Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Thomas, Joseph, M.D.
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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
Richland Township N-Z


   JOSEPH THOMAS, M. D. banker, P.O. Quakertown, president 
of the Quakertown National bank, was born in New Britain 
township, Bucks county, June 15, 1829, and is the 
great-grandson of Albin Thomas, a native of Wales, who 
emigrated to this state at an early day and located in 
Plumstead township.  His son Albin succeeded him and located 
in Danborough, and to him was born Elias, the father of our 
subject.  He married Sarah, daughter of Frederick Snyder.  
The fruit of this union was Joseph,who was reared to farming 
and left home at the age of seventeen, having received the 
best school advantages offered. He soon began teaching, 
which vocation he followed until 1854, when he began the 
study of medicine.  He was graduated in 1856 from the 
University of Pennsylvania, and began the practice of his 
profession in Applebachsville, Haycock township, six miles 
from Quakertown, where he continued until 1861, when he 
organized a company and was commissioned captain, and 
assigned to the Pennsylvania Reserve corps.  In the autumn 
of 1862 he was appointed surgeon of the Corn Exchange 
regiment, 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was 
subsequently made surgeon-in-chief of the field hospital, 
which position he held until the close of war.  On his 
return to peaceful pursuits he located at Applebachsville, 
where he remained until 1866, when he was appointed 
assistant assessor of internal revenue, and removed to 
Quakertown. In 1871 he organized the Quakertown Savings bank 
and was appointed its cashier, and in 1877, when the bank 
was closed, as an evidence of its successful management, 
after paying all the liabilities of the institution, there 
was a residue left, paying the stockholders $4.00 for every 
$1.00 invested.  The Quakertown National bank, with a 
capital of $100,000, was then organized and established, and 
since its organization Mr. Thomas has been its president.  
Politically he is a republican, and in 1878 was elected to 
the state senate by a majority of four hundred and fifty.  
April 3, 1860, he married Sarah, daughter of Samuel and 
Elias (Fluck) Ott.  They have one son, Byron, who is teller 
in the bank.  The doctor has been a successful business man, 
and while he has partially retired, yet has his capital 
judiciously invested, and is in the enjoyment of his home 
and family.  He has given considerable attention to 
ornithology and natural history.  He is past master of 
Quakertown lodge, No. 512, A. Y. M.; also a member of the 
Chapter and Commandery; of the I. O. O. F., No. 714; of 
Peter Lyste post, 145, G. A. R.; and also of the Loyal 
Legion of the United States.