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. ******************* 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.