BIO:  William A. Tomes, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Spring Garden Township, Pg 193

WILLIAM A. TOMES was born July 7, 1829, son of Peter and Sarah (Keesey) Tomes, who were the 
parents of eight children:  John, William A., Peter, Margaret, Mary, Sarah, Marcellus and 
Arabella.  His grandfather emigrated from Germany and settled at Cornwall Furnace, afterward 
moving to Colebrook Furnace, Penn.  He has six children:  Peter, William, John, Elizabeth, 
Charlotte and Henrietta.  Mr. Tomes is superintendent of the York Variety Iron Works.  This 
establishment is the most widely known of its kind in this country, and send its productions to 
many foreign countries, as well as throughout America.  This house supplied the ornamental work 
for the great New York and Brooklyn Bridge, and the Market Street Bridge, Philadelphia, besides 
many other important structures throughout the country.  They make a specialty of statuary.  
Mr. Tomes was married, November 20, 1851, to Miss Mary C. Cook, daughter of Frederick B. and 
Harriet C. Cook.  By this union they have been blessed with ten children:  Charles C., Henry 
A., Francis, Camelia, Edward, Peter, Albert, William, Clara and Mary E.  He was drafted in 
1863, but procured a substitute for $300.  He has a fine three-story brick house and a lot in 
East York, Penn.