U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Davies, Thomas Phillips (1849-1916) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 743-745 HON. THOMAS PHILLIPS DAVIES, of Montgomery, Fayette County, West Virginia, State agent since 1902 for the Provident Accidental Insurance Company, of Charleston, West Virginia, was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, March 1, 1849. He is a son of Ebenezer and Anna (Phillips) Davies, both of whom were also natives of South Wales. Ebenezer Davies settled first in Philadelphia, after immigrating to America, and then was employed in the iron rolling mills at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At the close of the Civil War, he went to Coal Creek, Tennessee, and entered into the coal business, serving as outside superintendent for the Knoxville Iron Company, retaining the position some years. Prior to his death he lived a retired life for sometime, having accumulated ample means. Mr. Davies was considered one of the best posted, practical iron men in the vicinity, having spent the greater part of his life in the business. He preceded his family to America and then returned to Wales for them. Ebenezer Davies died at the age of 71 years, in 1889, at Coal Creek, Tennessee. The mother of our subject died when her son, Thomas Phillips, was but two years old; there was one other son, who died in infancy. The step-mother of our subject was Mary Jones, and six children were born to the father's second marriage, the two survivors being: Mary Ann, wife of Archie Snedecker, a passenger engineer on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway; and Levi, an engineer in Mexico. Thomas Phillips Davies was a lad of 14 years when he came to America, and was soon placed at work in the great rolling mills at Lancaster. He accompanied his father to Tennessee and then began mining coal, his first employment being as a driver. He remained in the Coal Creek mines until 1869 and then went to the Old Cannelton mines, opposite Montgomery, but a few months later returned to Tennessee. In 1872 he came back to West Virginia and since then has made his home at Montgomery. He has been engaged in extensive business enterprises and is a man of the greatest business capacity. In 1897 he went to Alaska and engaged in gold mining, securing a valuable claim; when he came back, he left men working his claim. Mr. Davies was the organizer of the Coal Valley Coal Company and for several years its president, finally became its owner and is now the only surviving member of the original company. The company's operations were located in the vicinity of Montgomery. Mr. Davies ceased operating about 1890. About that time he was appointed receiver for the Forest Hill Coal Company and continued in the position until the final adjustment of affairs in 1899. Mr. Davies has been a prominent Republican leader for a long period. In 1892 he was first elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates to represent Fayette County. In 1894 he was sent to the Senate to represent Fayette, Summers, Monroe, Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties. He was the first Republican to represent this Democratic district. In 1900 he was again elected to the House of Delegates and during his term of office was instrumental in getting established at Montgomery a branch of the State University; hospitals for miners in different parts of the State and other laudable concerns. For six years a member of the City Council, in 1896 he was elected mayor. In the spring of 1897 he was a formidable aspirant for the office of United States marshal of Alaska, and his failure to receive the appointment remains one of the mysteries of politics, as the appointment seemed to be In his hand. Mr. Davies has taken the deepest interest in his section of the State and its progress, development and happiness, ever since he has been a resident. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Miners' Hospital No. 2, having been appointed by Governor George W. Atkinson, and having been re-appointed by Governor A. B. White. He is prominent also in fraternal life and is well and widely known in the various branches of Masonry, having attained the highest degrees. He is high in the ranks of the Knights of Pythias; is a leading Odd Fellow and belongs to Mohegan Tribe, No. 37, Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. Davies was married in 1885 to Annie Williams, who was born at Monmouthshire, South Wales and reared at Scranton, Pennsylvania. She passed out of life September 28, 1900, at her home in Montgomery. Mrs. Davies was a lady of lovely character, a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. ------------------------------------------------------------------- REGISTER OF DEATHS, Fayette County, WV (for year 1916) (Line No. 1) FULL-NAME: Thomas P. Davis DEATH-DATE: September 20, 1916 AGE-AT-DEATH: 68 years DEATH-PLACE: Montgomery MARITAL-STATUS: Widower CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Cierhosis Liver INFORMANT: Dr. J. E. Musgrave ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Tucker County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/tucker/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------