He was a native of Wales. His parents were David and Jane Thomas , Ty-llwyd farm, parish of Cadoxton-juxta-Neath, Glam. H/o- Eliz (Hopkins) Thomas(1794-1888), they were married in England, daughter of John Hopkins. 5 children : Jane, Gwemmy married Joshua Hunt, Samuel, John, and David.
A marker in Catasauqua reads (paraphrased), "Father of the American anthracite iron industry." The Thomas family lived in Catasauqua, PA. He built the Thomas (then Crane) Iron Works in 1839-40, which was deemed the world's first anthracite iron furnaces to be completely successful, both commercially and from an engineering standpoint.
At the iron works in Catasauqua David Thomas was superintendent most of the time from 1839 to 1855, though his son, Samuel, had charge during a few years of that period. In 1855, when David Thomas retired he was succeed by his son John Thomas. Joshua Hunt, who entered the employment of the company in 1848 was assistant superintendent under John Thomas, and was chosen to fill the office when the latter retired in 1867.
The Civil War was a challenge for the company. They needed to retain workers with experience to help make items of war. At the same their country was calling the to war. For those who were drafted, financial aid was given to them to help secure a substitution. An other problem was that before the war some of the customers were from VA. That changed when war broke out.
When the Civil War was over, the company erected the first monument in the US in the memory of fallen Civil War soldiers. It is located in Fairview Cemetery and is inscribed with the names of the fallen company workers. It is a must see, as well the Thomas family plot and Capt. Samuel F. McKee.
According to internet research, the iron is part of the Holland & Lincoln Tunnels in NYC. David Thomas and his wife were known as Mother & Father Thomas. He was a Presbyterian and founded the first church in Catasauqua. He installed the town's first public water system, and its first fire company. He provided a number of nice homes for his workers. He was named the first president of the American Society of Metallurgy, and was part founder of the American Association.
And there was even more. Within one year of opening, David and company established an independent school by taxing the company more. They gave $3,500 it the Hokenduaqua Presbyterian Church. They continued by adding a parsonage for Rev, James A. Little who served for 36 years.
At the Alburtis PA plant, David and company donated land for the Presbyterian church and cemetery, plus $1,000 donation year year. Everywhere they had a mine and iron operation,
they built housing for the workers, and Presbyterian church, and a school. Thomas died age 87 years, 7 months, and 17 days. Bio by Peggy Spengler-Moser.
*The Thomas mansion is located on Second Street in Catasauqua. Currently it is divided up into apartments.
A marker in Catasauqua reads (paraphrased), "Father of the American anthracite iron industry." The Thomas family lived in Catasauqua, PA. He built the Thomas (then Crane) Iron Works in 1839-40, which was deemed the world's first anthracite iron furnaces to be completely successful, both commercially and from an engineering standpoint.
At the iron works in Catasauqua David Thomas was superintendent most of the time from 1839 to 1855, though his son, Samuel, had charge during a few years of that period. In 1855, when David Thomas retired he was succeed by his son John Thomas. Joshua Hunt, who entered the employment of the company in 1848 was assistant superintendent under John Thomas, and was chosen to fill the office when the latter retired in 1867.
The Civil War was a challenge for the company. They needed to retain workers with experience to help make items of war. At the same their country was calling the to war. For those who were drafted, financial aid was given to them to help secure a substitution. An other problem was that before the war some of the customers were from VA. That changed when war broke out.
When the Civil War was over, the company erected the first monument in the US in the memory of fallen Civil War soldiers. It is located in Fairview Cemetery and is inscribed with the names of the fallen company workers. It is a must see, as well the Thomas family plot and Capt. Samuel F. McKee.
According to internet research, the iron is part of the Holland & Lincoln Tunnels in NYC. David Thomas and his wife were known as Mother & Father Thomas. He was a Presbyterian and founded the first church in Catasauqua. He installed the town's first public water system, and its first fire company. He provided a number of nice homes for his workers. He was named the first president of the American Society of Metallurgy, and was part founder of the American Association.
And there was even more. Within one year of opening, David and company established an independent school by taxing the company more. They gave $3,500 it the Hokenduaqua Presbyterian Church. They continued by adding a parsonage for Rev, James A. Little who served for 36 years.
At the Alburtis PA plant, David and company donated land for the Presbyterian church and cemetery, plus $1,000 donation year year. Everywhere they had a mine and iron operation,
they built housing for the workers, and Presbyterian church, and a school. Thomas died age 87 years, 7 months, and 17 days. Bio by Peggy Spengler-Moser.
*The Thomas mansion is located on Second Street in Catasauqua. Currently it is divided up into apartments.
He was a native of Wales. His parents were David and Jane Thomas , Ty-llwyd farm, parish of Cadoxton-juxta-Neath, Glam. H/o- Eliz (Hopkins) Thomas(1794-1888), they were married in England, daughter of John Hopkins. 5 children : Jane, Gwemmy married Joshua Hunt, Samuel, John, and David.
A marker in Catasauqua reads (paraphrased), "Father of the American anthracite iron industry." The Thomas family lived in Catasauqua, PA. He built the Thomas (then Crane) Iron Works in 1839-40, which was deemed the world's first anthracite iron furnaces to be completely successful, both commercially and from an engineering standpoint.
At the iron works in Catasauqua David Thomas was superintendent most of the time from 1839 to 1855, though his son, Samuel, had charge during a few years of that period. In 1855, when David Thomas retired he was succeed by his son John Thomas. Joshua Hunt, who entered the employment of the company in 1848 was assistant superintendent under John Thomas, and was chosen to fill the office when the latter retired in 1867.
The Civil War was a challenge for the company. They needed to retain workers with experience to help make items of war. At the same their country was calling the to war. For those who were drafted, financial aid was given to them to help secure a substitution. An other problem was that before the war some of the customers were from VA. That changed when war broke out.
When the Civil War was over, the company erected the first monument in the US in the memory of fallen Civil War soldiers. It is located in Fairview Cemetery and is inscribed with the names of the fallen company workers. It is a must see, as well the Thomas family plot and Capt. Samuel F. McKee.
According to internet research, the iron is part of the Holland & Lincoln Tunnels in NYC. David Thomas and his wife were known as Mother & Father Thomas. He was a Presbyterian and founded the first church in Catasauqua. He installed the town's first public water system, and its first fire company. He provided a number of nice homes for his workers. He was named the first president of the American Society of Metallurgy, and was part founder of the American Association.
And there was even more. Within one year of opening, David and company established an independent school by taxing the company more. They gave $3,500 it the Hokenduaqua Presbyterian Church. They continued by adding a parsonage for Rev, James A. Little who served for 36 years.
At the Alburtis PA plant, David and company donated land for the Presbyterian church and cemetery, plus $1,000 donation year year. Everywhere they had a mine and iron operation,
they built housing for the workers, and Presbyterian church, and a school. Thomas died age 87 years, 7 months, and 17 days. Bio by Peggy Spengler-Moser.
*The Thomas mansion is located on Second Street in Catasauqua. Currently it is divided up into apartments.
A marker in Catasauqua reads (paraphrased), "Father of the American anthracite iron industry." The Thomas family lived in Catasauqua, PA. He built the Thomas (then Crane) Iron Works in 1839-40, which was deemed the world's first anthracite iron furnaces to be completely successful, both commercially and from an engineering standpoint.
At the iron works in Catasauqua David Thomas was superintendent most of the time from 1839 to 1855, though his son, Samuel, had charge during a few years of that period. In 1855, when David Thomas retired he was succeed by his son John Thomas. Joshua Hunt, who entered the employment of the company in 1848 was assistant superintendent under John Thomas, and was chosen to fill the office when the latter retired in 1867.
The Civil War was a challenge for the company. They needed to retain workers with experience to help make items of war. At the same their country was calling the to war. For those who were drafted, financial aid was given to them to help secure a substitution. An other problem was that before the war some of the customers were from VA. That changed when war broke out.
When the Civil War was over, the company erected the first monument in the US in the memory of fallen Civil War soldiers. It is located in Fairview Cemetery and is inscribed with the names of the fallen company workers. It is a must see, as well the Thomas family plot and Capt. Samuel F. McKee.
According to internet research, the iron is part of the Holland & Lincoln Tunnels in NYC. David Thomas and his wife were known as Mother & Father Thomas. He was a Presbyterian and founded the first church in Catasauqua. He installed the town's first public water system, and its first fire company. He provided a number of nice homes for his workers. He was named the first president of the American Society of Metallurgy, and was part founder of the American Association.
And there was even more. Within one year of opening, David and company established an independent school by taxing the company more. They gave $3,500 it the Hokenduaqua Presbyterian Church. They continued by adding a parsonage for Rev, James A. Little who served for 36 years.
At the Alburtis PA plant, David and company donated land for the Presbyterian church and cemetery, plus $1,000 donation year year. Everywhere they had a mine and iron operation,
they built housing for the workers, and Presbyterian church, and a school. Thomas died age 87 years, 7 months, and 17 days. Bio by Peggy Spengler-Moser.
*The Thomas mansion is located on Second Street in Catasauqua. Currently it is divided up into apartments.
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