Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-24

Jacob Tome was born August 18th,
1910, in Mannheim township, York
county, Pa. He was OF German parent
age and the original family namo was
Thorn, his father and mother being
named in Mr.. Tones baptismal GER
titiuats as christian and Christina
Thorn, maiden name Badger" These
parents were poor, and Mr.. Tome was
one Of large family. He obtained a
limited education in a district school,
which he attended in winter. When
his father died, when young Tome was
l6 years of age, no hired himself to a
York county farmer After working on
the farm for Is months he entered the
employment Of Jacob Musser as SUPER
intendent Of his fisheries at Stony
Island, ON the Susquehanna River. In
the spring Of 1880 he went to Marietta,
and was employe ed there for two years
by James Stackhouse, and later by
Abram Marley, who manufactured and
sold tinware. Notwithstanding his
youth aud lack of education, he an
swered an advertisement for teacher
near Elizabethtown, Lancaster county.
lie obtained the place and filed it to
the satisfaction of his employers. but
with great difficulty and hard study on
his part. In the spring Of 1893 be
wont to Port Deposit and was employed
for time at Boggs' hotel. In Decem-
ber of the same year he went to Phila-
delphia and spent the winter in the
study Of bookkeeping. He returned to
Port Deposit, March 23d, 1884, and en-
gagged as clerk with Downey 4; Mont
gomery, lumber dealers. Port Deposit
at that time was the centre Of a great
lumber trade, and among those who
cains there on business was David
Rinehart, banker and lumber dealer
of Marietta, Ia. Mr.. Rinehart pro.
posed to form partnership with Mr..
Tome, who by his intelligence and in
dustry had attracted his attention. The
arrangement was made and Rinehart
embarked So, 600 in the business, Tome
contributing his work. The firm thus
formed was Tome & Rinehart, lumber
dealers. This was il 1885, and until
| it's dissolution, occRsioned by the death
Of Mr.. RiDehart, in 1851. the firm had
| a most prosperous career. Al the death
of Rinehart the capital invested in the
| business, over ana above the liberal
profits which had been Withdrawn, was
| 800, 900. Edwin }. RiDehart, son OF
| David Rinehart, succeeded his father
as a member of the firm and the bust
ness was continued under the same
firm name until 1853 In 1865 Mr..
| Tome formed another partnership, thit
time with John and Thomas G. Bond,
under the firm name OF Bond iirothert
g. Co /, which had a long and SUCCESS.
full existence, owning large tracts OIL
timber lands in Pennsylvania and in
Michigan.
At the same time Mr.. Tome wat
along with nephew by marriage, j.
W. Reynolds, engaged in the fertilizer
and agricultural implement trade. The
style OF this firm was j. Tome d. Co.
The enterprise and business sagacity Of
this remarkable man led him into 6
constantly increasing sphere of activity
In 1919 Mr.. Tome formed pHrtnershi il
with Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. John S.
Cuttings Of Baltimore, owners Of thu
steamer Portsmouth, which piled be
tween Port Deposit and Baltimore
Later on they purchased the steamer
Lancaster and Juniata from an op
position line. In 1866 this company
with the late Capt. Mason L. Weeml
Of Baltimore, established the Baltimore
| " NANaoi AShobdiB bluhubOat Oo'p tu'
Port Deposit Go. furnishing the steame
Wenonah and Capt. Weems one steame
from the Weems Line.
MIR. Tome was one of the largest rea
estate owners in Maryland. He tool
an active and intelligent interest il
public improvements aud promoted
number Of them. Rs was president o
the Baltimore d Susqushanna Steam
I Ls... ". ~ eli =.
Bridge Co., a director In the Philadel
phia, Wilmington & Baltimore RailroaI
Co., and d large stakeholder in tn
Delaware Railroad Co. He was also
director and large stakeholder in th
Port Deposit & Columbia Railroad ca
and in the SuBqushanna & Tidewate
Canal 90. He was instrumental il
making the outlet lock 10 the canal a
Lapidum, opposite Port Deposit.
For awhile Mr., Toms took an interes