Thomas A. "Captain Tom" Mathis (June 7, 1869 – May 18, 1958) was an American Republican Party boss who served in the New Jersey Senate and was the Secretary of State of New Jersey from 1931 to 1941. He was known as a racketeer and as the party boss of Ocean County, New Jersey during the early 20th century.Larsen, Erik. "This Ocean County political boss was not to be crossed", Asbury Park Press His son was state senator W. Steelman Mathis.
Biography Raised in the New Gretna section of Bass River Township, New Jersey, Mathis started his career as a councilman in Tuckerton, New Jersey, before moving to Toms River in 1907, Mathis won a special election for an unexpired term in the State Senate in 1910. He lost re-election in the 1911 primary, won his seat back in 1913, and lost it again in the 1915 primary. Mathis returned to the Senate in 1923.via Associated Press. "Cap'n Tom Mathis Dead By Own Hand; Ocean County GOP Leader Ends Life At Age Of 88", Trenton Evening News, May 19, 1958. Accessed January 24, 2026, via Newspapers.com. "A native of New Gretna in Burlington County, Mathis married Helen Steelman of Tuckerton in 1897. In 1907, he moved from Tuckerton to Toms River, becoming an auto dealer and starting an insurance business that he continued until his death."
A very corrupt figure in New Jersey politics, Mathis reportedly received kickbacks on illegal gambling and prostitution operations. He was known as Captain Tom because he commanded J. P. Morgan's America's Cup yacht for eleven years.
He committed suicide on May 18, 1958, at his home in Toms River at age 88.
Electoral history
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