OBIT: Sarah "Sallie" THOMAS, 1940, formerly of Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library. Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ SALLIE THOMAS Tragic Death of Sallie Thomas Former Resident of Meyersdale Killed by a Streetcar at Birmingham, Ala. News of the tragic death of Miss Sallie Thomas, a former highly esteemed resident of Meyersdale, at Birmingham, Ala., was received here last week, by her cousin, Charles A. Phillips, prominent local businessman. The sad news was conveyed by telegraph to Mr. Phillips by Charles Thomas, only brother of Miss Sallie, living at Ansley, Ala., a steel town near Birmingham. The telegram briefly stated that his sister, Sarah, (better known here as Sallie) was struck and killed by a streetcar in Birmingham; that he sent a telegram addressed to the residence of his three surviving sisters, Misses Frances, Grace and Helen Thomas, in Chicago, to notify them of their bereavement, and to ascertain their wishes in regard to burial and funeral arrangements, but the telegram was returned to him undelivered with the explanation that no one was at home at the address given. However, later Mr. Phillips learned that contact was finally made with the sisters in Chicago, and that burial was made in Birmingham, Monday afternoon, Miss Fanny Thomas flying down to attend her sister's obsequies. The victim of the fatal accident was the second daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Thomas, natives of Wales, but for many years highly respected residents of Meyersdale. The family came to Meyersdale from Frostburg, Md., during the 70's, soon after the shipping of big vein coal was commenced over the Salisbury Branch of the B. & O. R.R. Mr. Thomas was an expert coal miner and mining engineer. For many years, he did much of the engineering for the big vein mines in the Meyersdale and Elk Lick coal region. For some years he operated a mine himself at Shaw Mines. He was a fine Christian gentleman and a brother-in-law of the late James Phillips, father of our present townsmen, Howard and Charles Phillips. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were blessed with four daughters, Frances, Sarah, Grace and Helen, and one son, Charles. The entire family were highly esteemed for their intelligence, culture and splendid Christian character. The parents have long been deceased. None of the daughters ever married. Charles got married when a young man and has been employed and in business for many years at Ansley, Alabama. Miss Fanny, now retired, was a public school teacher and principal in Chicago for many years. Miss Grace also took up the teaching profession and joined her sister in Chicago some years ago. The sisters continued to live in the family home on Salisbury Street (now the home of Prof. and Mrs. D. H. Bauman) for some years after their parents' demise. Ultimately Helen also located in Chicago, with her teaching sisters. But Miss Sarah secured a civil service position in one of the governmental departments in Washington, D.C., where she remained until retired on pension several years ago, when she went to Birmingham, Ala., and made her home in a hotel in that city. She had many devoted friends in Meyersdale, who are saddened by her tragic demise and sincerely regret that death overtook her in such violent form. Meyersdale Republican, June 20, 1940