Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Thomas, Edward
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Bensalem Township


EDWARD THOMAS retired merchant, P.O. Torresdale, was born in 
Newportville, Bucks county, August 20, 1825.  He is a son of 
Samuel and Martha (Lloyd) Thomas, natives of Montgomery 
county, Pa., and of Welsh and English descent.  His father 
was a miller, and run the grist-mill at Torresdale as early 
as 1817.  He subsequently moved to Newportville, where he 
operated a grist-mill and saw-mill.  He spent most of his 
life in Bucks county, and died in 1872 in his 81st year.  
His wife lived to be 70.  They had eleven children, ten of 
whom grew up and were married; five sons and five daughters. 
 Seven of them are still living, all in Philadelphia county, 
except Samuel, Jr., who is a resident of Phillipsburg, N. J. 
 Edward was the fourth in the family.  He received his 
education in the common schools of Bucks county, the 
Westtown boarding school, Chester county.  He chose 
lumbering as a business, and subsequently added milling, and 
the brick and coal business.  He has also devoted some time 
to farming.  The business was established in 1845, under the 
firm name of J. & E. Thomas, and continued with success 
until 1877, when his son Edwin M. and C. S. Vandergrift 
bought the business.  Since then Mr. Thomas has not been 
actively engaged in business.  He has owned farms for years. 
 The farm where he resides in the 23rd ward of Philadelphia 
cost him $35,000.  He also owns 135 acres at Torresdale, and 
the mill property.  In 1855 he married Harriet Penrose, 
daughter of Morris and Rebecca Penrose, of Montgomery 
county, Pa.  Her parents were members of the Society of 
Friends and of English descent.  Their union has been 
blessed with three children, two of whom are now living; 
Edwin M. and Helen.  The latter attended the schools of 
Philadelphia, also the Moravian seminary at Bethlehem for 
two years, and is now at home.  Edwin graduated at the 
Philadelphia high school, and chose his father's occupation, 
merchandising and dealing in building supplies and lumber.  
He was married in Philadelphia to Alma, daughter of Robert 
Murray.  She is of English descent.  They have two children: 
 Robert and Morris P.  The family are members of the Society 
of Friends.  In politics our subject is a republican. He 
served twenty-three years as a director of the Bucks County 
Farmers' National Bank. He is a director and treasurer of 
the Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Bucks and 
Montgomery counties.  He takes an active interest in 
education, and is one of the directors of the Lower Dublin 
Academy of the 23rd ward of Philadelphia.  Mr. Thomas has 
many friends, is well known as a good business man, and has 
met with marked success.