BIO: Thomas BARNES, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ THOMAS BARNES. Among the self-made men of Centre county are many citizens of foreign birth who have become conspicuous in business and financial circles for their ability, integrity and enterprise, and the story of one who began with empty pockets, and has made his way to prosperity and wide influence, is a helpful inspiring study. Thomas Barnes, who is now a wealthy coal operator of Philipsburg, Centre county, and president of the Moshannon National Bank at that place, was born May 13, 1843, in Lancashire, England, where his ancestors have had their homes for many generations. James Barnes, grandfather of our subject, was a farmer there, and, although his life was passed without exciting incident, it embodied in its domestic phases a beautiful romance, so similar to certain portions of the widely-read novel, "John Halifax, Gentleman," as to make a most striking coincidence. Like the hero and heroine of that work, James Barnes and his wife were born on the same day of the same month, but the grandmother a year later than the grandfather. They were married on their common birthday, and died on another anniversary of their birth. They were never separated for even the space of twenty-four hours, and so closely were they united by love and sympathy that one could scarcely suffer a pain that did not affect the other. They were seventy-five and seventy-four COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 441 years old, respectively, when the last illness fell upon them. When the final summons came the wife expired first, and as the children attempted to removed the corpse from its place by his side they dying husband motioned to them to leave it, and eighteen minutes later he, too, breathed his last. This devoted couple left a numerous family. Their son John, our subject's father, who spent his life in Lancashire, followed agricultural pursuits. He and his wife (whose maiden name was Jennie Hayes), had twelve children, viz.: James (deceased), Hannah (now Mrs. Edward Riely), Samuel, Lawrence, John, Henry, Isabella (now Mrs. James Eastwood), Thomas (our subject), Alice Ann, Jane (now Mrs. George E. Smith), William, and Rachel (the last named being deceased). Of these, only three-Henry, John and Thomas - came to America, the others remaining in their native land. Thomas Barnes crossed the ocean at the age of twenty-one to test his fortunes in the New World. His sole inheritance was comprised in his sound mental and physical health and his all conquering energy. He located near Philipsburg, and having but a few dollars at hand he promptly began at the first work that he could find, which happened to be coal mining. This occupation he followed until 1872, when he secured a contract for clearing away drift, and later he and his brother John began operating the Cuba mine. Their next venture was with the Derby mines and Lancashire mines No. 1 and No. 2, and since that period the two brothers have carried on many profitable mining enterprises in that vicinity and in Cambria county. At the present time Mr. Barnes is a partner in the Baltic mines and others, and is recognized as a man of great sagacity and one of the leading operators of his locality. As is well known, coal mining includes many incidental details, and Mr. Barnes and his brother conduct stores and supply places, and in every way meet the demands of the business. In May, 1897, the Moshannon National Bank was organized at Philipsburg, Mr. Barnes being appointed its president. In 1864 Mr. Barnes married Miss Anna Ashcroft, also a native of Lancashire, England, and seven children were born of their union: Jane, Margaret, Ruth, John, Rachel, Anna and Esther. Of these, Jane married J. Johnson, who is now conducting our subject's store in Philipsburg, and they have one daughter, Ruth. Mr. Barnes is prominent in local affairs, is a vestryman in the Episcopal Church, takes great interest in school matters, and is liberal in his donations. In politics he is a Republican. He has been deservedly successful in his undertakings, and now owns a fine home on Centre street, Philipsburg, besides an elegant block, a hotel, and a gristmill.