In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1908) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1826
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908), The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881)
JOHN H. THOMAS, manufacturer of agricultural implements, Springfield. John Henry Thomas, in all that relates to the moral health, business prosperity, industrial progress and general advancement of Springfield, is unquestionably one of its foremost men, having been, ever since his advent in this city, thirty years ago, one of the few to whose enterprise, energy and public spirit the almost phenomenal growth and uniform business prosperity of the city is largely due. He was born in Middletown, Frederick Co., Md., Oct. 4, 1826, the son of Jacob Thomas of that place; Marshall College. Mercersburg, Penn. was his alma water, from which he graduated in 1849; he commenced reading law with Hon. S. W. Andrews, of Columbus, Ohio, completing his course with the Hon. William White, of this city, to which he came in 1851; after two years’ practice, he was the recipient of a flattering tribute to his popularity and hold upon the confidence and esteem of the public, by being chosen Reeorder of Clark County. which was the more complimentary by reason of his. then brief citizenship. At the close of his official term, he abandoned the law and politics, and engaged in what has proved his life work, commencing business under the firm. name of Thomas & Mast, for the manufacture of agricultural implements, in 1857, under the disadvantages of small capital and limited resources, and in a year memorable as one of the periods of universal financial disaster and ruin, its masterly management from the outset carried it successfully through the commercial. industrial and financial chaos of that terrible year, and, in a few years, it had steadily, but rapidly and healthfully, advanced to the magnificent measure of $1,000,000 of annual sales, and the employment of several hundred hands. In the times which tried to the utmost the financial ability of the stanchest concerns, and the skill and nerve of their proprietors, when others were inert, paralyzed and dazed, by the almost universal ruin and shaking up of values, Mr. Thomas, with his able coadjutor and honored fellow citizen, Mr. P. P. Mast, carried their establishment through with unimpaired credit, the stronger for the ordeal. Mr. Thomas remained at the head of this house until 1872, withdrawing in that year, with the purpose of retiring from active business. His energetic nature and active habits of life, however. prompted him, after a rest of two years, to resume the business of manufacturing, associating with him his two sons, William S. and Findley B. Thomas; he accordingly established the present large establishment of John H. Thomas & Sons, for the manufacture of agricultural implements, chiefly of horse hay-rakes and steam engines; an idea of the volume of the business done by this firm may be had by reference to the industrial department of this work. On behalf of his two sons, the junior partners of the concern, Mr. Thomas purposes investing the entire future profits of the business in its extension. Aside from Mr. Thomas' private enterprise and its marked success, he has ever been a promoter of all public enterprises, improvements and advancement, and the city's welfare in every respect. He is a stockholder in three and a Director of one of the National Banks of the city, and connected generally now, as in the past, with nearly all its important corporations and industries, and as Chairman of the Finance Committee in the City Council, of which he was many years a member; he distinguished himself as an able financier, richly meriting the sobriquet, “ watch-dog of the city treasury," and to his strong influence and efforts while in that position is greatly due the present healthy condition of the city’s finances. Mr. Thomas' high position in the community is all the more creditable when viewed in connection with his political faith, he being an uncompromising Jeffersonian Democrat, in a community that is counted a Republican stronghold, almost all of his business associates and personal friends being “ stalwart ” Republicans. Although a modest and reserved man, who never projected his views or convictions in politics or religion into public notice, his political predilections have frequently caused him much personal inconvenience and annoyance, especially during the late war with the South, during which his loyalty was absurdly questioned by that thoughtless, unreasoning and arbitrary class of which every community is unfortunately largely composed. But, despite insult and the estrangement of friends and old associates, he stood firmly by his principles, his adherence to which the louie of events and subsequent experience have not shaken. His influence extended to State as well as local politics, he receiving, in 1868, the nomination to Congress from the Eighth District, and a higher tribute could not be paid him than the result of that election, in which he reduced a usual Republican majority of 3,000 to about 100. He has ever been a strong, active, able and effective advocate, in private and public life, of temperance, and it was upon the strength of his broad and practical views on this question that he was returned to the City Council in 1875. In all the relations of life, Mr. Thomas was ever deemed eminently reliable, and the exponent of the greatest firmness of purpose and integrity of motive, having an abundance of the quality vulgarly but appropriately called " backbone." His religious faith is Presbyterian, he being a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he is also one of the most liberal supporters. The position of Mr. Thomas. and family in social life, is of course of the best. In 1854, he married Mary, youngest daughter of the Hon. Jacob Bouser, of Chillicothe, their family consisting of two sons and two daughters. Mr. Thomas has three brothers living in Springfield, and also engaged in manufacturing agricultural implements, viz., Joseph W., Charles E. and R. P. Thomas, of the firm of Thomas, Ludlow & Rodgers, whose business is also very extensive. Although no necessity exist for further effort or devotion to business, being in excellent health and possessed, even yet, of much of his old-time ardor and energy, Mr. Thomas is to be found daily at his post, finding the greatest pleasure in the discharge of its duties.
As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HON. JOHN H. THOMAS. The death of John H. Thomas, which took place at his home on East High Street, Springfield, January 23, 1901, removed from this city a man whose business success, public spirit and sterling character, identified him for all time with the agencies which contributed largely to the upbuilding of this section. Mr. Thomas was born October 4, 1826, at Middletown, Maryland, a son of Jacob and Sophia (Bowlus) Thomas.
After satisfactorily completing the public school course, Mr. Thomas entered Marshall College, at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated with the class of 1849. He then turned his attention to the study of law, entering the office of Hon. S. W. Andrews, at Columbus, Ohio, and, in 1851, that of William White, then the leading attorney at Springfield. For two years after admission to the bar, he continued to practice law at Springfield, and was then chosen county recorder, a rather unusual taken of appreciation, as Mr. Thomas had so recently become a resident of Clark County. In the meanwhile this section was just awakening to the possibilities afforded in the direction of manufacturing, and Mr. Thomas was one of the first to take advantage of the situation. He entered into partnership with P. P. Mast and they founded the well known agricultural implement firm of Thomas and Mast, and upon so sound a foundation, that it weathered the storms of financial depression in 1857, continued to grow in importance, and within a few years ranked with the largest in the state. Mr. Thomas remained a member of this firm until 1872.
In 1874, after two years of rest, Mr. Thomas re-entered the manufacturing field in partnership with his two sons, Wilham S. and Findlay B. They erected the large plant which stands on South Limestone Street and there The Thomas Manufacturing Company began, which still continues the extensive manufacture of all kinds of agricultural implements, having established a reputation second to none in the specialties of hay machinery, harrows and grain drills. William S. Thomas is president of the above mentioned company, as well as its treasurer, and Findlay B. is also associated in the business of manufacturing farm implements.
For very many years, the late John H. Thomas stood as one of Springfield's most public-spirited citizens. He sei-'ed on the City Council with marked usefulness and was chosen a member of various civic boards, at the time of his death being a member of the Snyder Park Board. He was a stanch member of the Democratic party and was held in such esteem by its leaders that in 1868 he was nominated for Congress and still later was made the Democratic standard-bearer for the United States Senate against Hon. Calvin S. Brice. The duties of every office he held were performed with the ability and capacity which marked the management of his private affairs.
In 1854, Mr. Thomas was married to Mary Bonser, who was the youngest daughter of Hon. Jacob Bonser, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and they had four children, namely: William S., who is president of the Mad River National Bank of Springfield and of The Thomas Manufacturing Company; Findlay B., who is prominent also in the business life of Springfield; Nellie, who is the wife of Judge A. N. Summers; and Mabel, who is the wife of L. P. Matthews. Mr. Thomas was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was always a liberal supporter of its many charitable enterprises. His private philanthropics were numerous and one of these, a notable one, may be mentioned — the Mitchell-Thomas Hospital, which was a joint gift to the city for the benefit of its sick and afflicted, from Ross Mitchell and John H. Thomas.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Ross Mitchell (b. 1824) William S. Thomas (b. 1857) William White
Their biographies name John H. Thomas: Oliver S. Kelly (b. 1824) William H. Sieverling (b. 1865) O. S. Kelly John Estle Johnson (b. 1845) J. M. Normand John Deardorff (b. 1824) W. S. Moore (b. 1846) Phineas P. Mast
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.