William Henry Thomas photographs, 1913-1919

William Henry Thomas (b. January 29, 1874 - d. 1922) was a miner, lumberman, and photographer who was born in Scott Bar, California and died in Blackfoot, Idaho.

"Will" settled on a homestead of white pine on Marble Creek (out of St. Joe and St. Maries) in 1908. While waiting the four years to prove himself so he could log the homestead, he worked as a miner and photographer.

Will was Superintendent of the Clear Grit Mine near Delta until 1912, when he started successful logging operations. Winters he worked in the mines, the Hecla Mining Company being one.

He was instrumental in building bridges for the pack horses across Marble Creek, and in spare time he took pictures of the homesteaders, surrounding towns, and interesting historical places.

Each 4th of July the homesteaders of the area would gather for a picnic, and Will would take their picture as a group. Many of these pictures are around because each settler would be given a copy. No names are recorded on our copies.

The pictures Will took are valuable because many of the places are gone, either from fire, flood, or neglect.

When the government tried to take back this forest land, Will went to court as his own lawyer and won his case. The property he owned is now almost the only land in that area not National Forest land. It is now owned by Bunker Hill.

In 1920, due to poor health from his mining activities, he moved his family to Blackfoot, Idaho, where he bought a farm, and where his wife's family lived. He died in 1922 at the age of 48.