BIO: Ethan Hazen THOMAS, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 371-375. _________________________________________________________________ ETHAN HAZEN THOMAS, chief burgess of New Brighton, Pa., is also an insurance agent of that place, and deals largely in real estate. New Brighton is one of the best business towns in Beaver county, Pa., situated as it is in a fine location, and containing many beautiful homes, streets, walks, and shade trees. The mammoth manufacturing industries operated within its limit, are among the best in this section of Pennsylvania. New Brighton is located upon lands known as tracts No. 91 and 95, and was laid out in lots in 1814. About the same time, a bridge was built connecting it with Beaver Falls, and was rebuilt in 1833 or 1834. In 1832, a canal was built around the falls in order to market the products of the first manufacturing concern located there, - that was the Townsend Flouring Mills, which were built in 1837, destroyed by fire about 1846 and replaced by woolen mills. New Brighton is situated on the banks of the Beaver River, which gives abundant water supply for various manufacturing concerns, and is only a few miles from the Ohio River. It contains two railroads, - direct lines east and west; they are the P., F. W. & C. R. R., and the E. & P. R. R. In, addition to this, the place is supplied with a trolley line through the main streets, and broad walks, finely shaded; it has many beautiful residences, surrounded by spacious and well-kept lawns. In 1838, New Brighton was made a borough, and now has a population of 9,000. It contains fine stores, public halls, local banks, eight churches, splendid schools, a young men's library, building and loan associations, a daily paper, and is well supplied with electric lights and natural gas for illuminating and manufacturing purposes; the water supply is inexhaustible. It is no small honor to the subject of this sketch to be at the head of such a prosperous and flourishing borough. Mr. Thomas was elected chief burgess of this enterprising town on the Republican ticket in 1897, and fills the seat of honor in a very creditable manner. He was born in North Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pa., February 29, 1856. He is a son of John Thomas, and grandson of Ethan Thomas. Our subject was educated in the public schools and in Burns' Seminary, after which he embarked in the drug business, purchasing the store of Kennedy & Patton. He continued in that line for five years, selling out his business to H. L. Schwieppe; he then embarked in the feed and grain business, and conducted that for several years, after which he entered his present real estate and insurance business. In 1888 he added an insurance department 372 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES to his business, representing the following companies: Home, of New York; New York Underwriters; National, of Hartford; Agricultural, of Watertown, N. Y.; Northwestern, of Milwaukee; and Lloyd's Plate Glass Ins. Co., of New York. Mr. Thomas handles as much, if not more, real estate than any other man in New Brighton, and has established a large patronage by his upright dealings. He resides at the corner of Sixth avenue and Eleventh street, and has an office adjoining, at No. 602 Eleventh street. Ella Kilpatrick, an attractive daughter of Daniel and Margaret Kilpatrick, of New Brighton, became the wife of Mr. Thomas, and has borne him five children, namely: Edith, a student; Edna, who died in infancy; Clara Emma, who also died young; Frank; Carl, who is ten years old; and an infant daughter. Mr. Thomas is a consistent member of the Immanuel Baptist church, and has served as clerk, trustee and treasurer, while his worthy wife worships with the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Thomas served several years as a member of the borough council, and also as notary public, and is known as one of the most enterprising citizens of New Brighton. Ethan Thomas, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in the state of Maryland. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Eads, a native of Virginia. They went to Beaver county, Pa., among the earliest settlers, - following agricultural pursuits. They settled first in Patterson township, but later removed to Chippewa township, where their son William now resides. Ethan Thomas cleared this farm, which was, at the time of its purchase, only a wilderness. He also placed many improvements upon the place, such as dwellings, barns, etc., and was a very successful farmer for his day. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas reared a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Their names are: Isaiah; John; James; David; William; Daniel; Mary, wife of Daniel Daniels; and Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Brittain. The beloved father and mother now rest in the churchyard at Darlington, and William is now the only living member of their family. William Thomas, uncle of our subject, now resides upon the homestead farm, and is known as a successful man, respected by all. In his early life, he was a merchant at Beaver, for three years. He was in business later at New Brighton, for three years, and then retired to the homestead farm, which he has since cultivated. He has served as county auditor one term, and as justice of the peace for several years. He was joined in matrimony with Mary A. Young, a daughter of Jacob and Susan Young, of Columbus, Ohio. John Thomas, father of our subject, was born at the homestead in Chippewa township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation and settled in Franklin township for a while, but removed later to North Sewickley township, where his death took place in 1864, in his fifty-sixth year. His life partner and cheerful helpmeet was, before marriage, Miss Margaret Hazen, a daughter of Samuel Hazen. She survived her husband BEAVER COUNTY 375 until 1889, when she, too, crossed the dark river, at the age of seventy-one years. Nine children blessed their union, viz.: James, who served in the Civil War as a member of Company H, 101st Ohio Vol., from 1861 to 1863, when he was discharged for disability, and who died January 28, 1869; Pamelia, who is the widow of Dr. James E. Jackson, and still resides in New Brighton; Clara, who died, single, in 1871; Elzena, who married J. M. Hazen, and also died in 1871; Elizabeth, Jane, and Samuel, who all died young; Ethan H., the subject of this sketch; and Maggie E., wife of John W. Withrow. John Thomas was a Whig, and later, a Republican. He served as school director and in minor offices in the township. He was a deacon of the Baptist church, of which denomination both he and Mrs. Thomas were devout members.