JAMES M. THOMAS. Among the leading families of Washington county, none have a better claim to prominent mention in the pages of this Biographical Record than the one of which the gentleman is a worthy member. Edmund Thomas, grandfather of James M., is the first of the family in this county of whom there are any data. He was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, and when a young man came hither and made a settlement in North Strabane township, where he carried on farming to the end of his busy life, becoming one of the leading citizens, ever in the van of all progressive movements. He was here married to Rhoda, daughter of David Leonard, of Washington county, a resident of near the village of Bentleyville, and the children born to them were Sarah, Mary, Rebecca, Ann, Phoebe, Lydia, Rhoda, Nancy and Liverton. Mr. Thomas early united with the Presbyterian Church, in after life serving for many years as a trustee and an elder. Politically he was a zealous Democrat.
Liverton Thomas, father of subject, was born in North Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn., May 12, 1809, and his education was received at the schools of his district, which he enhanced by much after study. In 1834 he was married, in Ohio, to Miss Mary A. Glandon, who was born in Maryland, October 2, 1813, and moved with her parents to Harrison county, Ohio, and the results of this union were nine children, eight of whom are yet living, viz.: Edmund, in Saline county, Neb.; William, a farmer in Chase county, Neb.; James M.; Rhoda L., wife of John Hodgens, in Des Moines, Iowa; Liverton G., a physician in Philadelphia, Penn.; Belle M., wife of James G. Matthews, a farmer and undertaker in North Strabane township; A. J., also a farmer in North Strabane township; and Ida M., wife of William Kettle, of Rush county, Kans.; Caleb F. died in infancy. The mother died December 10, 1873, and the father then went to live with his daughter, Mrs. John Hodgens, in Des Moines, Iowa, where he now is. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has always been a liberal supporter, and was the donater of the land on which the Fairview church now stands, having materially contributed toward its erection, and has been an elder from its organization. Politically, he is a lifelong Democrat, and has been in his day a hard worker for the party's interests.
James M. Thomas was born December 29, 1838, in North Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn., and received a thorough common-school training, which, being a diligent student and apt scholar, he turned to the best account. He assisted in the duties of his father's farm until 1866, in which year he embarked in general mercantile business in the village of Thomas, inclusive of the buying and shipping of all kinds of farm produce. He is one of the heaviest wool dealers in his locality, and has justly earned the confidence of every one with whom he has had dealings. His first store was a 16x20 room, which was soon enlarged to 16x40, to meet the growth of his business. In 1876 he erected his present business block in the same village, 24x70, two stories and a basement. The store is finished in natural wood, and is one of the finest country stores in the county. Mr. Thomas carries full lines of all classes of goods, dealing heavily in produce, and his success is entirely of his own making. On September 20, 1859, James M. Thomas was united in marriage with Mary J., daughter of Alexander Hamilton, of Nottingham township, and the children born to them are Carrie B., Howard N., Cora B. and Clyde B. The mother of this family died July 10, 1885, and December 28, 1886, Mr. Thomas for his second wife married Mrs. Anna Hodgens, daughter of Dr. Murray of Canonsburg. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church at Fairview, in which Mr. Thomas is an elder and has held various offices. His political predilections are Democratic, but of late years he has preferred to vote for the best man, irrespective of party claims, at all times having first in view the best interests of his township, county and State.
Text taken from page 1235 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]