Jacob Tome
Encyclopedia
Jacob Tome was an American
philanthropist
, politician, and the founder of the Tome School
.
in southwestern York County, Pennsylvania
. He arrived in Port Deposit, Maryland
, a penniless man and died as one of the richest men in the United States. He was Cecil County's first millionaire and its greatest philanthropist. His benevolence lives today in many institutions, colleges, churches, and schools of learning.
He was a Republican
and a supporter of Abraham Lincoln
during the American Civil War
. He was a member of Maryland state senate in 1864. After the war, he was a candidate for Governor of Maryland
in 1871.
He died of pneumonia
in Port Deposit at the age of 87 and was buried there at Hopewell Cemetery. His approximate wealth at the time of his death was 89 million dollars—approximately 2.4 billion in today's money (2005). His widow Evalyn Nesbitt Tome was the richest woman in the State of Maryland; she later married Joseph Irwin France (Senator and U.S. presidential candidate).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, politician, and the founder of the Tome School
Tome School
The Tome School is a private school located in North East in Cecil County in Maryland, USA and is one of the oldest schools in the state of Maryland.-Port Deposit:...
.
Biography
Tome was born in HanoverHanover, Pennsylvania
Hanover is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, southwest of York and north-northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.The town is situated in a productive agricultural region. The population was 15,289 at the 2010 census. The borough is served by a 717 area code and the Zip Codes of 17331-34...
in southwestern York County, Pennsylvania
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
. He arrived in Port Deposit, Maryland
Port Deposit, Maryland
Port Deposit is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. It is located on the north bank of the Susquehanna River near its discharge into the Chesapeake Bay...
, a penniless man and died as one of the richest men in the United States. He was Cecil County's first millionaire and its greatest philanthropist. His benevolence lives today in many institutions, colleges, churches, and schools of learning.
He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and a supporter of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was a member of Maryland state senate in 1864. After the war, he was a candidate for Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
in 1871.
He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in Port Deposit at the age of 87 and was buried there at Hopewell Cemetery. His approximate wealth at the time of his death was 89 million dollars—approximately 2.4 billion in today's money (2005). His widow Evalyn Nesbitt Tome was the richest woman in the State of Maryland; she later married Joseph Irwin France (Senator and U.S. presidential candidate).