The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-02-13
A TRIBUTE OF MEMORY.
Death Of Col. P. D. Thomas.
BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.

about eight o'clock, Col. Philip D
Thomas passed away.
Philip Dunn Thomas was born neai
Meadville, in the county of Crawford
in August, 1907. When two year,
old, or thereabouts, his parents moved
to Chester Co., Pa, where he spent his
boyhood aud resided in the historic
Chester Valley, the home of the
Waynes and the scenes of the early
struggles of our fathers for freedom.
He settled at Paoli, building dwell
ling there, and remained there for sew
eral years.
In 1916 he was elected by the peo-
pie of Chester Representative in the
66th Legislature of Pa, which Office
he filled with great satisfaction to the
people.
For several years subsequent he was
engaged in railroading, and was in
strumental in having new roads pro.
jected and built in the eastern part of
the State. After this he removed to
Philadelphia, and took charge as Col
lector at Fairmount, which position he
held for many years, and filled with
credit to himself and profit to the
Schuylkill Navigation Co., who owned
the works.
For period of his life he was en-.
gagged in large saw mill at Old Ches-
ter, as it is called, on the Delaware, in
company with William Frick. The
lumber manufactured was for the
building of vessels and ships. We
mention these circumstances, as we
know the interest which all the good
men of Forest have in the life of one
thew loved so we'll. While in compa.
ny with Frick near the mouth of the
Delaware he invented q monitor of
which he built small model, design.
ing to patent it, but the fruits of his
labor were stolen by some crafty per.
son and hesame patented by another
individual, and Mr.. Thomas was de.
prived of his invention. He often Ia
mented this, as he often said he after
wards, during the war;. saw monitors
built after his Chester model.
The oil excitement of Northwestern
Pennsylvania brought our excellent
and never to be forgotten friend here.
The spring of 1864 found him the
agent and manager of large oil Co.,
called ''The Mercantile Oil Co." at
East Hickory. The men who consti-
tnted this Co. were among the first
men of Philadelphia. They had lands
on Oil Greek. and in the vicinity of
East Hickory, and Dur dear departed
friend was their general agent, having
the oversight and management OF all
their property, but put the most of his
energies to developing at East Hick.
Dry, as he seemed to like the country.
where he put down wells both for the
Mercantile and National Oil Compa-
pies, which he represented. Here he
formed acquaintance with the people
that ripened into firm friendship.
In 1865 he married Miss Helen S. |
May, of Tionests, when he settled here.
From the first he seemed to take
deep interest, not only in his own
but in the whole coun-
n. Road commissioners, path mas.
ers and others always got his free and
'alnable advice, as the roads in many |
setions are a standing memorial to
biz day. Since which time it will
ever be recorded the good he has
ione, or all the improvements which
ie has made, either by himself or
trough his counsel and advice to 9th.
'fs. Time will never tell his valuable
eggestions, or the benefit he has been
o others.
He was just the man to reorganize
county, assist in its arrangements,
md set the machinery of public affairs
q order. He had brain sufficiently
'omPrehensive in what was especially
'ilted to do good, and his appointment
County Commissioner in 1867 soon
to the erection of beautiful public
aildings which now adorn the public
H. I'll n 4,