Thomas

Miner’s First Name:   Thomas
Miner’s Middle Name:   William
Miner’s Last Name:   Thomas
Miner’s Picture:   
Birth Place of Miner:   Plymouth, PA
Miner’s Country:   United States
Arrived in USA:   

Place & Manner of Miner’s Death:   non-mining related
Died:   4/25/2003
Birth Date:   12/31/14

Miner Information:
Tom, often called "Tucker", was the third son of Isaac and Annie Thomas to work in the mines. After graduating from Plymouth High in 1932, he began working in the Reynolds section of Nottingham Colliery. His first job at 19 was Mule Driver. His mules were named Ned and Brownie. Tom recorded in his journal that in 1935 he was working as a Patcher and Slateman when the colliery was shut down from July 31 to September 5 for repairs to the breaker. He earned $830.05 that year. The next year he earned only $596.64 because of the mine closing for shaft repairs from July to December. While driving a team out of the rock dump in 1938, his pelvis was fractured when the cars overturned. He spent 32 days in the miners' ward in the General Hospital. He received Compensation of $182.14 and $60.00 from the Knights of Pythias. After attending mining night school classes, Tom took the Foreman exam and received the highest score. Mine superintendent Harry Goulstone (uncle to Tom's wife, Ruth) told Tom he could not have the position because he feared the miners would not take orders from him because he was short! Tom went back to night school for mining engineering. He began surveying as a Backsight, Foresight and later as a Noteman at Truesdale. He completed the course offered by the Wilkes-Barre extension of PA State College in January of 1943. Tom worked in the mines mostly as a surveyor and in the engineering department as a mapmaker. When Blue Coal Corporation was bankrupted, Tom worked for Earth Conservancy in the company offices in Ashley at the Huber Colliery. He was the last employee of Blue Coal. Tom worked from 1932 to 1994--62 years. His children teased him that he couldn't hold a job!

Married:   Yes
Place Miner Was Married:   

Wife’s Name:   Ruth
Wife’s Middle Name:   
Wife’s Last Name:   Goulstone
Birth Place of Wife:   Plymouth, PA
Wife’s Country:   United States
Arrived in USA:   
Place & Manner of Wife’s Death:   Dallas, PA
Died:   7/1/1988
Birth Date:   4/25/1918

Number of Children:   4

Child Name 1:   Nancy
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Birth Date:   5/1/1940

Child Name 2:   Joan
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Birth Date:   12/21/1945

Child Name 3:   Thomas
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Birth Date:   2/2/1948

Child Name 4:   Albert
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Birth Date:   1/24/1952

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Author’s Name:   Nancy
Author’s Middle Name:   
Author’s Last Name:   Hedden
Relationship to Miner:   daughter