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BIOGRAPHIES
INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Her People, Past and Present
Embracing a History of the County Compiled by
Prof. J. T. Stewart
And a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative
Families
IN TWO VOLUMES
ILLUSTRATED
-----
VOLUME II
-----
CHICAGO
J. H. BEERS & CO.
1913
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H.
WALLACE THOMAS is prominently associated with
so many of the most important enterprises of the
borough of Indiana and with public affairs of
Indiana county that a mere enumeration of his
interests would be sufficient to show his position
among his fellow citizens. He has recently
completed a three years' term as sheriff of Indiana
county. Mr. Thomas was born May
10, 1877, at Jacksonville, this county, son of
Israel and Mary (Fleming) Thomas and grandson of
John Thomas. The latter was born in
Wales, and coming to the United States when a young
man located in Armstrong township,
Indiana Co., Pa., where he engaged in
farming. He died about 1874.
ISRAEL THOMAS, father of H.
Wallace Thomas, was born July 1, 1832, in
Armstrong township, Indiana Co., Pa. He was a
school teacher in Indiana county for several years,
and subsequently was employed as clerk in a general
merchandise store at Plumville, this county,
continuing there for several years. He then
became a clerk in the store of J. M. Guthrie,
at Jacksonville, Indiana county, and later entered
into partnership with Joseph Laughlin,
in the general merchandise business at that place.
He was afterward associated in the same line with
Hugh Neal, under the firm name of
Thomas & Neal, at Jacksonville.
Moving to the borough of Indiana in 1887, he engaged
in the business of importing fine horses, and also
carried on a shoe business there up to the time of
his death. He was one of the original
stockholders and directors of the Farmers' Bank of
Indiana, and stood well among his associates in
every line. He died Apr. 18, 1895. In
religion he was a Presbyterian, and served for
several years as an elder of the church at Indiana.
Mr. Thomas and his wife Mary (Fleming)
had a family of four children: Louisa,
Edith, Heber and H. Wallace.
The daughters both died young.
H. Wallace Thomas received his education at
Indiana, attending the common schools and later the
State normal school. He then found employment
with the Northwood Glass Company, with which concern
he was connected for a period of thirteen years.
He is a stockholder and director of the Dugan
Glass Company of Indiana borough, of which company
he is secretary, and is also engaged in the lively
business at that place. Mr. Thomas
is one of the leading business men of Indiana, is
serving as secretary of the Board of Trade, and has
done his full share in promoting local commercial
interests. But he has not confined his
energies to business. He served three years,
1906-07-08, as member of the borough council, and in
1908 was elected sheriff of the county, serving a
term of three years in that important office.
In politics he has been prominent as one of the most
effective
local workers in the Republican party, is present
treasurer of the Republican county committee, and is
a member of the Americus Republican Club of
Pittsburg. He is also well known in fraternal
circles, being a member of the I. O. O. F. and past
grand of Lodge No. 346, of Indiana; member of the
Royal Arcanum; Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No.
1468; B. P. O. Elks, being past exalted ruler of
Lodge No. 931, of Indiana; also a member of the
Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana.
On Nov. 12, 1902, Mr. Thomas married
Charlotte A. Barnhart, of Indiana.
Source: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her People,
Past & Present, Vol. II, Publ. 1913 - Page 616 |
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JESSE
THOMAS, who is now living retired on his farm
in Armstrong township,
was born June 27, 1836, in Washington township,
Indiana Co., Pa., and is a son of Dubre and Mary
(Heffelfinger) Thomas.
Jesse Thomas, grandfather of Jesse
Thomas, was born in Wales. He married a
Miss Knights, and they became the
parents of the following children: Hiram,
who married Ann Kinter; Lewis; Amos, who
married a Hunter; Dubre; Ann, who is married
a Henderson and (second) a Jamison;
Letitia, who married a McKee; and
Naomi, who married a Campbell, and
(second a McElfresh.
Dubre Thomas, son of Jesse Thomas, above,
was born in Luzerne county, Pa., and when ten years
old removed to Washington township, Indiana county,
where for more than twenty-two years he has engaged
in general farming and in driving cattle to eastern
markets. During the latter part of his life he
lived retired in Indiana. He has a farm of 100
acres in Washington township, but in 1853 moved to
Armstrong township and bought the Shoemaker
tract of 110 acres, to which he added from time to
time until he had 340 acres, this being divided
between Jesse and a brother. He also
worked on the construction of the Pennsylvania canal
in the Allegheny valley. He was a Republican
in politics, was constable for years and overseer of
the poor, while his religious connection was with
the Presbyterian Church, of which he was deacon and
trustee for a long period. He died at the age
of Seventy-two years and his wife then ninety-two,
and both were buried in Oakland cemetery, Indiana.
Their children were as follows: Peter, and
orchardist, who died in Kansas; Margaret, who
married R. M. Fleming, a carpenter; Jesse;
and Lewis M.
Jesse Thomas, son of Dubre Thomas, grew to
manhood in Washington township, securing his
education in the district schools. He followed
farming with his father until 1860, after which he
was engaged in buying and selling stock, in this
capacity traveling all over the country from 1864 to
1910. In 1880, at the time of his father's
death, the home farm was divided, and Jesse
received as his share 170 acres, to which he
subsequently added forty-eight acres. He was
lives retired on the homestead place, on which he
has erected a beautiful home with all modern
improvements and conveniences, a substantial barn,
and suitable outbuildings. For years he was
engaged in farming and stock raising, and is still
interested in the latter line, disposing of his
stock in Philadelphia and Jersey City. In
politics a Republican, during his active years he
was known as one of the party leaders in the
township. With his family he attends the
Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a trustee
for years.
Mr. Thomas married Julia Robinson
daughter of Robert T. Robinson, and they have
had five children, namely: John L.,
manager of the Sloan Investment Company, of
Bellingham, Wash., married Cynhtia Brenizer,
and they have five children, Muriel, Arthur H.,
Jesse B., Elenora B. and Theodore W.; Mary
married Calvin Walker, an undertaker, of
Armstrong township; William, who conducts the
home farm and is a large dealer in live stock,
married Blanche Wissinger, and has one child,
Mildred Louise, born July 1, 1912; Ida A.
married W. A. Wiggins, paymaster for the
United States Steel Company at Vandergrift, Pa.;
Dubre died when one and a half years old.
Source: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her People,
Past & Present, Vol. II, Publ. 1913 - Page 1331
NOTE:
1870 Census, Armstrong Twp., Indiana Co., PA on July
28, 1870 - PO Saltsburg
Dwelling 87 Family 89
Thomas, Jesse - 34 M W Farming - PersEst$2,000 - b.
PA (ca. 1836)
Thomas, Juliet - 33 F W Kp Hse - b. PA
Thomas, John L. - 7 M W - b. PA
Thomas, Mary - 5 F W - b. PA
Thomas, William R. - 4 M W - b. PA
Thomas, Dubre _ - 7/12 M W - b. PA in December
Fisher, Lewis 16 M W - b. PA
Rankin, Mary E. - 23 F - b. PA
Fulmer, John - 20 M W - b. PA
Source: Year: 1870;
Census Place: Armstrong,
Indiana, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1350;
Page: 6B;
Family History Library Film: 552849
----- 1850 CENSUS
1850 Census - Washington Twp., Indiana Co.,
Pennsylvania on Aug. 29, 1850
Dwelling 91 Family 91
Dubey Thomas 42 M Farmer RE$1000 b. PA (ca.
1808)
Mary Thomas 42 F b. PA (ca. 1808)
Peter Thomas 17 M b. PA (ca 1833)
Margaret Thomas 16 F b. PA (ca. 1834)
Jessy Thomas 15 F b. PA (ca. 1835) SEE
BIOGRAPHY
Lewis Thomas 8 M b. PA (ca. 1842) SEE
BIOGRAPHY
Eliza Wisinger 22 F b. PA (ca. 1828)
---- Source: Year: 1850; Census Place: Washington,
Indiana, Pennsylvania; Roll: 785; Page: 218a |
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JOHN
CHAMBERS THOMAS, station agent at Homer City,
Indiana Co., Pa., was born in Armstrong township,
Indiana county, Jan. 28, 1869, son of Amos Thomas,
of Armstrong township.
Mr. Thomas grew up on his father's farm
amid healthy rural surroundings and after completing
a course in the local schools at- tended the Indiana
normal school for five terms, following which he
studied in a commercial college. Coming back
home he worked with his father for a period, and
then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company at Indiana, in 1892, learning telegraphy.
He was located at different points on the Conemaugh
division as telegraph operator until he was
appointed, in April, 1897, station agent at Edri,
Pa. This he held until 1900, when he was
transferred to Hyde Park, and in April, 1901, he was
made station agent at Homer City. He now
represents the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at that
point as station, passenger and freight agent, and
is also agent for the Adams Express Company. A
capable, trastworthy and efficient man, he not only
conserves the interests of his companies, but serves
the public in a manner that is acceptable to all
concerned. He is a Mason and popular in the
fraternity. His religious affiliations are
with the Presbyterian Church.
On Sept. 17, 1901, Mr. Thomas was married
to Clara Farnsworth, a daughter of John and Mary
Ann (Buterbaugh) Farnsworth of Grant township,
Indiana county. They have no children.
Source: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her People,
Past & Present, Vol. II, Publ. 1913 - Page 1227 |
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LEWIS THOMAS,
assistant superintendent of Iselin No. 3 mine, at
Reed, in Young township, Indiana county, is a native
of Pennsylvania, born at Morris Run, Tioga county,
Feb. 25, 1880, son of Thomas D. and Esther
(Jenkins) Thomas. His grandfather was a
native of Wales, but was not spared to live to
advanced years, dying when Thomas D. Thomas
was but five years old.
Thomas D. Thomas, father of Lewis
Thomas, was born at Aberdare, Glamorganshire,
Wales, in 1832, there grew to manhood, and became a
fire boss. He was married at Aberdare to
Esther Jenkins, and in 1866, with his
wife and several children, came to the United States
and located at Morris Run, Tioga Co., Pa. He
continued to work as a coal miner, being thus
employed at that place for more than twenty-one
years, at the end of which time he removed to
Jefferson county and located at Lindsey, now the
west end of Punxsutawney. Mr. Thomas
continued to follow the occupation of coal miner in
the employ of the Berwind & White Coal Company, at
that point, as well as at Anita, in the same county,
and on retiring from active life made his home at
the west end of Punxsutawney, where his death
occurred Feb. 29, 1908, and where he was buried.
Mr. Thomas was well known among the
miners of that section of Pennsylvania and bore an
excellent reputation for integrity and upright
living. Possessed of a fine, rich baritone
voice, Mr. Thomas was trained by
Caradog, the famous musician and vocalist, who
was one of the judges of music and singing at the
World's Columbian Exposition held at Chicago in
1893, and subsequently won prizes in the Welsh
Eisteddfod, which corresponds to the German
Saengerfest. For many years Mr.
Thomas conducted choruses in Jefferson and Tioga
counties, and at all times took a deep interest in
movements tending to advance musical culture.
His widow survives and makes her home in the West
End, Punxsutawney. They were the parents of
fifteen children: Margaret, who married
Edward Beechey; Daniel J., who was
assistant principal of public schools at
Punxsutawney, and is now a tea and coffee merchant
of West Punxsutawney; Ellen, who died
unmarried in 1908; William G., who is a meat
dealer at the West End of Punxsutawney; Esther,
who married J. R. Davis, of Punxsutawney:
Thomas D., Jr., who is assistant superintendent
at the Lucerne mine, in Center township, Indiana
county; Evan J.; Lewis; Mary,
who died of scarlet fever in 1892, at the age of
eleven years; Ann, who died at the same time,
when eight years of age, both children being buried
in the same grave; and five children who died in
infancy.
Lewis Thomas, son of Thomas D. Thomas,
was educated at Lindsey, or the west end of
Punxsutawney, and had his first experience as a
miner when he was a lad of eleven years.
However, after a short period he returned to school,
continuing his studies until he was fourteen years
of age, when he again found employment, this time in
the glass works at his native place. He spent
but one year there, however, and a like period in
the brickyards, and when sixteen years of age began
to work in the mines of the Berwind & White Coal
Company, at Anita, Jefferson county. He had
been an employee of these mines for nine years when
he met with a serious accident, in which both of his
legs were broken, his injuries confining him to his
bed for forty- nine days, and after recovering
therefrom he entered the service of the Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Company, with which
he was connected for a short period. Subsequently he
became connected with the Mahoning Supply Company in
the store at Adrian, Jefferson county, but a short
time later was made clerk for the Walston Scales
Company, being connected with that firm until
October, 1905. At that time Mr.
Thomas came to the new mining town of Iselin, in
Young township, Indiana county, to become
weighmaster for the Pittsburg Gas Coal Company, a
position which he filled until 1906, when he was
made assistant superintendent at Iselin No. 3 mine,
then in its infancy, with but a few houses and only
125 hands at work. Mr. Thomas
has continued to fill the position during the last
six years with ability and to the general
satisfaction of the company, and the industry has
grown here to such an extent that the community
boasts of seventy-seven houses, a large general
store and post office, known as Reed, and a large
reservoir.
Mr. Thomas is a man of enterprise and
progressive ideas, and takes a deep interest in the
town and its people. He is well liked and highly
respected by the 450 hands now under his control,
they recognizing that he has done much to build up
the community and secure them many advantages not
enjoyed by less favored localities. He was largely
instrumental in having the church and schoolhouse
erected here, collecting the money personally, and
in numerous other ways has shown his public spirit.
A thorough miner, conversant with every detail of
his vocation, in 1911 he obtained a State mining
foreman's certificate. Politically Mr.
Thomas is a stalwart Republican. He
belongs to Blue Lodge No. 431, F. & A. M., of
Saltsburg, Indiana county. Pa., and is also a member
of the Odd Fellows.
In 1906 Mr. Thomas was married to Anna
Cranmer, daughter of Bernard A. Cranmer,
of Mouroeton, Bradford Co., Pa., and sister of
Dr. C. B. Cranmer, of Iselin. Mrs.
Thomas is a lady of culture and refined
tastes, is devoted to her home and family, and has
numerous friends in and about Iselin. One
child has been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas, Margaret Ruth, born July
5, 1910.
Evan J. Thomas, brother of Lewis Thomas,
and son of Thomas D. Thomas, was born in 1876
at Morris Run, Tioga Co., Pa., and was there
educated in the public schools. From early
boyhood he has worked in and about mines, and in
1906 became inside foreman of Iselin mine No. 3,
where he has continued ever since and where he is
popular with his men and highly esteemed by his
superiors. He makes his home near the mine,
and, like his brother, is interested in Reed and its
people. He married Carrie Emrick,
a lady of Clearfield county.
Source: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her People,
Past & Present, Vol. II, Publ. 1913 - Page 1151 |
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LEWIS M.
THOMAS, was engaged in farming in
Armstrong township, Indiana county,
before his removal to the borough of Indiana, where
he is now living retired. His paternal ancestors
were Welsh, and his grandfather, Jesse
Thomas, was born in Luzerne county, Pa., where
he lived for years, coming thence to Indiana county,
where he died. He followed farming. By
his second wife, whose maiden name was Hunter,
he had six children, namely: Dubre, Amos,
Lewis, Margaret, Naomi and
Anna.
Dubre Thomas, father of Lewis M.
Thomas, was born and reared in Luzerne county,
Pa. He became a farmer and stock dealer,
following those lines in his native county until he
removed to Indiana county, Pa., where he first
settled in Washington township. There he
engaged in general farming and stock raising, and
for over twenty-two years drove cattle to the
eastern cities. He had a farm of 100 acres
there. In 1853 he removed to Armstrong township and
bought the Shoemaker tract of 110 acres, to which he
added from time to time until he had 340 acres,
which was divided between his sons and Lewis.
He was a trusted as well as successful man, in
addition to looking after his private affairs
settling many estates, crying sales, etc. He
married in Indiana county Mary
Hefflefinger, of Armstrong township, daughter of
James Hefflefinger, and they moved to
Indiana, where they died, he at the age of
seventy-two, Mrs. Thomas reaching the
advanced age bf ninety-two. They are buried in
Oakland cemetery. They were members of the
Presbyterian Church, of which he was deacon and
trustee for a long period, and he was a Republican
in his political views. He served as constable
for years, and also held the office of overseer of
the poor in Indiana township. Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas had four children: Peter, an
orchardist, who died in Kansas, married Fannie
Williams, whose father was a minister;
Margaret married R. M. Fleming, a
carpenter; Jesse, who is still on the old
home farm in Armstrong township, married Julia
Robinson; and Lewis M. is mentioned
below.
Lewis M. Thomas was born Nov. 3, 1842, in
Washington township, and grew to manhood in
Armstrong township. He went to school until he
was eighteen years old. During the Civil war
he enlisted for nine months' service, in Company A,
135th P. V. I., which was attached to the Army of
the Cumberland. Six months after entering the
service he was taken ill with typhoid fever in
Washington city, and he spent ten weeks in the
Catholic Sisters' hospital there. By that time
his father had hunted him up, and he came home to
get better, after which he started out to rejoin his
command. He was not allowed to go back to the
field, however, on account of the state of his
health, and remained at Little York, Pa., where he
was discharged at the expiration of his term.
When able he resumed work on the home farm, and when
his father removed to the borough of Indiana he and
his brother Jesse took charge of its
cultivation, in time dividing the land. Mr.
Thomas continued to engage in farming until
1886, since which time he has made his home in
Indiana. His home is at No. 950 Church street.
He was a progressive and enterprising agriculturist,
and made a thorough success of his undertakings.
In Armstrong township Mr. Thomas married
Mary Atkinson, of that township,
daughter of George and Lizzie (Kerr)
Atkinson, and four children were born to
them, namely: Ida, who died young; Dubre,
who died in Denver, Colo., (he was in the lumber
business); Bessie, living at home; and
Edward, a newspaper man of the State of Indiana.
The mother of this family died, aged forty-one
years. Mr. Thomas's second
marriage was to Mary Fleming, of
Armstrong township, daughter of John and Evelyn
(Thomas) Fleming, and three children have been
born to this union: Edna, who is at home;
Harry Ira; and Robert Emerson.
Socially Mr. Thomas belongs to the
Knights of Honor and to the G. A. R. (Post No. 28),
and his religious connection is with the M. E.
Church. He is a Republican on political issues.
Source: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her People,
Past & Present, Vol. II, Publ. 1913 - Page 1309 |
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THOMAS
D. THOMAS, assistant superintendent of the
Rochester Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company at Lucerne,
in Center township, Indiana county, is an
experienced coal miner and a competent man for the
responsible position he fills. He is of Welsh
extraction, his grandfather. William
Thomas, having been a native of Wales, where he
lived and died.
Thomas D. Thomas, father of Thomas D. Thomas,
was born in Wales and was also a miner by
occupation. Upon coming to America he located at
Morris Run, in Tioga county, Pa., where he followed
that calling for many years, later moving to
Punxsutawney, Jefferson county. There he
remained until his death, which occurred Feb. 29,
1908, and he is buried at that place. He was
married in his native country to Esther
Jenkins, daughter of William Jenkins,
a native of Wales, who also settled at Morris Run,
Tioga Co., Pa. Fifteen children were born to
them, of whom seven still survive, namely:
Margaret, Daniel J., William G.,
Esther (Mrs. Davis), Thomas
D., Evan J. and Lewis.
Thomas D. Thomas was born Nov. 3, 1874, at
Morris Run, and educated in the public schools of
the home district, and he was only a boy of eleven
when he began work in the mines at Morris Run.
After that he attended public school at night for a
time, later entering Duff's business college,
at Pittsburg, from which institution he was
graduated in the year 1900. He then became
office man and accountant at Reynoldsville,
Jefferson Co., Pa., where he was employed for a
period of five years, at the end of that time going
to DuBois, Pa., and taking a position in the office
of the Falls Creek Coal Company, as bookkeeper.
He continued there for the next eighteen months,
following which he was at the Big Run mines as
superintendent, remaining there two years. He
has since been with the Rochester Pittsburg Coal &
Iron Company, as assistant superintendent of the
plant at Lucerne, in Center township, Indiana
county. Mr. Charles Cronk
is superintendent. Mr. Thomas is
a trusted employee, and his work at Lucerne has been
highly creditable to his ability as well as to his-
faithfulness in the performance of everything
intrusted to him. He is unmarried, and makes
his home at Lucerne.
Socially Mr. Thomas is a Mason and Odd
Fellow, belonging to John M. Reed Lodge, F. &
A. M., and to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Lindsey,
Jefferson Co., Pa. His political support is
given to the Republican party, and he is a Methodist
in religious connection.
Source: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her People,
Past & Present, Vol. II, Publ. 1913 - Page 1168 |
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VERNA
CLAY THOMAS is engaged in farming in
Armstrong township, Indiana county,
on a tract of land which was in his father's
possession for a period of over thirty years.
He was born Dec. 25, 1872, at the old Thomas
homestead in the same township, which has
been owned in the family seventy years or more, son
of John L. Thomas and grandson of John
Thomas, the latter also a . native of
Armstrong township, where he lived and died.
He is buried in the cemetery of Curry's Run Church.
He owned a farm of about three hundred acres, the
place now owned and occupied by his son Amos.
He married Anna Walker, and they had
children as follows: Israel; William,
who lives in Venango county. Pa.; Amos;
John L.; Margaret, wife of James
Peelor; Sarah, wife of Harrison
Anthony: Mary A., wife of Preble
Kelly; Eveline, wife of John
Fleming: Martha, wife of Richard
Fleming; and Elizabeth, wife of
Jacob Detter.
John L. Thomas was born May 22, 1844, at the
homestead in Armstrong township, was reared on that
place, and became familiar with farm work from an
early age. He also learned the trades of
carpenter and painter, which he followed for some
years. He then bought a farm from Joseph
Peelor, the place in Armstrong township where
his son Verna now lives, and made his home on
that property until his death—for thirty-two years.
He passed away Apr. 1, 1911.
On Dec. 25, 1871, Mr. Thomas was united in
marriage with Caroline McGary, daughter of
Samuel and Mary (Swan) McGary, and they became
the parents of four children: Verna Clay;
Olive M., who is the wife of Charles Lewis,
of White township, this county; Samuel Wilbur,
a railroad man; and Charlotte S., who is
married to Blair Lewis, of Indiana, Pa. The
mother now lives at Indiana.
Verna Clay Thomas was given a good common school
education. He always remained at home on the
farm as his father 's assistant, and from the time
of his marriage has been engaged in farming on his
own account. He now owns his father's place,
having a fine tract in Armstrong township, of 180
acres, about four and a half miles from the borough
of Indiana. He gives all his time and energy
to the management and operation of this property,
which is in most creditable condition and bears
every evidence of intelligent care.
In 1899 Mr. Thomas married Mary Wiggins,
of Shelocta, daughter of Alexander and Nancy
Wiggins, and they have had eight children,
namely: Helen, Lysle, Carolyne, Leroy, John,
Arthur, Anna Bell, and Flora Frances (who
died when five weeks old). Mr. Thomas
is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Curry's
Run.
Source: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her People,
Past & Present, Vol. II, Publ. 1913 - Page 1328 |
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WILSON C. THOMAS,
who owns and operates a large farm in
Rayne township, Indiana county,
and is also very well known in that section as a
successful veterinary surgeon, was born Oct. 26,
1852, on the farm where he resides, and where his
father lived before him.
HIRAM THOMAS, his father, died in 1861, at the
age of sixty-one years. He married Anna
Shield, who lived to the age of seventy-four,
dying in 1887. They had a large family,
namely: George W., who died at the age of
seventy years; Hiram, deceased; Margaret,
deceased; Robert, deceased; Hugh,
deceased; William, deceased; Jessie,
deceased; Mary, who married Silas
Miller, and has one son (they live in
Pittsburg); John P., deceased; Eveline,
who married Robert Park and lives in
Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.; Archy, deceased;
Amos, a dentist, located in Nebraska; and
Wilson C. Seven of the sons and three
sons-in-law served in the Union army during the
Civil war.
Wilson C. Thomas grew to manhood in Rayne
township, and has followed farming there throughout
his active years, becoming very successful. He
owns a tract of 250 acres, and is regarded as one of
the prosperous agriculturists of his section, where
he is highly respected for his substantial worth.
He attends the Presbyterian Church at Marion Center.
On Feb. 16, 1870, Mr. Thomas was united in
marriage with Mary A. Donahey, daughter of
William and Harriet (Wimer) Donahey. Her
father was a member of Company A, 61st Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, and lost his life at the battle
of Fair Oaks. The mother died when sixty-two
years old, in 1888, at Rossmoyne, Pa. Eleven
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas:
Florence, who lives at Dixonville, Indiana
county; Charles S., who is engaged in farming
in Rayne township; Jessie E., also a resident
of Rayne township; Harry White, who is in
business as an undertaker at Glen Campbell,
this county; William M., a farmer of Rayne
township; Park J., a mail carrier, who lives
in Marion Center, Pa.; Benjamin W., a mail
carrier, of Marion Center, Pa.; Sylvester C.,
a barber, of Marion Center: Norman L., who
died when eighteen years old; Eva Thomas;
and one deceased in infancy.
Source: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her People,
Past & Present, Vol. II, Publ. 1913 - Page 1325 |
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