Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....Thomas, John T. 1854 - 

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Author: Biographical Publishing Co.



JOHN T. THOMAS,* inside-foreman of the Cameron Colliery, holds one of the most

important foremanships in the Seventeenth Congressional District and the

anthracite region. To give an adequate idea of the responsibility of this

position we will mention that he has under his supervision six assistants and

eight fire-bosses; this colliery gives employment to over 1,200 hands, and the

daily output is between 1,400 and 1,500 tons. The miners work from eight to ten

veins of coal. Mr. Thomas has been in and about the mines since he was ten years

old, occupying, many important positions, and is thoroughly acquainted with the

responsibilities of his position. He was appointed inside-foreman on February

22, 1896, and has discharged the duties of his office exceptionally well.



  Our subject was born April 25, 1854, in Carmarthinshire, at Ponta Barton,

Wales, and is a son of Thomas and Rachel (Jones) Thomas. He received only a few

months' schooling in Wales, but entered the mines of that country when only ten

years old, and continued to work at mining until he immigrated to America,

locating at once in Shamokin, where he soon secured employment about the mines.

For three years he was fire-boss at Henry Clay Colliery, after which he occupied

a similar position for two years at the Garfield Colliery, which is now closed.

In 1893 he was promoted to assistant-foreman of the Cameron Colliery, and served

in that capacity for three years, when he was appointed to his present position.



  The father of our subject was a miner in Wales, being an outside-foreman and

check-weigher. He immigrated to this country one year after the arrival here of

our subject, locating in Shamokin. He has worked about the mines ever since. His

family then consisted of our subject, three other sons, and three daughters. One

brother, Benjamin, is now dead. Those living are John T., our subject; Rachel,

now the wife of David Thomas of Luzerne County, Pa.; Sarah Ann, wife of Enoch

Edmonds, of Shamokin; William, who is still a bachelor, editor of the Shamokin

Daily Herald, a bright and spicy paper; Mary Jane, wife of Theodore Berry, of

Shamokin; and Thomas F., who is employed in the mines.



  Benjamin Thomas, brother of our subject, was a young man who was well-known

and exceedingly popular, taking a prominent part in educational and musical

matters in Shamokin. He was highly educated and, prior to his death, he was

principal of the Shamokin High School. He died in 1897.



  Our subject was married January 15, 1879, and has three bright and attractive

children: David J., aged fifteen years; Benjamin, ten years old; and Emrys, aged

six years. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Presbyterian Church, being leader of

the choir as well as chorister of the Sunday School. In 1897 he organized the

Mozart Glee Club, which consists of from twenty-five to thirty male voices.

Fraternally he is a member of the Shamokin blue lodge No. 255, F. & A. M.





Additional Comments:

* The information contained in this biography was supplied by the subject of

this sketch. A type-set copy of the biography was sent to the subject to be

proof-read, but the subject did not edit and return the copy, so this biography

may contain typographical errors.



  Extracted from:

    

    Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District

    Published by 

    Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)





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