South, Thomas W., 1847-1922

Thomas Winfield South was born in Laurel, Ohio on October 1, 1847. He was the son of Dr. Stephen Benton South (1819-1885) and Abigail Steelman Higbee (Higby) (1826-1885). In 1863 he enlisted in the Union army with the 153rd Ohio Volunteers, but was discharged at his father's urging due to his young age.

South was related on his mother's side to the Disston "Steel" Family, and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1872 to work for Disston & Sons Saw Works, one of the largest saw manufacturing companies in the world. He worked as manager and land-agent for the Disston-owned properties in the Tacony section of the city. South oversaw the implementation of Henry Disston's paternalistic vision of Tacony as an ideal family-centered company town, and was quite influential in this capacity. In his obituary, the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin dubbed him the "Father of Tacony."

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