E. B. THOMAS, NEW YORK CITY. President
E. B. Thomas, the chief executive of the Erie Railroad, has devoted the greater part of his life to railroad work, and by ability and close attention to business has risen from a telegraph messenger to the presidency of one of America's greatest railroads. Previous to 1885 he was for several years General Manager of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, and in September of that year was elected Second Vice President and General Manager of the Richmond and Danville and Georgia Pacific Railroads, where he remained until February, 1888. At this time John King was struggling with the affairs of the Erie, and being desirous of the assistance of able counselors in railroad management, Mr. Thomas was offered the position of Second Vice President; he accepted the offer, and continued in that position until December, 1890, when he was elected a Director and First Vice President. In September, 1890, the duties of General Manager of the Chicago and Erie were added to his position, and he acted in that capacity until January 2nd, 1891, when he was made Vice President of that road. On November 30th, 1894, he was called to the head of the New York, Lake Erie and Western, whose business affairs were in such a deplorable state that it was necessary to put the road in the hands of receivers. Mr. Thomas was one of the receivers and when the Erie Railroad Company was organized to take the place of the old New York, Lake Erie and Western, Mr. Thomas was elected President of the company. Since November, 1895, the date of his election to this office, the affairs of the Erie have assumed better shape than ever before-the result of having a capable manager and practical railroad man at the helm. Perfect harmony exists between officials and workmen on the Erie, and that such a feeling prevails results from President Thomas' interest in every employe of the road. It is one of his principles to see justice done to each and every one who works for the Great Erie road, and the fact that the lowest laborer can secure an audience to ask for redress for wrongs done him, renders those requests infrequent. He is one of the most popular railroad presidents in America, and the fine showing made by the Erie since he has been in power is silent witness of his great business ability.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

From the October, 1919 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Death of Eben B. Thomas
EBEN BRIGGS THOMAS died at his home in Morristown, N. J., on September 4 (1919). Mr. Thomas was president of the Lehigh Valley railroad for fifteen years, and for several years previous president of the Erie railroad.

Mr. Thomas had been a leading figure in railroad life for upward of forty years, and was connected with some of the larger lines. He became identified with the Erie in 1888, and soon became vice-president. After its reorganization he was elected president.