Thomas Johns Thomas

As printed in 1902

THOMAS J. THOMAS.

With a capital of five dollars Thomas Johns Thomas arrived in America. To-day he is numbered among the men of Springfield to whom industry and enterprise have brought a comfortable competence. His birth occurred in Cornwall, England, February: 17, 1849. His - father, William Thomas, who was born there in 1818, was a farmer by occupation and died in his native country in 1895, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Johns, passed away at the age of sixty-eight years. In their family were two sons, Thomas Johns and William. The latter is now a waiter in the hotel in Ilfracombe, England.

Mr. Thomas, whose name introduces this review, attended the public schools until thirteen years of age, when he apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith's trade and Served for a term of five years, after which he worked for the same firm for two years. He was then married in 1868 to Charlotte Rabey, who was born in England in 1851, and the same year Mr. Thomas sailed for New York, where for two years he was em- „ployed. He then went to Lafayette and to Jersey City, New Jersey, where he remained for two years, later spending eighteen months in New London, Connecticut. He learned the trade of a practical horse-shoes, which he followed at the various places mentioned, and subsequently removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he lived for a year. While there he was joined by his wife, who had been left in England while he was securing a home for her in the new world. On Christmas Day of 1874 they arrived in Springfield and took up their permanent above here.

Mr. Thomas was yet a young man but was an expert workman and soon found employment, remaining for six months in the service of William Dickson, but desiring to engage in business on his own account he then entered into partnership with Messrs. Cathcart & Cassiley. They opened a shop back of the present office of the P. P. Mast Company and there remained for nineteen months, Mr. Thomas being the practical workman of the firm. On the expiration of that period the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Thomas then became a partner of John Kearns, on Market Square, this relation being maintained from the fall of 1876 until 1884. Mr. Thomas then sold out his interest and started in business for himself in the rear of the Square in 1878. He erected one of the model shops of the city and built up an extensive trade, which grew so rapidly that he increased the length of his building by an addition of twenty feet. He does nothing but practical horse shoeing, but his work is of such excellent grade that his patronage demands that he employ three workmen. He uses nothing but hand-made goods and utilized about six thousand horseshoes in his trade each year, giving especial attention to shoeing track horses. He is located at No. 22 Fisher street, where he has a modern and neat shop, supplied with all necessary equipments for carrying on his business.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born eight children: Carrie, the wife of James Phillips, of Cornwall, England, was born in England, was educated in this county and afterward returned to her native land, where she was married; Hetty is the wife of John H. Shortan, of Newport, Kentucky; William, who engaged in the feed business on Clifton street in Springfield, married Bertha Ward, by whom he has one son, and they reside on Stanton avenue; Charles, who learned the horse-shoeing business with his father and is now following that trade in Columbus, married Sarah Ingram, of that city, and they have one son, Seth; Catherine is at home; Thomas bia pattern maker; Henry is a piano tuner; and Gertrude is yet in school. The parents hold membership in the Heavenly Rest Episcopal church, of which Mr. Thomas is one of the vestrymen. He belongs to Clark Lodge, E. & A. M.; Springfield Chapter, R. A. M.; Springfield Council, R. € 5. M.; Palestine Commandery, K. T.; and Antioch Temple of the Mystic Shrine, of Dayton, having joined the Masons in 1879. He is also a member of the Benevolent. € Protective Order of Elks. His political support is given the Republican party and its principles and for three years he represented the old fourth ward of the city in the city council. He served on the committee on streets and highways and chairman of the committee on the police and fire department. At that time the various committees of the council superintended the improvements made in the city and he was the prime over in having Sheridan avenue opened up, thus furnishing an outlet to the manufacturing concerns of the east end. The market house was also built during his incumbency in the council and the first stone pavement was laid in the city. In all enterprises that have been established to promote the welfare of Springfield and its people Mr. Thomas has been found as an earnest and active worker. He purchased property at the corner of Kelly avenue and Summer street, where he built seven houses, his home being at No. 129 Summer street. He has a natural talent for music and since 1889 has been a member of the choir of the Heavenly Rest church, acting as a paid singer for eight years. He has taken vocal lessons, possessing a fine voice, and is a valued addition to musical circles of this city.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.