Walter and Mary (Koch) Thomas Collection

Content Description

The collection consists of various items relating to the family of Walter and Mary (Koch) Thomas of Virgil (S.D.). Walter Thomas was born in Dane County, Wisconsin on May 8, 1874. He married Mary Koch in 1903 at Cosmos, Minnesota and they moved to Virgil in 1913. Mary Koch was born January 18, 1892, at Hay Creek, Minnesota. Their children include Ida, Eva, Ernst, Helen, Edwin and Glenn. Walter worked as a rural mail carrier for the postal service in Virgil for several years. They were also members of the Virgil Methodist Church. Walter died in 1951 and Mary in 1969. The collection includes various items on the family including a pedigree chart, obituaries, a short writeup on Walter’s time with the post office, various writings and news clippings on the history of Virgil (S.D.), materials on the Virgil Methodist Church, photographs of Walter delivering the mail as well as the town of Virgil, and items relating to the Thomas children’s graduation from Virgil High School. A booklet on the Virgil High School annual reunion in 1975 is also included. Oversized items in the collection in MD 336 include a 1941 calendar for the Thomas Service Station (Virgil, S.D.), various certificates and diplomas, as well as Mary Koch’s baptismal certificate from 1882, her confirmation certificate from 1894 and Walter and Mary’s wedding certificate from 1903.

Acquisition Type

Gift

Restrictions Apply

No