HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS
AND
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS
OF
THE LEHIGH VALLEY
PENNSYLVANIA
___________
UNDER
THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF
JOHN W. JORDAN, LL. D.
OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA
AND
EDGAR MOORE GREEN, A.M, M.D.
OF EASTON, PA.
GEORGE T. ETTINGER, PH.D.
OF MUHLENBERG COLLEGE, ALLENTOWN, PA.
___________
Knowledge of kindred and the genealogies of the ancient
families deserveth the highest praise. Herein, consisteth a part of the
knowledge of a man's own self. It is a great spur to virtue to look back on the
worth of our line."—Lord Bacon.
"There is no heroic poem in the world but is at the
bottom the life of a man."—Sir Walter Scott.
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ILLUSTRATED
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Vol. II
___________
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1905
Hopkin
Thomas (father) was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, in 1793. His early
education was obtained in the public schools of the village in which he lived.
When he reached the age of sixteen he became an apprentice in the Neath Abbey
Works, near Neath, South Wales, learning the trade of a machinist. In 1834 he
emigrated to the United States, landing in Philadelphia and at once secured
employment in the Baldwin in Locomotive Works, later entering the shops of
Garrett & Eastwick. Leaving these people, he accepted a position as master
mechanic of the roads and mines of the Beaver Meadow Railway Company, and while
serving in this capacity he displayed remarkable inventive genius. It was
through one of his inventions that anthracite coal was first used for fuel in
locomotives. One type of coal breaker was also invented by him which is in use
to the present day. Likewise he invented and successfully used the chilled
cast-iron car-wheel, also the most improved and successful mine pumps and
machinery of that day. In I853 he became a resident of the borough of
Catasauqua, and from that year until his death, May 12, 1878, he very
creditably filled the position of master mechanic of the Crane Iron Works.
His wife, Catharine
(Richards) Thomas, a native of Merthyr-Tydvil, South Wales, bore him the
following named children: William R., Mary, who became the wife of James H.
McKee; Helen, who became the wife of John Thomas; James, hereinafter mentioned;
and Kate M., who became the wife of James W. Fuller.
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