Thornton.George.1821.Bourbon.BIOS GEORGE A. THORNTON, deceased, was born at Lexington, Indiana, October 16, 1821, a son of HENRY P. and MARTHA (WARD) THORNTON and a grandson of THOMAS THORNTON, the latter a native of County Donegal, Ireland, coming to this country when eighteen years old in 1776, and serving the Colonies in their struggle for independence. He was wounded at Eutaw Springs, and after the war, marrying ELIZABETH ROBINSON, he removed to Bourbon Co., KY., in 1778, where both died. HENRY P., BENJAMIN and MARGARET were their children. The former was born in North Carolina in March 1784, was educated in Kentucky, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention and Legislature of the latter State, and during the war of 1812 rose to rank of Captain in the company of the regiment commanded by COL. THOMPSON, the same that is credited with the killing to Tecumseh. He removed to Indiana Territory at an early day, seving in the Consitutional Convention and Legistlature of this State; practiced law at Salem and New Albany for years, and June 6, 1865, died at Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana. George A. Thornton read law with his brother, VOLNEY, at Paoli, and in 1846 began practicing in Bedford. Shortly thereaftter he was appointed County Clerk, and in 1852 and 1856 was elected to that positon in Lawrence County. In 1856 he resigned to become Cashier of the Bedford Bank, serving in the latter office until his death, Septmeber 14, 1864. He was a man of strict integrity and irreproachable character. To his union with MARY A. BRAXTAN, which occurred at Paoli, July 13, 1846, five sons and three daughters were born, six children and the mother yet living. THOMAS V. THORNTON, the eldest son of George A. and Mary A. Thornton, is the present nominee of his party for Clerk of Lawrence County . He was born at Paoli, May 21,1848, was educated in the public schools of Bedford, and in June 1869, graduated from the classical course of Hanover College. He read law with JUDGE PEARSON, took the junior course of lectures at the Law Department, of the State University, and in 1871 was admitted to the Lawrence County Bar. With the exception of eighteen months, while dealing in real estate in Kansas, and three years while book-keeper in the Natinal Bank at Evansville, Ind., he has always resided in Bedford, where he has been engaged in merchadising and saw-milling. In 1881 he became interested in the Hoosier Stone Company, since then he has been its Secretary. March 21,1872, Miss ANNIE N. MARTIN became his wife, and CLAUDE M., GEORGE D., CHARLOTTE and MARIE are their children. Mr. Thornton is a Republican, a member of the F. & A.M., and he and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor's Note: Reference to Col. Thompson of the War of 1812, should probably read as Col. Johnson (Richard Mentor Johnson, later Vice President under Van Buren, who was credited with the killing of Tecumseh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Submitted by: Diana Flynn Date: 25 Jun 1997