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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

brance, especially when they are of importance by right of character or unusual attainments.     Very soon after graduating she came to Johnstown, where she has practiced her profession with encouraging success ever since. In addition, Dr. Marbourg is an honored member of the Cambria County Medical society, the Pennsylvania State Medical society and the American Medical association, she being a delegate to the meeting of the latter association when it convened in Chicago in 1887. She was one of the incorporators of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial hospital, being the only lady among the incorporators, and has served a period on the staff of that institution.     Dr. Marbourg was twice married. Her first husband, J. Charles Nippes, was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. It was shortly after his death that she took up the study of medicine. By this first marriage she had one child, Chester W. C. Nippes, a farmer of Indiana county.     She was married the second time in March, 1872, after her graduation, to Dr. H.W. Marbourg, who was born in Centreville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools and at Pennsylvania college, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He studied medicine with Dr. John Lowman, of Johnstown, and entered Jefferson Medical college, graduating in 1857. After graduating he located in Johnstown, where, with the exception of a period during the Civil War, he practiced continually until his death, which occurred during the disastrous flood of 1889.     He entered the Civil War in the latter part of 1863, and served one year as a contract surgeon. Dr. H. W. Marbourg, like his estimable widow, was married twice. To his first union were born two children: Eva L.,

wife of McClellan Leggett, of Johnstown, and Edgar M., a physician of Pueblo, Col. His first wife was also a physician, who graduated in 1869 from the Woman's Medical college, of Philadelphia, and practiced for one year in Johnstown.     Dr. Marbourg, the husband of our subject, was a physician and citizen of worth and character. He was a member of St. Paul's Lodge, F. & A. M., of Philadelphia, and of the Cambria County Medical society, of which association he enjoyed the distinction of being secretary for a number of years.     Dr. Esther Marbourg and her husband were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which body they shed the good influences of heir lives, united in aims and works. ROBERT R. THOMAS, now actively and extensively engaged in the lumber and granite business in Johnstown, is a son of Richard J. and Mary (Owens) Thomas, and was born near Ebensburg, in Cambria township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1851.     Richard J. Thomas was a son of Robert Thomas, a native and life-long resident of Wales, where his family had honorable standing, and honorable mention for centuries in local Welsh annals.     Richard J. Thomas was born June 6, 1827, received a good common English education, and in 1849 came to Cambria county, where he settled in Cambria township, and has followed farming ever since. After coming to this country, Mr. Thomas made a study of political questions, and on the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks, and through disaster and victory alike, has supported its measures in every campaign. Although ac-

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