John Phillips Thomas

John Phillips Thomas was an exceptional juggler, but also worked much of his life at the Morton Salt Company, and raising and selling chickens to provide for his family. He was a handsome man, with good features. His father was one of the founders of the Salt Company, and his son-in-law Arthur Henry Foster worked there as well. He encouraged his daughters in Vaudeville and performing, until they reached an age when he no longer wanted them around the company of boys that would hang around Vaudeville shows. We have videos of him juggling as an older man, and a photo of him holding Marsha Foster Jay as an infant at Saltair. See the video we have of him juggling! He was also a spiritual man and wrote the following Hymn. He is pictured below with his brother Coslet and some of their juggling equipment in 1898.

A Hymn

Farewell, all earthly honours

I bid you all adieu;

Farewell, all sinful pleasures

I want no more of you.

I want my union grounded

On that Eternal soil

Beyond the power of Satan

Where sin can ne'er defile.

I want my name engraven

Among the righteous ones

Crying Holy Holy Father

And wear a righteous crown.

For the sake of so pure riches

I'm willing to pass through

All needful tribulations

And count them my just due.

I'm willing to be chastened 

And bear my daily cross 

I'm willing to be cleansed

From every kind of dross.

I feel a fiery furnace

I feel it's piercing flames,

The fruits of it are heavy

The Gold will still remain.

All earthly tribulations

are but a moment here.

Then Oh, if we prove faithful

A righteous crown we'll wear;

We shall be called Holy,

And feed on Angel's food,

Rejoicing in bright glory,

Before the THRONE of GOD.

There, CHRIST HIMSELF has promised

A mansion to prepare

For all who serve HIM faithfully,

The Cross a crown shall wear;

Bright crowns shall then be given

To all the ransomed throng,

And Glory, Glory, Glory

Shall be the congrous song.

John Phillips Thomas

(A Juggler.)

Above Standing: Le Nora, Edrie (in doorway), John, Coslet (brother of John)
Sitting: Mamie and Mathilda (Coslet's) wife.