BIO:  Otho W. THOMAS, M.D., Franklin Township, Adams County, PA

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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 414

OTHO W. THOMAS, M.D., Arendtsville, is a native of this county, and was born in 
1849 to William L. and Sarah (Overholtzer) Thomas, both of whom were natives of 
the same county.  The grandfather, John Thomas, was also born in what is now 
Adams County.  Thus the family were residents of this section long before the 
county was organized, and while it was yet a part of York County.  William L. 
Thomas and wife had a family of five daughters and five sons:  Oliver J., Delila 
A., Otho W., Elizabeth, Upton S., Howard D., Alzanah, Ephraim C., Alice and S. 
Gertrude.  Otho W. received his classical education at Gettysburg, and studied 
medicine under Dr. E. Melhorn, of New Chester.  In 1872 he matriculated at the 
University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, graduating from that eminent 
medical college in 1874.  April 6 of that year he located in Arendtsville, where 
he has since enjoyed an excellent practice among the best people of this 
section.  In 1875 he married Annie M., daughter of Moses and Lydia (Deardorff) 
Raffensperger, who are both representatives of noted and old families of this 
county.  To Dr. Thomas and wife four sons and one daughter have been born:  Arba 
C., Herbert M., Nannie, O. L. Benton and U. Dale.  The Doctor has not only 
pursued his profession with profit, but has also gratified his taste for 
scientific literature by purchasing a library that has few superiors among 
medical men in any county or State.  As a physician he enjoys distinction, not 
only in his own county, but throughout the State, being a member of both the 
County and State Medical Associations, and his success is such as might be 
expected from one who devotes his entire time and attention to medicine and 
surgery.