GEORGE
DAVIES
Source: Roberts, C.
R., et al, History of Lehigh County Pennsylvania, 1914, Vol. 3.
Note: The biography appearing in Jordan, Green and Ettinger, 1905, is
identical
George
Davies, deceased, formerly the senior member of
the well-known foundry and machine firm of Davies
and Thomas, Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, was born
in the village of Merthyr-Tydvil, Glanmorganshire,
Wales, April 9, 1837. The firm of Davies and Thomas
was formed in 1879 and rapidly built up a very large
business. In the execution of some responsible contracts
they established a great reputation throughout the
eastern portion of the United States. His father,
Daniel Davies, also a native of Wales, and a molder
by trade, left his native land in June, 1846 accompanied
by his family, and arrived in New York in July of
the same year. He found employment as a foundryman
in the Novelty Works, New York City, afterward being
employed in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Phoenixville,
Pennsylvania; later he went to Tamaqua, where he
entered the employ of the late Hopkin Thomas, father
of the junior partner of Davies and Thomas. In the
early part of 1849, Mr. Davies left Tamaqua and
went to Weatherly, and in July of 1865, came to
Catasauqua, entering the foundry of the Crane Iron
Company, under the late David Williams, manufacturing
castings on contract. Severing his connection with
the Crane Iron Company in 1865, he entered into
partnership with William Thomas in the foundry business,
purchasing the old planing mill in East Catasauqua;
three months later his son, George, was admitted
to partnership. After two years, the firm of Davies
and Thomas was dissolved, Mr. Thomas withdrawing
his interest after which the title became Davies
and Son, and the business was thus conducted until
the death of Daniel Davies, in April, 1876, at sixty-three
years of age.
He
was a man of staunch integrity and honorable, upright principles, and for many
years held membership in the Presbyterian church. His wife, Mary (Phillips)
Davies, was born in Wales, and died there in the year 1839. Their children
were: John, who died in 1862; George, mentioned hereinafter; and Mary A., who
became the wife of James Thomas. George Davies spent the first nine years of
his life uneventfully in the land of his birth. Coming to Catasauqua with his
father in 1850 he worked at the trade of molder for two years, after which he
served an apprenticeship of five years at the trade of machinist with the Crane
Iron Company, under Hopkins Thomas, he entered Eastman's Business College at
Poughkeepsie, New York, and graduated with honors from that noted commercial
school. In 1863, while at Parryville, he enlisted as first sergeant of Captain
James Thomas' Company, Thirty-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Emergency
Volunteers, Colonel Charles Albright commanding. He marched with his company to
Gettysburg, thence to Port Richmond, Philadelphia, and was honorably discharged
at the expiration of his term of service.
Mr.
Davies, prior to the war, was employed as master
mechanic in Belvidere, New Jersey, Camden and Amboy,
New Jersey shops, the Novelty Works, New York City
and at Parryville, Pennsylvania. After the close
of hostilities he returned to the latter named place
and became master mechanic there for a short period
of time. He then took up his residence in Catasauqua,
and with the exception of about five years, (1871
to 1876) when he had charge of the Carbon Iron Works
at Parryville, he remained there until his death.
In 1879 his brother-in-law, James Thomas,
with whom he had been on terms of intimacy from
childhood, purchased a one-half interest in the
foundry and machine shop at Catasauqua, and this
business relationship continued until the death
of Mr. Davies. The two men were devoted companions,
the wishes of one being law with the other. The
firm manufactured castings for many important enterprises,
including the underground electric railway in Washington,
D. C., the Broadway cable in New York, the East
River Tunnel, the Hudson River Tunnel and the Traction
and People's cable lines in Baltimore. They also
manufactured car castings and were the designers
and original manufacturers of the Davies and Thomas
engine. The works occupied at the time of Mr. Davies'
death about ten acres, the foundry covering one
acre, and the machine-shop being one hundred and
thirty-five long by fifty feet wide. There were
four large boilers, two blowers operated by two
Davies and Thomas engines of one hundred and fifteen
horsepower and fifteen cranes, two of which, made
by William R. Thomas, will lift fifteen tons each.
The firm was identified with the Wahnetah Silk Company,
of which Mr. Thomas was president and Mr. Davies
a director. There was also the principal stockholders,
in the
Electric Light and Power Company, which was
established in 1890.
Mr.
Davies was also a director in the Bethlehem Electric Light and Power Company,
which was established in 1882, and of which James Thomas was president. He was
the owner of valuable real estate in West Bethlehem, and a stockholder in the
Catasauqua National Bank.
Mr.
Davies was identified with the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Porter
Lodge No 284 at Catasauqua. He was a staunch adherent of the principles of the
Republican Party, but was unwilling to allow his name to be presented for
official position, preferring to devote his entire time to business pursuits.
As a member of the school board, upon which he was serving at the time of his
death, he was instrumental in promoting the grade of scholarship in the
Catasauqua Schools. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
body he served in the capacity of trustee, steward and class-leader. He was a
member of the building committee at the time of the erection of Grace Methodist
Church and parsonage and was one of the most liberal contributors thereton.
On
August 4, 1864, in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, Mr. Davies was united in marriage
to Mary A. Evans, who emigrated from Wales and daughter of Thomas R. Evans who
emigrated from Wales to America, settling in Catasauqua, there for many years
he followed the trade of blacksmith. Mrs. Davies received an excellent
education in Tremont Normal School and was a successful teacher prior to her
marriage. The following children were born to them: John M. who died in 1885;
Elizabeth, who became the wife of Harry E. Graffin, of Catasauqua; Rowland T.
mentioned hereinafter; George, who was superintendent for the Westchester Lighting
Company at White Plains, New York, for a couple of years; later was connected
with the Davies and Thomas Company's Works but is now serving a responsible
position in New York; James T., who is mentioned later, and two infant children
who died at Parryville. Mr. Davies passed away at his late residence, Second
and Race Streets, Catasauqua, Monday evening, October 1, 1894, after an illness
of two days. The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon from his late
residence, the Rev. C. M. Simpson, his pastor, preaching an eloquent discourse,
the Rev. Dr. Earle, of the First Presbyterian Church, offering the prayer, and
a selected choir rendering appropriate music. It was one of the largest and
most eloquent tributes ever paid to a deceased citizen of Catasauqua. The
workmen attended in a body, and numbered about one hundred and fifty. The
remains were interred in the family plot in Fairview Cemetery. Mr. Davies was a
most affectionate husband, a devoted father, a loving brother, a true and
excellent citizen, a consistent Christian, a considerate employer and on all
sides were spoken words of praise for the manner in which he acted the part of
a true man. His like is seldom met, and his sudden death was universally
regretted. At a meeting of the board of directors, of the Catasauqua School
District, the president announced the death of their late fellow-member, George
Davies, whereupon the following was unanimously adopted: In view of the death
of our fellow school director, Mr. George Davies, we, the remaining members of
the Board, desire to put on record our conviction that in the death of Mr.
Davies the educational interests of Catasauqua have suffered a heavy loss. The
public schools have lost a liberal-minded and liberal-handed patron; the
teachers and pupils have lost a kind and considerate friend, who was ever ready
to promote their interests. In the School Board we have always found in him a
congenial associate, a wise and prudent counselor and an enthusiastic advocate
of everything that seemed to be necessary for the improvement of our schools.
As a
mark of respect for the departed, we close the schools on the day of the
burial, in order that the teachers, as well as the Board of Directors, may
attend the funeral in a body; and as a farther mark of respect, we agree to
fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Davies by the appointment of
his eldest son, Rowland T. Davies, as a member of the Board until the next
election.
A
special meeting of the Board of Health called and convened October 3, 1894,to
take action on the death of Mr. George Davies. On motion the following
resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That in the death of Mr. George Davies the
Board loses an honored, esteemed and efficient member, whose wisdom and council
will often be missed in our deliberations. Resolved, That we extend to his
bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy in this their hour of trial and sorrow.
Resolved, As a last tribute of respect, we attend his funeral on Thursday,
October 4, 1894, in a body. Austin W. Glick, Secretary
GEORGE DAVIES
Portrait
& Biographical Record, Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon Counties, 1894 ,
p. 251
GEORGE
DAVIES, formerly the senior member of the firm of Davies & Thomas, and one
of the leading business men of Catasauqua, was born in Glamorganshire, Wales,
in the village of Merthyr-Tydvil, April 9, 1837. He was the son of Daniel
Davies, likewise a native of Wales, and a molder by trade, who in 1846 brought
his family to America and for a time was employed in New York City. Later he
followed his trade in Phoenixville, Tamaqua and Weatherly. Coming to Catasauqua
in 1850, he took charge of the molding department of the Crane Iron Works,
manufacturing castings on contract.
Severing
his connection with the Crane Iron Company in 186S, Daniel Davies, with William
Thomas, bought the old planing mill in East Catasauqua and opened a foundry and
machine shop, in which three months later our subject joined them. After two
years the firm of Davies & Thomas was dissolved, Mr. Thomas retiring from
the partnership. The title then became Davies & Son and the business was
thus conducted until the death of the father, in April, 1876, at sixty three
years of age. He was a man of stanch integrity, a sincere member of the
Presbyterian Church, and a public-spirited citizen of his adopted country. His
wife, Mary Philips, was born in Wales and died there in 1839. They had three
children: John, who died in 1862; George, and Mary .A., who married James
Thomas.
The
first nine years of the life of our subject were passed uneventfully in the
land of his birth. He came to Catasauqua with his father in 1850, and for two
years worked at the molder's trade, after while he was apprenticed to the
machinist's trade with the Crane Iron Company. For a time he worked under David
Jones, later under Hopkin Thomas, spending five years at the trade. In 1862 he
enlisted in the Fourth Pennsylvania Militia, under Colonel Cluty, of Mauch
Cbunk, and went south into Maryland, but returned without participating in
active service. In 1863 he was mustered into Colonel Good's regiment, the
Thirty fourth Pennsylvania Infantry, and marched with his company to
Gettysburg, thence to Ft. Richmond, Philadelphia, and was honorably discharged
at the expiration of his period of service.
At
different times Mr. Davies had been in Parryville, and at the close of the war
he returned thither and took charge of the machine shops there for a short
time. From that time until his death, he resided in Catasauqua, with the
exception of about five years (1871 to 1876), while he had charge of the Carbon
Iron Works at Parryville. In 1876 he returned to Catasauqua, but the works were
not opened until the spring of 1879, when James Thomas bought a one-half
interest in the concern. Since then various improvements have been made, and
the class of work now turned out is superior in every respect.
The
firm has manufactured castings for many important enterprises, including the
underground electric railway in Washington, D. C., the Broadway cable in New
York, the East River Tunnel, the Hudson River Tunnel, and the Traction and
People's cable lines in Baltimore. They also manufacture car castings and are
the proprietors and original manufactured of the Davies & Thomas engine.
The works occupy ten acres, the foundry covering one acre, and the machine shop
135x50 feet. There are four large boilers, two blowers operated by two Davies
& Thomas engines of one hundred and fifteen horsepower, and fifteen cranes,
two of which, made by William Thomas, will lift fifteen tons each.
With
a number of other important concerns the firm of Davies & Thomas is
identified, among which may be mentioned the Wahnetah Silk Company, of which
Mr. Thomas is President, and our subject was a Director. They are also the
principal stockholders in the Electric Light & Power Company, which was
established in 1890. The powerhouse is situated on the Lehigh River adjacent to
the canal, and the enterprise has proved an assured success. Its officers are:
Rowland Davies, President; Rowland Thomas, Treasurer; and Charles R. Horn,
Secretary. The Edison system is used and the plant is the finest in the entire
state.
Mr.
Davies was also a Director in the Bethlehem Electric
Light & Power Company, which was started in
1882, and of which James Thomas is President. In
addition to his elegant residence on Second and
Race Streets, erected in 1868, he was the owner
of valuable real estate in West Bethlehem, and was
a stockholder in the Catasauqua National Bank. His
marriage occurred in Catasauqua in 1864, and united
him with Mary Evans, a native of Wales. Her father,
Thomas Evans, emigrated from Wales to America, and
settling in Catasauqua, here followed the trade
of a blacksmith until his death. Mrs. Davies received
an excellent education in Tremont Normal School,
and was a successful teacher prior to her marriage.
She has four children now living: Rowland, President
of the Electric Light & Power Company; Bessie;
George, a student of the University of Pennsylvania,
and ,James, at home.
Socially
Mr. Davies was identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Porter
Lodge No. 268, at Catasauqua. As a member of the Republican party, he took an
intelligent interest in political matters, though not willing to allow the use
of his name for official positions. He did his utmost to advance the welfare of
the school system, and by his efficient service as a member of the School Board
was instrumental in promoting the grade of scholarship in the Catasauqua
schools. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he served as Trustee, Steward and
Class-leader. He was recognized as one of the best and most public-spirited
citizens of this community, until his death, October 1,1894, was deeply
mourned.
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