Thomas B. Kay
Encyclopedia
Thomas Benjamin Kay was an American
politician and businessman in the state of Oregon
. A native of New Jersey
, he moved to Oregon with his family at the age of one where he later took over the family’s woolen mill business. A Republican, he served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
and four terms as the Oregon State Treasurer
, the longest of anyone in that office’s history.
, to Thomas Lister and Ann (née Slingsbey) Kay. His father had already moved to Oregon
before the younger Thomas was born. After the younger Thomas was born, his mother and the rest of the family immigrated to Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama
route, arriving in 1864. The whole family settled in Brownsville
where the elder Thomas was a partner in a woolen mill.
The younger Thomas Kay grew up in Brownsville and attended the local schools. When he was nine years old he started working at his father’s mill as a spooler, and remained until age 14. Kay then moved to McMinnville
and spent three years studying at the Baptist College (now Linfield College
). He then left college in 1883 and returned to working for the mill, but at the mill’s Portland
store.
Kay returned to McMinnville in 1884 where started working in the apparel business, forming the partnership of Bishop & Kay. Bishop left the partnership after four years and the company became Kay & Todd. Kay was married in McMinnville on January 15, 1888, to Cora M. Wallace, and they had three children. In 1895, he started working for his father’s new woolen mill in Salem
as a salesperson. He also served for four years in the state militia.
In 1897, Kay traveled to New York
for the mill, and returned the next year. That year he sold his stake in the clothing company and moved to Salem where he took the position of assistant manager at the mill along with his sales position. In 1900, his father died, and Kay became the president of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill
, a position he would hold until his own death.
as a Republican to a two-year term. He represented district 1 that included Marion County
, and was the chairman of the ways and means
committee. Kay was re-elected to a second term in the house in 1904 and served through the 1905 legislative session. During the 1905 session he lost out on being Speaker of the House by a single vote to A. L. Mills. In 1906, Kay was elected to a four-year term in the Oregon State Senate
. He again represented district 1 as a Republican, and served through the 1909 special session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
.
Kay did not run for re-election to the Senate in 1910, and instead was the Republican nominee for Oregon State Treasurer
. He won the November election for a four-year term and took office on January 4, 1911. After re-election in 1914, he served a second full-term, leaving office on January 6, 1919. He was at times mentioned as a candidate for governor as well as the United States Senate
.
He returned to state politics in 1920 and was elected back to the Oregon House, again representing district 1. Kay served his full two-year term, won re-election in 1922, and served through the 1923 legislative session. In 1924, he was again elected as State Treasurer and took office on January 4, 1925. Kay won re-election to a fourth term in the office in 1928 and served until his death in office in 1931. His 14 years in the office are the longest of any treasurer in Oregon history.
, Salem Commercial Club, and the Woodmen of the World
. Additionally, he was on the board of directors of the YMCA
, the Illihee Club, the Portland Manufacturers' Association, and at Willamette University
in Salem. He also served as director of Oregon’s chamber of commerce
and president of the state’s board of trade
. Thomas Benjamin Kay died on April 29, 1931, at the age of 67.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and businessman in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, he moved to Oregon with his family at the age of one where he later took over the family’s woolen mill business. A Republican, he served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
and four terms as the Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
, the longest of anyone in that office’s history.
Early years
Thomas Kay was born on February 28, 1864, in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, to Thomas Lister and Ann (née Slingsbey) Kay. His father had already moved to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
before the younger Thomas was born. After the younger Thomas was born, his mother and the rest of the family immigrated to Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
route, arriving in 1864. The whole family settled in Brownsville
Brownsville, Oregon
Brownsville is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 1,668. It is the setting for the fictional Castle Rock, Oregon in the film Stand by Me.-History:...
where the elder Thomas was a partner in a woolen mill.
The younger Thomas Kay grew up in Brownsville and attended the local schools. When he was nine years old he started working at his father’s mill as a spooler, and remained until age 14. Kay then moved to McMinnville
McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville is the county seat and largest city of Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it was named by its founder, William T. Newby , an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, for his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee...
and spent three years studying at the Baptist College (now Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
). He then left college in 1883 and returned to working for the mill, but at the mill’s Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
store.
Kay returned to McMinnville in 1884 where started working in the apparel business, forming the partnership of Bishop & Kay. Bishop left the partnership after four years and the company became Kay & Todd. Kay was married in McMinnville on January 15, 1888, to Cora M. Wallace, and they had three children. In 1895, he started working for his father’s new woolen mill in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
as a salesperson. He also served for four years in the state militia.
In 1897, Kay traveled to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for the mill, and returned the next year. That year he sold his stake in the clothing company and moved to Salem where he took the position of assistant manager at the mill along with his sales position. In 1900, his father died, and Kay became the president of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill
Mission Mill Museum
Mission Mill Museum is a historic museum located in Salem, Oregon, United States. It features working displays of a woolen mill—the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill—and several historic Salem buildings that have been relocated to the mill site.-Mill history:...
, a position he would hold until his own death.
Political career
Kay started his political career in local politics in McMinnville where he served on the city council and school board. In 1902, he was elected to the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
as a Republican to a two-year term. He represented district 1 that included Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
, and was the chairman of the ways and means
Ways and Means
Ways and Means may refer to:* Committee of Ways and Means of the UK parliament* United States House Committee on Ways and Means* "Ways and Means" , an episode of the television series The West Wing...
committee. Kay was re-elected to a second term in the house in 1904 and served through the 1905 legislative session. During the 1905 session he lost out on being Speaker of the House by a single vote to A. L. Mills. In 1906, Kay was elected to a four-year term in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
. He again represented district 1 as a Republican, and served through the 1909 special session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
.
Kay did not run for re-election to the Senate in 1910, and instead was the Republican nominee for Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
. He won the November election for a four-year term and took office on January 4, 1911. After re-election in 1914, he served a second full-term, leaving office on January 6, 1919. He was at times mentioned as a candidate for governor as well as the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
He returned to state politics in 1920 and was elected back to the Oregon House, again representing district 1. Kay served his full two-year term, won re-election in 1922, and served through the 1923 legislative session. In 1924, he was again elected as State Treasurer and took office on January 4, 1925. Kay won re-election to a fourth term in the office in 1928 and served until his death in office in 1931. His 14 years in the office are the longest of any treasurer in Oregon history.
Later years
Kay was a member of several fraternal societies including the Masons as a member of the Knights Templar, the Benevolent and Protective Order of ElksBenevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, Salem Commercial Club, and the Woodmen of the World
Woodmen of the World
Woodmen of the World is a fraternal organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that operates a large privately held insurance company for its members....
. Additionally, he was on the board of directors of the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, the Illihee Club, the Portland Manufacturers' Association, and at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem. He also served as director of Oregon’s chamber of commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and president of the state’s board of trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
. Thomas Benjamin Kay died on April 29, 1931, at the age of 67.