OBIT:  BARNES, Thomas; Cambria Cnty., PA; 1911

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Cambria Freeman
Ebensburg, Pa.
Friday, 13 Jan 1911
Volume 45, Number 2


Thomas Barnes Dead

No coal operator in Pennsylvania was more approachable and had less false 
pride about him than Thomas Barnes, the well known operator who died at 7 
o'clock Wednesday morning at his home on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

The dead coalman was born May 13, 1843 in Caxenden, Lancastershire, 
England.  When he was 20 years of age he came to the United States,
settling in Philipsburg.  He was just an ordinary miner for years, but he 
saved his money and having great faith in the future of the coal fields in 
the neighborhood of Philipsburg, he invested in them.  It was about 1874 
or 1875 that "Tom" Barnes became an operator and from that time until he 
died, he was known as a shrewd and intelligent man.  He became interested 
in Cambria County coal lands in 1890-91 and in 1893 opened operations at 
what is now Barnesboro. The town, Barnesboro, was named after him. The 
company which operated these immense mines was known as the Barnes & 
Tucker Company.  When Mr. Tucker died a number of years ago, Mr. Barnes 
became the sole owner of the company's holdings. Then in 1899 he moved to 
Barnesboro from Philipsburg. His holdings in the north of Cambria County 
are immense. There are mines in operation and acre after acre of coal land 
that will not be reached by the coal diggers for years. No estimate could 
be secured on the Barnes fortune today other than it would amount to the 
neighborhood of a million dollars.

Mr. Barnes had been sick for the last four years, a complication of 
diseases causing his death.  He is survived by his wife and the following 
children:  Mrs. J. B. Johnson of Barnesboro; Mrs. M. B. Post of Stanley, 
N. Y.; Mrs. R. B. Mull of Philipsburg; John Barnes of Wayne, Pa.; Miss 
Rachel Barnes of Barnesboro and Mrs. A. B. Hartzell of Pittsburg.