John D. Contos, proprietor of the Pure White Bakery of Rawlins, established business in 1910 and is today at the head of one of the leading bakeries of the city. Thorough training for the work, excellent equipment in his establishment, indefatigable enterprise in the conduct of his business and thorough reliability in his trade relations have constituted the salient points in his growing prosperity.
    Mr. Contos is a native of Greece. He was born October 20, 1884, and is a son of James Contos, who lived and died in Tripolis, Greece. He was a successful farmer and passed away in 1900, at the age of forty-eight years. His wife bore the maiden name of Demtro Soteropulon and also spent her entire life in Greece.
    John D. Contos was the second in order of birth in their family of seven children. He pursued his education in the schools of his native country and when a youth of fifteen made his initial step in the business world, entering upon an apprenticeship to the baker's trade, which he followed in his native country until 1902, when he determined to try his fortune in the new world. Crossing the Atlantic to America, he first made his way to Chicago but in 1904 came to Wyoming, settling in Rawlins. For a time he abandoned his trade, being employed as a section foreman on the Union Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at Rawlins. He continued in the railway service for four years and was also employed in the shops at Rawlins, serving altogether for nine years with that company. He then entered his present business, for it was his desire to control his own destiny and he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to establish a bakery. This he has since successfully conducted, covering a period of more than seven years, and through the interim his trade has steadily increased. He now employs two bakers and he has a large trade, his business having proved a satisfactory investment from the beginning. He holds to high standards in the excellence of his products, maintains sanitary conditions in the conduct of the bakery and well merits the big business which is accorded him.
    In Ogden, Utah, in 1914, Mr. Contos was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hohman, a native of Nebraska. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he became a naturalized American citizen in 1915. He arrived in the new world a poor boy but he possessed energy and ambition and recognized the fact that in America labor is king. Working his way steadily upward, he has by reason of his close application and untiring energy made for himself a creditable position in commercial circles and is today one of Rawlins respected and valued citizens.