— Thomas Beaver bounced around eastern and Central Pennsylvania before settling — and making his mark — in Danville.

The fifth of the Rev. Peter and Elizabeth Beaver’s 10 children was born in 1814 in what is now Perry County, and did not attend school after he turned 13. But he maintained an innate intellectual force, which likely foreshadowed his success.

When he was about 13, he left his parents’ home to search for his fortune, working for awhile on a farm for $2.50 a month and in the winter of the year, at the store of his brother, Samuel, and Judge Black in Milford.

The business moved to Newport, Perry County, where Thomas stayed for a year.

He then worked for his father, who opened a store in New Berlin, for a year, then returned to Newport to take charge of the businesses of Black, a prominent politician.

By age 23, Thomas was traveling to Philadelphia, where he became a trusted buyer for several businesses.

Arriving in Danville Twenty years later, an opportunity to take hold of the affairs of the Montour Iron Co. brought Thomas to Danville.

He was entrusted with the affairs of the Pennsylvania Iron Works, which had just suffered from the financial panic that was passing over the United States around 1857.

Mr. I.S. Waterman, as cotrustee of the company with Thomas, continued to live in Philadelphia, leaving most of the responsibility on Thomas.

He soon had the entire works in successful operation, and in 1860 Waterman and Thomas purchased the entire business and renamed it The Montour Iron and Steel Works.

This soon became one of the most extensive iron manufacturing plants in the United States.

In 1882, Thomas organized the Danville Stove and Manufacturing Co., which manufactured coal ranges, living room ranges and mailboxes and carried the motto, “Beaver’s the Best.”

Legacies established

His gifts to Danville churches included a pipe organ to the Mahoning Presbyterian Church and paying off the $3,000 mortgage of the St. Joseph’s Church.

In 1890, at age 76, he built the Beaver Memorial United Methodist Church in Lewisburg and donated $30,000 to Dickinson College for poor scholars. His most significant gift to Danville was $100,000 to establish the Thomas Beaver Free Library at the corner of East Market and Ferry streets.

Connected with the library was the YMCA.

In 1838, he married Elizabeth Wilkins and fathered seven children. She died Dec.

17, 1884, and he, in May 1891.

Thomas Beaver was buried in the Beaver Memorial United Methodist Church’s cemetery in Lewisburg.

The Rev. Armstrong, pastor of Grove Church, officiated at the service.

So reported the Gem, a Danville newspaper, of Thomas’ death: “We gather this afternoon to pay the last sad rites of respect to a man distinguished by a business career of unusual success, by a warm-hearted private life by generous public benefactions.

“It is not my purpose to extravagantly eulogize the dead. Mr. Beaver frequently expressed his dislike of fulsome, funeral praise. He felt, as all clear headed men of sound sentiment feel, that the silent, yet potent testimony of the life is most fitting in the presence of death. The words of the preacher can neither lend additional luster to a good life nor gild the deeds of a bad one.

“There is no need to give in chronological detail the events of Mr. Beaver’s life.

These, so far as they concern the public, are a matter of published history.

“The story of his commercial triumphs is an important part of the mercantile annals of this great state he loved so well; the educational history of the commonwealth thankfully mentions his gifts to colleges, the religious chronicles tell of one beautiful church given outright of many temples adorned by his bounty; the town of Danville by 2 noble buildings and by many minor gifts bear witness to his generosity.

“The full story of his kindly deeds cannot be told; nor would he wish it related, if it could be told. Here, where for over 30 years he lived, was he held in high esteem, and here, for generations to come, will his memory be fragrant. Wealth oftimes spoils a self made man; Mr. Beaver’s wealth did not spoil him. He had learned to use wealth to shun the abuse of it.

“Mr. Beaver’s example preaches eloquently to men at the extremes of life. To successful men of wealth it says; Return to the community something of that which you gained in the community; do not build your monument of coarse and perishable granite but rear a finer and more enduring structure, the stones of which shall be social, civil and religious benefactions.”

After the closing prayer, Thomas’ remains were escorted to the P&R railroad station, where a special train conveyed the funeral party to Lewisburg.

Danville would have been glad to give so prominent a citizen an imposing funeral, but Thomas’ desire forbade it.

It was touching however to see the spontaneous action of the people. Stores were closed, bells tolled and crowds with many a sad face thronged the streets.

All this was fitting for a man is gone from Danville, who will be long and greatly missed.

At Lewisburg, with a brief yet solemn and impressive service of committal, the body was laid in the grave and friends and relatives sadly left it to rest in peace.

— Once Upon A Time In ....” is a Monday feature provided by the historical societies in Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties. The columns focus on people, places and objects of historical significance in those counties. Lynn Reichen is president of the Montour County Historical Society. Yearly membership costs $15 per individual and $25 per family living under one roof.

A lifetime membership costs $300. Newsletters are sent quarterly. For more information, call 275-7875 or write to MCHS, P.O. Box 8, Danville, PA 17821.