Biographical Sketch of Thomas A. GUMMEY (b. 1822); Philadelphia Co., PA

Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Diana Smith 
[christillavalley@comcast.net] 

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"Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 Years"
Publisher:  S. H. Clark; Philadelphia; 1912.     Vol. 3, page 362
Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer
 
THOMAS A. GUMMEY
     Thomas A. Gummey, attorney at law, who for many years has enjoyed a large 
practice in both the state and federal courts, was born in Philadelphia, 
November 8, 1832, and completed his preliminary course of study by graduation 
from the Central high school with the class of 1850 while spending his boyhood 
days in the home of his parents, John Michael and Elizabeth Gould (Anners) 
Gummey. In the paternal line he comes of English and German ancestry, the 
family having settled in the United States in the early part of the eighteenth 
century. They were identified with events of importance in colonial days, some 
of them holding commissions in the Continental army, experiencing the 
hardships of the memorable winter at Valley Forge and participating in the 
battle of Trenton and Monmouth under Washington. In the maternal line Mr. 
Gummey comes of English ancestry.
     When his high school course of study was completed he turned his 
attention to the business world and for three years was employed in a 
publishing house in Philadelphia, but a mental review of the field of business 
as represented in agriculture, commerce and the professions led him to the 
conclusion that he would find the practice of the law a congenial pursuit. He 
therefore registered as a student at law and, attending the lectures at the 
law department of the University of Pennsylvania and graduating with the class 
of 1857, was admitted to the bar February 4, 1858. Immediately afterward he 
entered upon active practice and an increasing clientage brought him into 
prominence in both the state and federal courts. His name is associated with 
many important corporation cases, in which he won verdicts satisfactory to his 
clients. He has largely come to be recognized as an authority upon corporation 
law and his wide experience and constant research has placed him prominently 
in the ranks of the representatives of the legal profession in Philadelphia. 
He has always enjoyed a reputation for his sound opinions, especially upon 
matters of title on real estate.
     Mr. Gummey was married March 21, 1861, to Miss Frances Rebecca Bird, of 
East Walpole, Massachusetts, a descendant of an old and notable Puritan 
family. Mrs. Gummey died leaving three children surviving her, two sons and a 
daughter, all of whom are married. The eldest son holds an important position 
in a large steel manufacturing company, the second son is a prominent 
physician in Germantown, and the daughter is the wife of a business man in New 
York City. Several years after the death of his wife Mr. Gummey married Miss 
Emma S. C. Maurer, of Wurtemberg, Germany. His home is in Germantown.
     While the practice of the law has been his life work, he has never 
neglected those duties which devolve upon every American citizen, and his 
thorough understanding of the vital questions and well known devotion to the 
public good have made his opinions an influencing factor in support of 
progressive public measures. Mr. Gummey is a member of the Protestant 
Episcopal church. He is an accomplished musician and organist and in the 
leisure hours of his profession can frequently be found devoting himself to 
the works of the great musical composers, which is his greatest pleasure and 
the pleasure of his family and friends when visiting him.


 

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