William Thum (December 21, 1861 – May 10, 1941) served as Mayor of Pasadena, California from 1911 to 1913.

William Thum
15th Mayor of Pasadena
In office
1911–1913
Preceded byThomas Earley
Succeeded byRichard Lee Metcalf
Personal details
Born(1861-12-21)December 21, 1861
Michigan, US
DiedMay 10, 1941(1941-05-10) (aged 79)
Pasadena, California, US
Political partySocialist Party of America
Republican
OccupationChemist, inventor, politician

Early life edit

On December 21, 1861, Thum was born in Michigan. Thum's parents were William Thum (1824-1883) and Christina (nee Greiner) Thum (1825-1907).[1]

Career edit

Thum was a chemist. Thum was known for Tanglefoot, an adhesive fly-paper.[2]

In 1911, Thum became mayor of Pasadena, California, until 1913.[3]

During Thum's administration, Pasadena assumed control of the city's water system.[4]

Personal life edit

Thum's wife is Margaret Thum. They have two children. On May 10, 1941, Thum died in Pasadena, California. Thum is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.[1][5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "William Thum (1861 - 1941)". ancestry.ca. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "William Thum House". gamblehouse.org. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "William Thum, Mayor of Pasadena 1911-13". calisphere.org. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Scheid, Ann (1986). "IV: The Roots of Greatness". Pasadena:Crown of the Valley. Northridge, California: Windsor Publications, Inc. p. 102.
  5. ^ "Margaret R. Thum in the 1940 Census". archives.com. Retrieved September 10, 2020.

External links edit