THE ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL
ALLENTOWN,
PA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 19, 1906
JAMES THOMAS
PASSED AWAY
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WELL KNOWN IRON MASTER
DIED AT CATASAUQUA
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PROMINENT IN BUSINESS
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Was
President of the Davies & Thomas Company and Wahnetah Silk Co, and a
Director of the Catasauqua National Bank
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James Thomas, one of Catasauqua's
most prominent citizens and ironmen and president of the Davies, Thomas Co.,
died at 3 o'clock yesterday morning at his home following an illness with
stomach disorders. His parents were Hopkin and Catharine (Richards) Thomas, who
were of an old and honorable Welsh ancestry. His father was born in Glamorganshire,
South Wales in 1793. He learned the trade of machinist in the Neath Abby Works,
the largest iron industry in the country, and came to America in 1834. He
entered the employ of the Baldwin
Locomotive Works and subsequently became master mechanic of the roads and mines
of the Beaver Meadow Iron Co. It was through one of his inventions that
anthracite coal was first used as a fuel for locomotives. A type of coalbreaker in use today was also
invented by him. In 1853 he moved
to Catasauqua and until his death in 1873 filled the position of master
mechanic the Crane Iron Works.
James Thomas came to Catasauqua with
his parents in 1853. In 1858 he
went to Parryvllle to take the superintendency of the Carbon Iron Works.
Leaving there In 1871 he went to Jefferson county Alabama, and while there held the position of general
manager of the Irondale and Eureka Iron Companies. He held the distinction of
having made the first coke in Alabama.. In 1879 he returned to Catasauqua and
formed a partnership with George Davies under the firm name of Davies &
Thomas. This company was the outgrowth of a small concern which was established
in 1865 by Daniel Davies. Shortly
after its establishment a co-partnership was formed with Wm. Thomas and in 1867 the interest of the latter
was purchased by George Davies, a son of Daniel Davies. They organized under
the firm name of Daniel Davies & Son, this firm having been in existence
until the death Daniel Davies and James Thomas connected their interests under
the management as given above which continued in existence until the death of
George Davies in 1894. The following year the heirs of George Davies and the
surviving member, James Thomas formed the Davies, Thomas Company. The firm
manufactures castings for many important enterprises including the underground
electric railway in Washington D. C., the Broadway Cable in New York, the East
River tunnel and the Traction and Peoples Cable lines in Baltimore. They also
manufacture car castings and are the designers of the Davies & Thomas
engine. The plant is classed with
the largest in the country conducting general foundry and machine work.
Mr. Thomas was prominently
identified with every enterprise calculated to promote the prosperity of
Catasauqua.. He was president of the Wahnetah Silk Company and a director of
the Catasauqua National Bank. Through his efforts the borough secured the
establishment of an electric light plant and he at one time was the president
of the Bethlehem Electric Light and Power Company. He was a member or Grace M. E, Church, Porter Lodge, F.
& A M., Catasauqua Chapter,
and Allen Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar. He was a Republican in
politics and among the honors given him by his party was an appointment as
delegate to the national convention held in Minneapolis in 1892. He took a keen
interest in educational affairs and served for several years on the school
board.
Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife and the following
children: Mrs.. Charles R. Horn, New York, Mrs. W. W. McKee; Mrs. J. L. Hornbeck, Roland D. Thomas and Hopkin Thomas.
Seven grandchildren and a brother, William R Thomas. and two sisters, Mrs. John
Thomas, wife of the late superintendent of the Thomas Iron Works, Hokendauqua and Mrs. James
W. Fuller, Sr. of Catasauqua, also survive