BIO: Robert H. THOMAS, Jr., Cumberland County, PA

    Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
    OCRed by Judy Banja

    Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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    >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
    Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, page 42 
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    ROBERT H. THOMAS, JR. Conspicuous among the active business men of
  Mechanicsburg is Robert H. Thomas, Jr., of the well known Thomas Printing
  House. He is a son of Col. Robert H. and Annette (Kimmel) Thomas, and was
  born in Mechanicsburg Jan. 19, 1861. He is one of two surviving children, the
  other being Mrs. J. Irvin Steele, of Ashland, Pennsylvania.
    Robert H. Thomas, Jr., was educated in the public schools of Mechanicsburg,
  and at the Cumberland Valley Institute. He has spent all his days in the place
  of his birth, and it may be said that his entire career, from early boyhood
  down to the present, has been a continuous period of business activity. Upon
  leaving the school room, in 1878, he entered the printing office, and both by
  study and practice learned thoroughly the details of his father's extensive
  business. With this knowledge and practical training he became business
  manager of the house, which exacting position he has successfully filled ever
  since. As his business has constantly brought him into contact with the
  aggressive minds that shape and direct matters in the various spheres of
  life, he is generally well informed, and is possessed of a progressive and
  enterprising spirit. He has traveled much, mingling freely with the people,
  is naturally quick to observe, ready and accurate in speech, and a good
  judge of human nature. He is a clear and forceful writer, a good
  conversationalist, and holds high rank among the journalists of the State. He
  is a Republican and takes an active interest in local and State politics.
    Like his distinguished father, Mr. Thomas has long been prominent in
  Masonry, and has reached the thirty-second degree of the fraternity. He also
  belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Patriotic Order, Sons of America
  (Lodge No. 164, of Mechanicsburg), and the American Mechanics. He is an
  enthusiastic fireman, and has been chief of the Mechanicsburg Fire
  Department. He is also identified with the Grange movement, and is treasurer
  of the Grangers' Picnic Association, which holds annual exhibitions at
  Williams Grove, Cumberland county.
    In January, 1891, Robert H. Thomas, Jr., married Miss Frances Coover, only
  daughter of Ira D. and Ellen (Downs) Coover. She was born in Upper Allen
  township, and on the paternal side is a descendant from one of the oldest and
  most respected families of that part of the county. Her mother was a member of
  an old and prominent family of the Eastern Shore, Maryland. She has two
  brothers. Alfred D. and David R., both of whom reside in Arizona. To Robert
  H. and Frances Coover Thomas have been born three children, Robert H. (3),
  Francis Edward and Mary Estelle, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
  are members of the Methodist Church.