BIOGRAPHY: Jacob THOMAS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 458-9
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JACOB THOMAS, one of the active and substantial business men of Elder township 
and northern Cambria county, is the eldest son of John and Anna Mary (Huller) 
Thomas, and was born in France, November 30, 1830. The Thomas family is 
presumably of Welsh origin, but have been resident of Germany for several 
generations.
     John Thomas was born in Germany in 1806, and in 1834, came to near St. 
Lawrence, and in that part of White township now Chest township. He was a 
shoemaker by trade and employment in the old world, but when he came to Cambria 
county he purchased a tract of woodland and cleared out a farm, from which he 
afterwards removed to another farm near St. Bonifacius. He died in March, 1888, 
aged eighty-two years. He was a democrat and a Catholic, and married Anna Mary 
Huller, and to their union were born six sons and five daughters: Jacob, John, a 
farmer, of Carroll township; Michael, engaged in farming in Elder township; 
Elizabeth, wedded John Baldman, and is deceased; Philip, engaged in mining in 
Elder township; Valentine, a blacksmith of Carroll township; Mary wife of Martin 
Yahner, a farmer, of Chest township; Martin, engaged in farming in Clearfield 
township; Helena, married George Kibler, a farmer of Elder township; and 
Christina, wife of Charles Langbine, of Carrolltown. The three eldest children 
were born in Europe, and the two youngest are twins.
     Jacob Thomas was reared on the farm, attended the schools of his 
neighborhood, and at twenty-five years of age purchased a tract of woodland, on 
which he spent twelve years in clearing out and improving. He then, in 1867, 
sold this land and bought a farm in Clearfield township, which he disposed of in 
1873, to purchase the mill property at Thomas' Mills. He operated the flouring 
mill until March, 1895, when it was burned. He contemplates rebuilding soon, and 
still runs his sawmill; which has a capacity of ten thousand feet per day. While 
engaged in farming Mr. Thomas conducted a store for some time at St. Lawrence, 
and also did an extensive business for several years in shipping logs from 
Cambria county down the Susquehanna river to Williamsport, where he lost $40,000 
worth of lumber by fire in 1876.
     In 1855 Mr. Thomas married Elizabeth Noel, a daughter of Abraham Noel, of 
Clearfield township. To their union have been born seven sons and two daughters: 
Michael, John, now dead; Lucinda, wedded John R. Cordell, who conducts a hotel 
at Patton, this State; Martin, in business at Thomas' Mills; Albert, Amadeus, 
and Theodore, who are assisting, their father; Charles, who was drowned in his 
father's milldam; and Howard, who is still at home.
     In politics, Jacob Thomas is a democrat, but neither a politician nor 
office-seeker. He has, however, served his township for several years as a 
school director, and labored hard in that capacity for the improvement and 
advancement of the public schools. He is a member of the Catholic church. Every 
movement for the benefit of his community and township enlists his interest and 
receives his support. Mr. Thomas is a man of industry and energy, and of good 
judgment in matters of public or private interest.