probably in St. Louis.

The 1916 St. Louis Directory lists Walter Thoma, clerk, residing at 2817 Wyoming. The 1917 Directory has the same information plus gives his middle initial as "C.". The 1918 Directory has Walter C. Thoma, chauffeur, with a home at 2817 Wyoming.

The 1920 Fed. Census (vol. 105, district 206, sheet 10, line 21) lists Otto and his family still living at 2817 Wyoming in St. Louis. Walter's father is 55 years old, born in Germany, immigrated in 1878 anShe married Frederick (Friedrich) Vossler (-4G) in Prussia before immigrating to the U.S. Her nickname was "Mina" or "Minah". d naturalized in 1885. Walter's mother, Mary E., 54 years old, born in Missouri. Walter's sister, Clara, is 23 years old, born in Missouri. Also living there is Amalia Juengel, the mother's sister, 63 years old, born in Missouri (1910 Census says born in Missouri). But Walter and his brother Otto (Jr) are no longer living with their parents.

The 1920 Missouri Census (vol. 108, enum. district 277, sheet 5A, line 39) shows Walter and his own family living at 2927 Nebraska Ave. in St. Louis city. He is 26 years old, born in Missouri. His wife, Elvira, is 25 years old and was born in Saxony. There are no children but living with them is Elvira's brother, Robert Lalla, 23 years old, born in Saxony.

The 1920 (or 1922?) St. Louis Directory lists Walter Thoma, salesman, living at 3624a Iowa Ave. Walter has a separate listing in the 1924 Directory as a chauffeur living at 2844 Wyoming.. In the 1925 Dir. Walter C. Thoma, salesman at Columbia Products, with a home at 2844 Wyoming.

Otto and his businesses are mentioned on p. 266 in "Who's Who in North St. Louis", published by the North St. Louis Business Men's Assoc. in 1925. At that time Walter's father owned and operated the Columbia Products Company at 2545 West Dodier Street in St. Louis, MO. That company was a canner of Columbia and Bavarian malt extracts and dealers in domestic and imported hops, crown, porcelain stoppers and cappers. I believe that Walter and Otto (Jr) assisted in this business too.

The 1926 St. Louis Directory lists Walter C. Thoma as a salesman living at 2844 Wyoming, the same block that his parents live on. His brother is living elsewhere. His father is working at Columbia Products Co. The 1927 Dir. has Walter C. Thoma (Columbia Products Co.) with a home at 2844 Wyoming.

His sister, Clara, died ca 16 June 1928 and was buried (block 7, lot 41, grave 6) on the 19th in New Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County.

The St. Louis City Directory of 1929 lists Walter O. [sic!] as the manager at Columbia Products Co. [the family business] and living at 3675 Wilmington Ave. His wife Elvara, his father Otto, and mother are also living there.

The 1930 Fed. Census for Missouri (T626_1234, enum. dist 471, sheet 9A, printed page #137, lines 3 & 4, dated 8 Apr. 1930) shows Walter C. and his wife living at 3675a Wilmington Ave. in St. Louis (ward 13, block 0699). They are living with his parents [his brother Otto and his family are living downstairs]. His parents own the house; they have a radio set. Walter C. Thoma is 36 years old, born in Missouri; his father born in Germany and his mother in Missouri. He married when he was 22 years old. His occupation is manufacturer or malt extract. He is not in school but he reads, writes, and speaks English. His wife Olivia [sic! Should be Elvira] is 35 years old and married him when she was 21. She and both her parents were born in Germany. German was the language of her youth but she reads, writes and speaks English. Her year of immigration is unknown but her naturalization status is "Na". No occupation is listed for her. Walter and his wife do not have children.

His father died ca 31 May 1930 in St. Louis and was buried (block 7, lot 41, grave 3) in New Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County.

The 1930 Directory lists Walter C. and his wife (Elvira) living at 3675a and his brother and his wife Edna living at 3675 Wilmington Ave. His father is not living there because he had died ca. 1930. The brothers are working at Columbia Products Co [the family business]. His brother and family are living downstairs.

The 1931 Directory shows both brothers Otto (Jr) and Walter working (partners) in Columbia Products Co. Walter and his wife are living at 3675a Wilmington Ave. and Otto Jr. and his family are living downstairs.

The 1932 Directory shows Walter and Otto as malsters at Columbia Products Co. Walter and his wife are living at 3817 Wilmington and Otto and his family are at 6511 Leona Ave. Their mother Elizabeth is now occupying the house at 3675 Wilmington Ave. The 1937 and 1939 St. Louis Directories show Walter C. Thoma (with wife Elvira), treasurer of Surety Products Co., with a home at 6514 Delor. The 1941 St. Louis Directory lists Walter C. Thoma, with wife Elvira, president-treasurer of Surety Products Co., living at 6514 Delor. The 1944 St. Louis Dir. shows Walter C. Thoma (Elvira L.), pres mgr of Surety Products Co. Inc., with a home at 6514 Delor. Elvira has a separate listing as the vice-president of the same company.

The 1955 St. Louis Directory shows Walter C. Thoma (with wife Elvira), vp of S-O Tool Co., living at 3675 Wilmington (downstairs from his mother). The 1956 Dir. has the same information as in 1955 except Elvira has her own listing as an employee at Hamilton-Schmidt Surgical Co. and living at 3675 Wilmington. The 1958 Dir. has Walter C. Thoma, treasurer at S. O. Tool Co., with a home at 3675 Wilmington Ave. The 1960 Dir. has the same information. Elvira is not listed with Walter, nor does she have a separate listing. Perhaps she is deceased?

His mother died on 22 May 1960 and was buried in New St. Marcus Cemetery in St. Louis County. She was still living on Wilmington at the time.

Walter and Elvira did not have children. Walter's S.S. number was 492-10-7253 which was issued in Missouri before 1951. At his death (in Sep. 1963) Walter was living in Missouri. According to a living relative, Walter was close to his father, Otto.

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His brother Otto died in 1966 in Shreveport, LA. He and his family had moved down there some years earlier.

Created 18 June, 2000. Updated 16 May 2007.