Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 600.
 
THOMAS KAY

     president and superintendent of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Company,
(incorporated) was born at Applebridge, Yorkshire, England, in June, 1837.
Descended from a long line of woolen manufacturers, he was early trained in the
industry, and at the age of nine years began systematically to learn the trade
at Shipler, where he spent two years in the spinning department, and six years
in learning the process and methods of weaving in every branch of worsted
manufacture. In 1857 he came to America, and turned his attention to the
manufacture of woolen goods, finding employment at Cazenovia, New York. At the
end of one year he returned to England to perfect himself in the manufacture of
woolen goods, and again visited the United States in 1859. He secured a position
with the Smith Woolen Manufacturing Company, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but
afterward was employed at Trenton and Newark. In 1863 the officers of the
Brownsville Woolen Mill at Oregon sent for him to come and take charge of their
weaving department; he accepted the offer and came to the State upon a three
years' contract.  Upon the burning of the factory in 1865 he was released, when
he took the position of superintendent of the Dalles Woolen Mill; at the end of
a year he went to the Ashland Woolen Mills, where he remained four years as
superintendent. He then returned to Salem and took charge of the weaving
department of the Willamette Woolen Mill, established in 1850. Upon the
rebuilding of the Brownsville mill in 1873, Mr. Kaym leased the building and
operated the mill for a term of two years. At the end of that time he organized
the Brownsville Woolen Mill Company, purchased the mill and machinery, and
continued the business: he was superintendent and was also a member of the Board
of Directors, J. M. Moyer being president. This business was conducted very
successfully until 1888, when a disagreement arose in the firm and the business
was sold out.
     Mr. Kay then took an extensive trip abroad, the first long vacation he had
given himself in thirty years; he was accompanied by his wife, and after a most
pleasurable tour returned to Salem. Here the citizens offered him a cash bonus
of $20,000 if he would build a $100,000 mill in that city. The proposition was
accepted, and in August,1889, he began the construction of the building; he
purchased four acres with a fine water power on Mill creek, convenient to the
railroad. Then visiting Eastern cities, he made an inspection of large
factories, and bought his machinery at Lawrence, Massachusetts, including all
the latest improvements. The factory was opened with fifty hands in February,
1890; the entire building is fitted with electric and gas lights, and latterly
has been in operation night and day; the manufactures are cassimeres, tweeds,
blankets, flannels and woolen socks. The factory store was started in July,
1890, at Salem, and has been conducted with marked prosperity under Charles
Bishop. All the wool purchased is grown in Oregon, and the manufactures find a
market in Portland and San Francisco.
     Mr. Kay has recently organized the Waterloo Development Company, which
corporation has purchased the Oakland Hosiery Mills, one of the largest on the
coast; this mill was removed to Waterloo, where the company owns valuable water
power, and will be operated in connection with the land development; it has a
capacity of 200 hands, and was opened and put in operation in the summer of
1882, turning out hosiery and all kinds of knitted underwear. This is, perhaps,
he greatest and most promising under-taking of Mr. Kay's life, and one in which
he has great confidence.
     He was married in the old Corvela Church near Leeds, England, in April,
1857, to Miss Ann Slingsby, and of the union ten children have been born, six of
whom survive: Fanny, wife of Charles Bishop; Thomas B., who married Miss Cora
Wallace; Elizabeth, wife of O.P. Coshow; Nora, Harry K. and Bertha. Mr. Kay has
just completed a handsome residence at the corner of State and Twelfth streets.
He owns 470 acres of land at Brownsville, and other improved property. He has
laid out Kay's addition to Brownsville; in his agricultural operations he makes
a specialty of raising Holstein cattle. He is a member of Brownsville Lodge and
Encampment, I. 0. 0. F., and also belongs to the Masonic order.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.