THE CATASAUQUA DISPATCH

OBITUARY

Thomas - in this place May 12^th 1878, Mr. Hopkins Thomas, in the 85th year of his age.

The death of this venerable man recalls to mind the many triumphs of the mechanical ingenuity of the American workman, and the difficulties which beset them on every hand. Mr. Thomas was born in South Glamorganshire, South Wales, came to this country and located at Beaver Meadow, Carbon County. His career has been a very successful one, and his fame as a mechanic is known throughout the land. We shall enter into a more extensive sketch of his life at some future day, noting the fact that in March, 1871, he ceased his labors as a machinist and retired from work owing to ill health. For some time he has been confined to his residence, and as sunlight was approaching on Sunday morning last, he quietly fell asleep, graetly respected and mourned by all his acquaintances.

His funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon last, from his residence at Third and Walnut Streets, and was one of the most distinguished assemblage as ever convened in this place. Rev. C. Earl gave out a hymn which was sung by the choir, read selected portions of Scriptures, and spoke consoling and words regarding the departed’s later experience, closing by a prayer by Rev, Jas. A. Little. The many friends were invited to take a parting look at their former companion, when the corpse was born to the hearse by pall bearers, Messrs. Daniel Jones of Johnstown, William Jones of Braddock, George Davies of this place, Samuel Davis, of Port Oram, New Jersey; Owen Liebert and Enoch Phillips of Bethlehem, former apprentices under Mr. Thomas.

At Fairview Cemetery, the services consisted of singing of hymns by choir, reading of Scripture and Benediction. The coffin was lowered into a grave lined with evergreens and snowball flowers. Thus was laid away one of our eldest citizens after an eventful and very useful life, respected and honored by all.

The deceased leaves and aged widow and five children, Mr. William R. Thomas of Alabama, Mrs. James H. McKee of Philadelphia, Mrs. John Thomas of Hokendauqua, Mrs. James W. Fuller of this place, and Mr. James Thomas, of Oxmoor, Alabama, with numerous grandchildren.

Among the prominent person’s present we noticed Robt. H. Sayre, Supt, L. V. Railroad, Treasurer Chamberland of the same road; Philip Hoffecker, master mechanic at L. V. R. R. Weatherly shops, John Kinsey, master mechanic at the South Easton shops, John Fritz, Supt., Bethlehem Steel Works, Weston Dodson, Bethlehem , John James, Postmaster at Hazelton; W. Llewellyn, of Hazleton, John Burns, Glendon; Daniel Jones, Supt. Cambria Iron Works, Johnstown; William Jones, Supt. Edgar Thompson Steel Works at Braddock, Pa; Owen Liebert, Asst. Supt. Bethlehem Steel Works; Enoch Phillips, Bethlehem Steel Works; George Davies, formerly Supt. Carbon Iron Works, Parryville; Samuel Davis, Supt. Thomas Iron Co.’s mines in New Jersey; and many other strangers, with all the prominent local head men, nearly all of whom had taken and instructions from the deceased.