History Spotlight
Dr. Thomas attends 1925 laying of cornerstone at Marple Elementary School
Dr. John G. Thomas, Beloved Physician
Photo courtesy of Newtown Square Historical Society
by Doug Humes
Dr. Thomas’ house along West Chester Pike
Who is the most significant person in the history of Marple and Newtown? My vote goes to Dr. John G. Thomas.
Photo courtesy of Newtown Square Historical Society
Born near Paoli in 1844, he enlisted at age 18 with the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served as 2nd Lt. on the staff of General O. O. Howard. Wounded in the thigh in 1864 while delivering a dispatch near enemy lines, he carried that bullet in his leg for the next 75 years.
the world and served heroically through smallpox epidemics and the 1918 flu epidemic.
After the war, he studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1869, began practice as a family physician, settling at a house on West Chester Pike near today’s Gauntlett Center. An ex-cavalry officer, he rode to his patients first on horseback, and later by horse and buggy, in all kinds of weather. When automobiles appeared, Dr. Thomas was one of the first doctors to travel to his patients by car. A practicing physician for 70 years, he brought more than 2,000 babies into
The young doctor joined Marple Presbyterian Church in 1871, and served as clerk of sessions for 60 years; treasurer for 51 years; and Sunday school superintendent for 50 years. He was one of the promoters of the idea of a joint Marple-Newtown high school, and in 1914, he gave 4 acres of his land on which was built the first Marple Newtown High School. He served for 40 years on the Newtown school board, and 12 years as President of the Marple Newtown school board.
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