Later he was a law partner of Alan Loth and in 1933 was appointed solicitor of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D. C. He served there until 1935 when he was appointed judge of the Circuit Court of Appeals, 8th circuit, with office in Fort Dodge. Thomas was a judge of this court for 19 years, retiring in 1954. He continued to make his home in Fort Dodge and died in 1962 at the age of 88.
Judge Thomas was the father of two children—Reynolds B. Thomas, a Fort Dodge attorney; and Mrs. Franz (Eleanor) Van Alstine of Pocahontas. He was prominent in legal circles and was president of the Iowa State Bar Association (1931-1932). He was a member of the Webster County, Iowa and American Bar Associations and served as president of the Fort Dodge Chamber of Commerce two years. In 1947 he received special recognition as one of the 50 prominent living alumni at the 100th anniversary of the University of Iowa.
THE SAUNDERS HOME
The Saunders home
1108 4th Avenue North
Dr. C. J. Saunders, a well-known Fort Dodge physician, who came to the city in 1893, built this spacious home at 1108 4th Ave. N. in 1907. During the following 23 years it was the home of the Saunders family until sold in 1930 to Dr. C. J. Jensen, a local chiropractor, and his wife, Agnes.
Dr. Jensen, who died in 1970, had his office in the house for many years. His widow now owns the property and lives in one of the apartments in the house.
When built in 1907 the Saunders house originally had living room, library, dining room and kitchen on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor and two finished rooms on the third floor. The house has been enlarged and remodeled in past years and now has six apartments.
Dr. Saunders was born in Iowa City in 1862 and graduated from high school there as valedictorian of his class. He studied medicine at the University of Iowa, graduated from medical school in 1885 and began his practice in Iowa City. In 1886 Dr. Saunders opened an office in Audubon and practiced there for one year, moving then to Clare where he was a widely-known doctor for six years. At Clare he also operated a drug store and helped organize a bank.
In 1893 Dr. Saunders came to Fort Dodge and had his first office in the newly constructed Oleson Building. After the First National Bank Building (now the Beh Building) was constructed in 1908 he moved his office there. He was a radiologist and had one of the first X-ray machines in the city.