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 ILLIAM H. THORNTON, deceased, well
known to the agricultural community
of Humbolt Township for a period of
twenty-five years, where he engaged in farming and
stock-raising, was a native of Huddersfield, York-
shire, England, born Nov. 20, 1837, and departed
this life at his home in Humbolt Township, Oct.
29, 1879. Mr. Thornton was the eldest in a family of three children born to John and Maria (Mallinson) Thornton, natives of England, who emigrated to America in 1842, and settled in Cook County, this State, where the father followed carpentering and cabinet-making. He also purchased a tract of land where William II. was reared. The latter received a good education, completing his studies in the schools of Chicago. He remained at home until nearly twenty-one years of age, then returned to England and spent six months visiting among his old friends and acquaintances. After coming back to the United States he engaged in mercantile business in a suburb of Chicago for a short time, but this being unsuited to his tastes he sold his stock of goods and coming to Coles County, purchased sixty-four acres of wild land of the Illinois Central Railroad, and for seven years thereafter was industriously engaged in its improvement and cultivation. Mr. Thornton was married rather late in life on the 8th of June, 1809, to Miss. Mary G. Jaquess, third child of Ashbury C. and Jane (Ashworth) Jaquess, natives respectively of Kentucky and Tennessee, and they became the parents of ten children. They removed from the South to Indiana during its early settlement, their daughter Mary being born in Posey County, Jan. 30, 1842. She came to Coles County to visit friends and there met our subject. After their marriage they took up their residence on the farm of Mr. Thornton. He had never been robust in health and not long after his marriage found his strength unable to meet the hard demands of labor on the farm. He had added eighty acres to his original purchase, but in 1877 rented the entire farm, and crossing the Mississippi settled down in Wichita, Kan., where, with his wife who had accompanied him, he resided nearly two years. The change at first seemed beneficial but a severe attack of measles shattered his constitution beyond its power to recover. He returned lo his old home in Illinois and there closed his eyes upon the scenes of earth. The life and character of Mr. Thornton had been such as commended him to the good-will and affection of a large circle of friends. He was upright and conscientious in his dealings, and for many years prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church as Class-Leader and Trustee. He built up for himself a good record and his name is held in kindly remembrance by all who knew him. he left a widow and three children, the latter named respectively, James, Wilbur and Nellie. Their second child, a little daughter named Flora, died at the age of five years while her parents were residents of Wichita. Mrs. Thornton continues on the farm with her family, and with the aid of her sons carries it on in a commendable and profitable manner. She is carrying out as far as possible the wishes and plans of her late lamented husband, carefully superintending the cultivation of the soil, and giving her attention to stock-raising. She also is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and an active worker therein. |
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