• Born: August 4, 1888
• Died: November 29, 1941 (Buried at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Pennsburg)
• Spouse: Alice H Fox
  • Born: October 1, 1884
  • Died: June 12, 1948 (Buried at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Pennsburg)                                            
• Married: Date unknown
• Occupation: Cigar maker, silk mill weaver, worker in a trunk factory
• Children: William, Margaret, Russell

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The oldest child of William and Mary Thomas, Philip was born on August 4, 1888 in Bronx, NY.  He most likely attended school and may have worked in a cigar factory alongside his father.  

In his late teens, Philip moved back to Pennsylvania with his parents and younger siblings.  He returned to work in factories but did not continue school past his second year in high school.  The 1910 census lists Philip as a boarder in another family’s home (the surname is unfortunately illegible) on Main Street in Red Hill.  At the time, he was 22 years of age and worked as a cigar packer in a cigar factory.

Philip married Alice Fox, who was born on October 1, 1884, and whose life and lineage is detailed in the FOX portion of this site.

Considering how recently Philip Thomas lived there is a surprising lack of information about him as a person.  His youngest son, Russell Thomas, does not have very much to say about his father’s life when asked:

“What I know mostly about my father was that he was from Tylersport… He was just a factory worker.  He worked in the trunk factory in Pennsburg. That’s burned down. Then he was in textiles. You know, they had those silk mills around here.  A lot of time he was unemployed… during the depression.”

Russell also recalls that they moved around a lot when he was young. Census records also reflect the family’s financial difficulties and Philip’s unsteady employment during the Great Depression.  

In 1920 the family lived at 149 Main Street in Pennsburg. Philip was a cigar packer in a cigar factory.  Although addresses may have changed since that time, modern maps show 149 Main Street as not too far from the house where Alice Fox, Philip’s wife, grew up: 70 Main Street, just across from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.  

By 1930, the family lived at 584 Main Street in Pennsburg.  At this time, Philip was a weaver in a silk mill, and his daughter, Margaret, was a cutter in a knitting mill.  According to the census, the family’s monthly rent was $18. Sometime before 1935 the family also lived on Seminary Street, as Russell recalls walking with his mother from his home on Seminary to visit his maternal grandmother, Rebecca Hess, at her home at 70 Main Street.  His mother also worked at a cigar factory across from the railroad station on Seminary Street. Their stay there must have been short lived, however, since this address does not appear on any census records.

 By 1940, the family lived at 434 Main Street in East Greenville and Philip continued to work in a silk mill.  Alan Thomas, grandson of Philip Thomas, recalls that the house was half of a twin and had only coal stoves in rooms rather than central heating.  Interestingly, this house is only a handful of doors down from the Heimbach residence, where Russell’s wife, Pearl, grew up.

Philip died on November 29, 1941 of a heart attack, as did his father and grandfather.  There is some speculation within the family that the economic hard times and his periods of unemployment led Philip into a habit of drinking.

One could say that factory work was a way of life for the extended Thomas-Fox family.  The undated photo below is the only photo anyone has of Philip Thomas. Also pictured is his cousin, Charles.  Philip and Charles were married to sisters Alice and Andora Fox. All worked together at what is believed to be a factory on 4th Street in Pennsburg.

After his death, Philip’s wife, Alice, became diabetic and remained at home.  She was taken care of by her daughter, Margaret, until Alice’s death on June 12, 1948.  Both Philip and Alice are buried at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Pennsburg.

The Children of Philip Thomas & Alice Fox

Philip and Alice had three children:

William Thomas

Margaret Thomas

Russell Thomas