Thomas Jesse Drumheller
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jesse Drumheller (January 18, 1873 – January 28, 1954) was an American football
player, lawyer and sheep rancher. He played college football
as the quarterback
for the University of Michigan
in 1896 and was the roommate of Herbert Hoover
at Stanford University
. He was the son of a pioneer family of Walla Walla, Washington
, and later became one of the largest sheep ranchers in the Pacific Northwest, with a ranch of nearly 25,000 acres. He was also the president of the Washington State Wool Growers Association from 1913 to 1948.
, having moved to the area as a transportation manager with the U.S. troops in the war of 1855-1856. His father became known as "an Indian fighter" and "one of the largest land holders of his county." Drumheller was born in 1873 and raised in Walla Walla.
In the 1890s, Drumheller was sent east to attend the University of Michigan
. While attending Michigan, he played college football
and was a quarterback for the 1896 Michigan Wolverines football team
. Drumheller received a bachelor of law degree from Michigan. He also attended Stanford University
where he was a roommate of future U.S. President Herbert Hoover
.
. In 1900, he participated in the Alaska gold rush, bringing the first horses into the gold mining area. In 1902, he was described in the University of Michigan's alumni records as a farmer in Walla Walla. In the early 1900s, he also purchased the O'Donnell Hardware Company, which became the Drumheller Company in Walla Walla. In 1910, he sold his interest in the Drumheller Company and went into the sheep business. In 1937, The Michigan Alumnus reported that he was operating a large ranch near Grand Coulee Dam
. Along with his son Thomas J. Drumheller, Jr., he operated a sheep ranch of 25,000 acres near Ephrata, Washington
. He was a pioneering sheep rancher of eastern Washington's Inland Empire
and also served as the president of the Washington State Wool Growers Association from 1913 to 1948. He had a reputation for having "a knack for getting things done in the wool industry" and an ability to "get wool growers together on important problems concerning the industry."
, at the time of his death. He was survived by his second wife, Edith, and his son, Thomas J. Drumheller, Jr.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, lawyer and sheep rancher. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1896 and was the roommate of Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. He was the son of a pioneer family of Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
, and later became one of the largest sheep ranchers in the Pacific Northwest, with a ranch of nearly 25,000 acres. He was also the president of the Washington State Wool Growers Association from 1913 to 1948.
Early years
Drumheller was the son of Jesse "Curly" Drumheller. His father was one of the early pioneers of Walla Walla, WashingtonWalla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
, having moved to the area as a transportation manager with the U.S. troops in the war of 1855-1856. His father became known as "an Indian fighter" and "one of the largest land holders of his county." Drumheller was born in 1873 and raised in Walla Walla.
In the 1890s, Drumheller was sent east to attend the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. While attending Michigan, he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and was a quarterback for the 1896 Michigan Wolverines football team
1896 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1896 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1896 college football season. They played their home games at Regents Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan and competed in the newly-established Western Conference, later to be known as the Big Ten Conference...
. Drumheller received a bachelor of law degree from Michigan. He also attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
where he was a roommate of future U.S. President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
.
Business and ranching career
Drumheller returned to the Pacific Northwest and practiced law for a time at Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. In 1900, he participated in the Alaska gold rush, bringing the first horses into the gold mining area. In 1902, he was described in the University of Michigan's alumni records as a farmer in Walla Walla. In the early 1900s, he also purchased the O'Donnell Hardware Company, which became the Drumheller Company in Walla Walla. In 1910, he sold his interest in the Drumheller Company and went into the sheep business. In 1937, The Michigan Alumnus reported that he was operating a large ranch near Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
. Along with his son Thomas J. Drumheller, Jr., he operated a sheep ranch of 25,000 acres near Ephrata, Washington
Ephrata, Washington
Ephrata is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 6,808 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grant County.-History:...
. He was a pioneering sheep rancher of eastern Washington's Inland Empire
Inland Empire (Pacific Northwest)
thumb|The Inland Empire regionThe Inland Northwest, or Inland Empire, is a region in the Pacific Northwest centered on Spokane, Washington, including the surrounding Columbia River basin and all of North Idaho....
and also served as the president of the Washington State Wool Growers Association from 1913 to 1948. He had a reputation for having "a knack for getting things done in the wool industry" and an ability to "get wool growers together on important problems concerning the industry."
Family and death
Drumheller married Nellie M. Day in December 1900. After his first wife died in November 1916, he married Edith Drummond in February 1921. In January 1954, Drumheller died of a heart attack at age 81. He was attending a meeting of the Northwest Livestock Production Credit Association in Portland, OregonPortland, 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...
, at the time of his death. He was survived by his second wife, Edith, and his son, Thomas J. Drumheller, Jr.