BIO:  Martin THOMAS, Butler Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 387

MARTIN THOMAS, farmer, P.O. Table Rock, was born on the farm where he now lives 
January 2, 1815, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Bear) Thomas, the former of 
whom was born and reared in Cumberland County, Penn.  Jacob Thomas came, about 
1809, with his wife and one child, and settled where Martin now resides, 
purchasing at the time 151 acres of land.  Here he lived until his death, which 
occurred in 1822.  He and his wife were members of the Reformed Church.  He was 
the possessor of a good intellect, and kept himself well posted on the affairs 
of the day.  Five children were born to him:  George B., Martin, Polly (deceased 
wife of Joseph Hartzell, deceased), Catherine, Margaret (wife of John Latchaw).  
Mrs. Thomas died in 1871.  The subject of this sketch was “put out” at the age 
of seven years, from which time he made his own way in the world.  At the age of 
seventeen he began learning the shoe-maker’s trade, which he only followed for a 
short time.  Until his marriage he labored for about seven dollars per month.  
In 1837 he married Susan, daughter of Jacob Eaholtz, and afterward settled on 
the home farm, which he rented seven years, after which he purchased it, and has 
since resided on it.  Although starting in life a poor boy, Mr. Thomas has 
acquired a good home, and is living the declining years of his life amid peace 
and surrounded with plenty.  Three children were born to him:  George W., 
married to Anna M. Bushey (they had two children:  Lettie A. and Kempher); 
Martin H., deceased, formerly a hardware merchant in Abbottstown (married Elsie 
Deatrick, both of whom died several years after their marriage, leaving one 
child, now an orphan, named Elsie); the youngest child died in infancy.  Mrs. 
Thomas died January 22, 1879, aged seventy-two years and eight months.  She was 
a member of the Lutheran Church.  Mr. Thomas belongs to the Reformed Church, of 
which he is a liberal supporter.