David Thomas: A Most Useful Man

A member of America’s first generation not to grow up as British subjects, David Thomas moved to the Town of Ledyard from a farm in Pennsylvania before the age of 30. Self-educated, intelligent, and a hard worker, he was modest and genial. Yet he was also one of the new breed - the distinct so-called "American Type“ - that would transform the new nation in the first decades of the 19th century. His achievements in agriculture and engineering contributed to unparalleled local prosperity and left lasting marks on our landscape. What was the character of this unassuming, remarkable man living amongst us? Our presenter is Shirley Egan, President of the Aurora Ledyard Historical Society. The Aurora Ledyard Historical Society is a co-sponsor of this event. Information on image: from eriecanal.org "Lockport, Erie Canal" -- by W. H. Bartlett, engraved by W. Tombleson, 1839. From "American scenery, or, Land, lake, and river illustrations of transatlantic nature" from drawings by W. H. Bartlett engraved in the first style of the art, by R. Wallis, J. Cousen, Willmore [and others] ; the literary department by N.P. Willis (London : George Virtue, 1839). Steel plate engraving, 4 3/4 x 7 1/2 in.