Nicholas Thomas

As printed in 1897

ICHOLAS THOMAS, proprietor of the Hydraulic brewery, of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Germany in 1825, the son of John and Rickey (Machias) Thomas, both of whom died in Germany. In 1848, at the age of twenty-three years, N. Thomas landed in New Orleans, came up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers by boat as far as Cincinnati, walking from that city to Dayton, and thence to the home of an uncle in Decatur, Ind., with whom he remained one winter. He then worked on the Wabash canal until the close of the following summer, when he returned to Dayton and worked for three years in the Dickey stone quarry, from which has been taken the stone of which many of the fine business blocks and residences of the city are constructed. He then, in 1852, engaged with Daniel Beckel in his teaming business, and was one of those who assisted in the work of excavation for the cellar of the Beckel house.

In 1855 Mr. Thomas married Miss Margaret Higlerfoot, who was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1825, and to them have been born three children — John H., Katie and Henry A., the last named being the only one married. In 1855 Mr. Thomas, having saved a sufficient sum from his earnings, purchased a team and for fourteen years drove his own wagon. He was then for four years appointed watchman of the Dayton banks. In 1873 he established a grocery and saloon, corner of Front and Third streets, conducting a successful business for some years. Mr. Thomas then took an important step, and one which has exerted a favorable influence upon his later fortunes. In 1881 he embarked his hard-earned capital in the present enterprise, the outcome of which might well have been considered doubtful, as the plant where he located had been controlled during the previous eight years by three distinct firms. Its present sound condition is owing to the ability of one man, who, meeting the sharpest competition, increased a business of 2,000 barrels in 1 8 8 r to 5,000 barrels in 1885, to 9,000 barrels in 1890, to 10,000 barrels in 1891, to 14,000 barrels for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1893, and to about 20,000 barrels for 1896.

This business has been conducted without change of location since Mr. Thomas took it in 1881. The first firm name was N. Thomas & Co., the present title being adopted in 1892. George Weddle, who was long connected with Mr. Thomas in the brewery, withdrew in 1892. He was a conscientious businessman, of personal reliability, and secured his large knowledge of brewing wholly through his experience and training in this plant.

John H. Thomas, son of the proprietor, was born in Dayton in 1859. He was educated in this city at the public schools, finishing at the Miami Commercial college. When seventeen years of age he assisted his father in the grocery and afterward in the office of the brewery, manifesting from the first decided financial ability. All his business experience has been with his father, who has found in him an apt pupil, and one who may be relied upon in the future to take up the work of carrying an already large business to even greater magnitude. Undoubtedly the continued success of this brewery depends to a large extent upon John H. Thomas by reason of the age of his father. Henry A. Thomas, brother of John H., was born* in Dayton in 1864. Like his brother he has a public school education, attending also the Miami Commercial college. After acquiring a knowledge of business at the grocery and the brewery, being desirous to become an expert, he engaged in 1885 with the Herman Lackmann brewery, and afterward with J. G. Sohn & Co., being with these Cincinnati breweries four years. While manifesting great skill in the brewing department, he was so apt in mechanics that, in 1890, the machinery of the brewery of his father was placed under his central. Conversant with all departments of the business, his skill and knowledge are invaluable in promoting the best interests of the concern.

In politics Mr. Thomas is a democrat, and in religion he, and all the members of his family, are members of the Catholic church. His residence is at No. 1732 East Third street, and he is recognized as one of the most solid business men of the Gem City.

AJ. MILTON McCOY, civilian and soldier, was born December 9, 1838, nearTarlton, Pickaway county, Ohio, and is descended from one of the earliest pioneer families of the county of Ross. His father, James McCoy, was a son of William and Drusilla (Browning) McCoy, who emigrated from near Gettysburg, Pa., to Flemingsburg, Ky., in 1795, and in 1797 moved to the Northwest territory, settled north of Chillicothe, on the banks of Kinnikinnick creek, and there reared a family which has been identified with that part of the state for nearly if not quite a century. James McCoy married, in the county of Ross, Elizabeth Entrekin, whose father, also a prominent pioneer resident, served with distinction in the war of 1812 as lieutenant in what was known as the “Irish Gray” company. James McCoy and family emigrated about the year 1826 to Pickaway county, locating upon a farm not far from Tarlton, and in November, 1839, moved to the city of Circleville, where Mr. McCoy died January 10, 1881, his wife having departed life on the 23d of August, 1872.

May. McCoy attended, in youth, the public schools of Circleville, Ohio, and later completed a course at South Salem academy. From boyhood his predilection was for a military life, and as soon as age permitted, he became a member of the Ohio state militia organization, serving as second sergeant in the Pickaway guards until the breaking out of the late Civil war. When President Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers, Mr. McCoy at once responded, enlisting April 1 6, 1861, as a private, but upon the assembling of the company at Camp Jackson, Columbus, for the purpose of effecting an organization, he was chosen second lieutenant. The company designated as company G, was assigned to the Second Ohio regiment, which proceeded to Harrisburg, Pa., thence to Lancaster and Philadelphia, where some time was spent in company drill. From the latter city the regiment went to Washington city by way of Baltimore, Md., going into camp north of the capitol building and forming a part of the brigade commanded by Gen. Robert C. Schenck, the other regiments being the First Ohio and Second New York. This brigade was assigned to Gen. Tyler’s division, which, on the same night that Col. Ellsworth was killed at Alexandria, crossed the Long bridge into Virginia. At daylight on the following morning the command went into camp near Alexandria, but soon afterward moved farther north along the railroad and established Camp Upton, Va., where the regiment remained doing picket duty until the advance upon the rebels at Bull Run. While in Camp Upton, Lieut. McCoy was made provost marshal of Gen. Schenck’s brigade, having under his command thirty men, one from each company in the brigade. On the 2 1 st day of July, the provost guard being near the hospital, established on the Warrenton road, while having in charge a lot of prisoners, a charge was made by a company of Confederate cavalry, which he with the guard and quite a number of stragglers on the hunt for water, succeeded in repulsing after a sharp and sanguinary engagement.

After the battle of Bull Run, the Second

Ohio proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where it was mustered out of service several days after the expiration of its period of enlistment. Immediately thereafter Lieut. McCoy recruited a company for the three years’ service, which was designated as company I, and formed a part of the Second Ohio, then being organized at Camp Dennison, and commanded by the late Col. L. A. Harris. This regiment moved into Kentucky as far as Paris, thence through the eastern part of the state under Gen. Nelson, participating in a number of engagements during that memorable campaign, and advancing to a point near Pound Gap, thence to the mouth of the Sandy river, where the troops took steamers and proceeded to Louisville, Ky., arriving there the morning of the 25th of November, 1861. After remaining for a short time at the latter place, the command proceeded to a point south of Elizabethtown, going into winter quarters at Bacon Creek, Ky., and was assigned to a brigade commanded by Gen. Joshua Sill. In the early spring the troops took up their line of march for Bowling Green, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn., under the command of Gen. O. M. Mitchell, commanding division, arriving at the latter place at the same time with the army which effected the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson; continuing the advance they succeeded in capturing Murfreesboro, Shelbyville, Fayetteville, Tenn., and Huntsville, Ala. At the last named place a large amount of rolling stock of the Memphis & Charleston railroad, consisting of seventeen locomotives and nearly 400 cars, fell into the hands of the Federals, resulting in the cutting of the lines, thus preventing the enemy from transporting troops from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Corinth, Miss.

Capt. McCoy served at the head of his company at the capture of Stephenson and the attack upon Bridgeport, Ala., and later was with Buell in the celebrated pursuit of the rebel forces under Gen. Bragg. He was detailed with his company to escort batteries over the mountains from Battle Creek to Murfreesboro, thence with his command to Louisville, where the regiment was placed in Gen. Rosecran’s division, Gen. A. McD. McCook's corps. Proceeding in pursuit of the rebel Gen. Bragg, the two forces finally met October 8, 1862, on the bloody field of Perryville, Ky., where Capt. McCoy received two painful wounds in the arm and hand; he also narrowly escaped being killed by a musket-ball which flattened itself against his scabbard, battering the latter so as to unfit it for further use. Capt. McCoy still has in his possession this old scabbard, which he carefully preserves as a memento of that bloody day of ’62, and which he prizes more highly than any of his many relics of the war. On account of his injuries he asked for and was granted a furlough, which was spent in the vain effort to obtain relief from suffering. In the spring of 1863, he returned to the regiment, but, after a careful examination of his wounds by skillful surgeons, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., they were pronounced very obstinate and exceedingly difficult to heal, and Capt. McCoy resigned his command and returned to the peaceful vocations of civil life. For some years following the war, he was engaged in farming, stock raising and shipping grain, in all of which he met with encouraging success. He followed agriculture until 1888, at which time he was chosen to the position of treasurer of the Central Branch, which he now occupies in the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

May. McCoy has proved himself a capable and painstaking official, and since his connection with the national home has discharged his duties in such a manner as to win the confidence and esteem of those under his charge and to gain the approbation of his superior. He is a great over of books, and his library, made up of the choicest products of the greatest minds in the field of literature, is one of the chief attractions of his delightful home.

The major has given much time as well as considerable means in adding to his collection such books as have value on account of age, and a over of books could desire no greater pleasure than to linger while among the old and rare volumes upon his shelves, some of which represent the earliest stage of the art preservative. May. McCoy was twice elected to the Ohio legislature from Ross county, serving continuously from 1871 to 1875, the second term as speaker pro tern, of the house. He was elected as a democrat and took an active part as a member, serving on a number of important committees and carrying through important legislation, the wisdom of which has been abundantly demonstrated by the years which have since intervened. He introduced the first “school book bill” in an Ohio legislature.

May. McCoy was married March 19, 1863, to Catherine Crouse, daughter of John and Lydia Crouse, and a native of the county of Ross, where the Crouse family settled as early as the year 1798. Major and Mrs. McCoy have three living children, namely: Alfred C., who married Mary Volmer and resides on the home farm in Ross county; Sarah M., wife of Dr. S. S. Wilcox, formerly first assistant surgeon in the Central Branch, and now of Columbus, Ohio; and Lincoln D., a student in the Cincinnati Academy of Music. The deceased members of the family are George W. and Catherine, both of whom died in childhood.

May. McCoy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Loyal Legion, and the G. A. R.; belongs to Dayton lodge, No. 147; Unity chapter, No. 1 6, and R. & S. M. council, No. 9, Ohio grand commandery. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and, while not a member of any religious organization, is a liberal supporter of Christian and moral movements. Mrs. McCoy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.