Biography of Hopkin Thomas

Edith Duncan Field

Field, Wells Laflin and Edith Duncan Field, Ancestors of Our Children, Self-published, West Hartford CT, 1978. Vol 1. Field & allied family ancestors; Vol 2. Clark & allied family ancestors; Vol. 3. Duncan-McKee family.

Hopkin Thomas was born on his parents farm in Bryn Coch, Glamorganshire, Wales. Nothing is known of his ancestors except that they were probably farmers, as agriculture was the main industry of the County until about the middle of the eighteenth century when coal mining became the number one industry. That he was truly Welsh is definitely established, as he both spoke and wrote in that language. His boyhood was spent on the farm and he was educated in the schools of the village. When he was sixteen years old he was apprenticed to the Neath Abbey Works to learn the trade of machinist. Glamorganshire at that time was noted for its coal mines, the smelting of copper and iron and, to a lesser degree, to its involvement with the manufacture and operation of steam locomotives. He had a fertile brain and by applying himself eagerly and diligently he soon completed his apprenticeship and obtained a high position among his fellow workmen. His trade probably took him to Merthyr Tydvil (now Tydfil) where other iron works were located, and also where a locomotive had been built and run at nearby Pen-y-darrin. Beside getting an insight into the building and operating of a locomotive, he also met his future wife there. She was Catherine Richards, a member of an old and honorable Welsh family of Merthyr Tydvil. It is not known when they were married but their first child was born 30 May 1829.

In 1834, although well established in his trade, he decided to emigrate to America, and in that year he, his wife and three children sailed from Wales and landed in Philadelphia. Due to his mechanical knowledge and ability as a machinist, he was immediately employed by the newly established Baldwin Locomotive Company. In 1835 he left the Baldwin Company to take a position as master mechanic with the newly formed company of Garrett and Eastwick, which had orders to build three locomotives for the Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company of Carbon Country, to haul coal from Penn Haven to Perryville. The Company being new and inexperienced, Hopkin Thomas' inventive mind and mechanical ability bore a large part in the satisfactory completion of the locomotives. After testing they were disassembled and the parts shipped by canal boat to Perryville, where he with a force of machinists was detailed to reassemble them on the road. In the winter of 1836-37 the engine house at Perryville burned including two of the locomotives, which he successfully rebuilt. After that Hopkin Thomas undertook to construct a six wheel connected engine at Beaver Meadows with only meager facilities available. The locomotive which he called the "Nonpareil" was built in shops consisting of sheds and stables, the machinery, driven by horsepower, consisted of two lathes, one of which was equipped with a foot gear to be used when the horse was in the stable. There also was a workbench with eight vices, a smith shop with two fires and a pattern shop. The President and Directors of the Company, though dubious of success, were present to witness the Nonpareil's first run, which proved most satisfactory. One Director stating "she moved off gracefully and made her round trip in due time." At the festival to mark the occasion Hopkin Thomas was loudly acclaimed for his feat, which was considered to be the first six wheel connected locomotive to have operated successfully.

About 1838 the name of the Company was changed to Eastwick and Harrison, as Joseph Harrison, junior, previously a foreman at the plant became a junior partner, and Hopkin Thomas left to become Master Mechanic of the road at the Coal Company, which position he held until 1841. He ably demonstrated his knowledge and skill in running the road and working the mines, and his alert mind was constantly conceiving new methods and improvements in the operation of the equipment. After the great flood of 1841 when the coal chutes and canal at Perryville were destroyed, he entered into partnership with Messrs. Van Cleve and McKean as contractors in mining and delivering the coal at the Mauch Chunk chutes. This partnership lasted several years and was financially successful until he built a machine shop at Tamaqua in which he lost large sums of money. After this financial setback, he took a position with the Beaver Meadow Company to repair one of their locomotives at the Jeansville shops. After that he removed to Reading where he worked at his trade for some months. In February 1853 he removed to Catasauqua where he was appointed Master Mechanic of the Crane Iron Works, which position he held until his retirement in 1874.

Hopkin Thomas was an authority on all mechanical details and his name was known throughout the country as a man of sterling integrity, great inventive genius, and a pioneer in locomotive building. As many other inventors of his ilk, the perfection of his brainchild was paramount in his mind and the thought of patenting it was never considered. As a consequence all of his inventions were patented by others who claimed the credit. As has been stated he built the "Nonpareil" which was; a first of its kind and from comments of his fellow workers it appears that he invented perfected and first used many mechanical devices, a few of which were:

1. The construction of a firebox on a locomotive for the use of coal.

2. The installation of an equalizing bar between the two pairs of drive wheels so that the weight of the machine was equally distributed to all drivers.

3. The chilled cast iron hub for car wheels

4. The double acting pump for the coal mines which was capable of great lifting power.

In all mechanical matters he was far in advance of his day, and in railroad and coal of the country he may with justice, be regarded as filling the position of an eminent benefactor. His granddaughter, Edith Smith McKee, often mentioned to her children that Hopkin Thomas always kept a pencil and paper by his bedside and often he would wake up during the night with a new invention turning over in his mind, rouse his wife so she could jot down his thoughts so they would not be lost by morning. He was peculiarly-modest and unassuming in his character, a fact which prevented his attaining either distinction or wealth. Content that he should be benefited by the productions of his genius, he cared little whether they brought him fame or profit. In his business relations he was upright, in his social intercourse true hearted and faithful and in his home the typical head of a cheerful and happy domestic circle.

Hopkin Thomas died Sunday morning 12 May 1878 at his home in Catasauqua, and was buried in the family plot in the Fairview Cemetery where a monument is erected to his memory.

The Catasauqua (Pa) Dispatch - Saturday 3 August 1878

Historical Notes - The Hazelton Plain Speaker - 7 October 1932

Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography, John W. Jordan, LLD, 1914, Vol.2, p. 683

Family Bible

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