Representative Thomas A. Way View All Years

THOMAS A. WAY, public official, banker and businessman, died at his home in Glendale, California, September 14, 1945; born in 1860 in McDonough county, Illinois, a son of Chandler C. Way of Chester county, Pennsylvania and Georgiana. Way, formerly of New York, who came to Hancock county, Iowa, in 1865 and located in Ellington township; received his education in the public schools of Hancock county and business college in Minneapolis. His father was one of the active men at Britt and Garner, as county superintendent of schools, a banker and land agent at Britt for many years. The son early was engaged in his father’s enterprises, and for many years until 1900 was in varied and extensive business activities. In 1881 he was instrumental in organizing the Hancock county fair. The first fire team in Britt was organized and financed by him and for many years known as the T. A. Way Independent Hose company. About 1894 he organized the Commercial State bank at Britt, and in 1898, with the late E. P. Healy, erected the Healy-Way building that still bears his name. He served as president of the Wesley State bank in 1903 and 1904; was one of the founders of the town of Woden, and he and Mr. Healy organized the first bank there and also opened its first drug store; for a time was associated in the ownership of the Britt Tribune and later purchased and owned the Britt News. Besides extensive land and banking interests at Britt, Corwith, Wesley and Woden, he organized many independent telephone companies, which later were consolidated into the Western Electric company of which he was president and until it became a part of the Northwestern Bell system with headquarters at Mason City where Mr. Way then resided. With Sam A. Schneider and Truman A. Potter he organized the Mason City Mortgage & Loan company and was active in securing the location of the cement industry there, which has utilized the vast deposits there of limestone and shale.

Mr. Way was a leader in political circles of Iowa, and represented the Hancock-Wright county district as representative in 1900, and was a member of and chairman of the Iowa State Highway commission in 1931 to 1935. Following his legislative service he gave vigorous and astute leadership in the management of the campaign for governor of Albert B. Cummins, and in later years again successfully performed the same service in the candidacy of Senator Dan W. Turner for the same office. His wide personal acquaintance, energy and amiable personal traits brought to him a large following; a keen judge of men, with clear political vision, he attracted and secured the co-operation of many of Iowa’s most forceful and influential citizens.

Following his retirement from political activities when Mr. Cummins went to the United States senate, Mr. Way was associated with the D. S. B. Johnston Land company of Minneapolis and had personal charge of the M. & St. L. Ry. right-of-way purchases and town site developments on the new line extended northwest from Watertown, South Dakota, later establishing the Empire Land Company at Thief River Falls, Minnesota., where he resided a number of years prior to his removal to Des Moines, where he engaged in developing real estate additions to the city. His years of retirement have been spent at Glendale, California, where with his wife, Mrs. Lillian M. Way, he has resided, and besides whom a son, Capt. Clyde C. Way, in the U. S. armed forces, a daughter, Mrs. L. H. Lawrence, a sister, Mrs. Kitty Greene, of Sioux City, and a brother, B. C. Way of Mason City, survive.