Mingo County, West Virginia         Biography of EVAN THOMAS

This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook,
E-mail address:  <vfcrook@earthlink.net>

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pg. 595-596
Mingo

EVAN THOMAS. A leading figure in the coal industry of
Mingo County is Evan Thomas, superintendent of the Cin-
derella Mine and a man who has had much experience in his
line of endeavor. Mr. Thomas has been a constructive force
in the activities which have contributed to the development
of this region, and has played his part in the movements
which have uncovered some rich coal mining properties. He
was born at Monmouthshire, England, March 10, 1873, and
is a son of James and Elizabeth (Williams) Thomas, natives
of Wales and England, respectively.

On the paternal side Mr. Thomas is descended from an
old Welch family, while on the maternal side he is con-
nected with the Williams family, which at one time con-
ducted the famous Whistle Inn at Blan Avon, England, one
of the most noted of the old English inns. His parents
immigrated to the United States and located at Scranton,
Pennsylvania, in 1881, and there James Thomas, who had
been a skilled and experienced miner in the old country,
secured as his first employment the work of sinking what
was known as the Saloan shaft. In this line he was ac-
counted an expert, and followed the same specialty at
various places, including Glenlyon, Luzerne and other places
in Pennsylvania, until 1890, when he removed to Randolph
County, West Virginia.

Evan Thomas attended the common school at Scranton,
Pennsylvania, but as he started to work when he was only
eleven years of age his education was somewhat limited,
although later he attended school intermittently during the
winter months when it was not possible for him to be at his
employment. His first work was as a trapper, after which
he was made a mule driver, and before he had reached the
age of twenty years he had been advanced to the post of
boss driver. About this time he came with his father to
Randolph County, West Virginia, and first located at
Pickens Post Office, where he entered the lumber business
as a buyer of lumber for the Kele & Morgan Company,
and also acted as an inspector. During the five years
that he was identified with this concern he spent two years
in North Carolina. Later he became identified with the
Keyes-Fannon Company as superintendent of their lumber
mill, and for five years continued as the head of this band-
saw and circular-saw mill. In 1911 he left this firm and
joined the Sycamore Coal Company, opening up all their
properties, including the Cinderella Mine, erecting the build-
ings for the housing of the miners, as well as the office,
stores, etc., and getting out much of the lumber, for, while
he was a miner, he was likewise a lumberman and his ex-
perience in both directions assisted him greatly.  Since
then Mr. Thomas has continued as general superintendent
of the Cinderella Mine, located at Cinderella Post Office,
about two and one-half miles up the branch of the N. & W.
Railway, which turns off the main line about three miles
east of Williamson. He is widely and favorably known in
coal mining circles of this part of the state, and has the
confidence of his employers and the respect of his men.
Mr. Thomas is a thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite Mason,
a Knight Templar, an Elk, a Shriner and a Pythian Knight.
With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church. On
May 9, 1908, Mr. Thomas married at Pikeville, Kentucky,
Miss Josephine L. Francis, daughter of D. L. and Katherine
(Dean) Francis, natives of Kentucky. Mr. Francis, who at
one time was engaged in the lumber business with the W. M.
Ritter Lumber Company, is now engaged in the insurance
business at Pikeville. Mrs. Thomas is a direct descendant
of the distinguished Dr. James Draper of Philadelphia, and
on her mother's side belongs to the Gibson family of which
Charles Dana Gibson is a member.