Thomas Thornton (1824-1916) arrived in Clarke township in 1835 where his sister Mary Ann (Best already lived. The rest of the family arrived in 1838. Thomas married and Susanna Powers (1824-1891), the daughter of Nathaniel and Rebecca Powers, a very close neighbor, and they had 12 children. After Susanna’s death, Thomas married Mary Hicks in 1884. The family consisted of:
- Marshall Thornton (1847-1926). Married Lucy Jackson (1857-).
- Sarah Jane Thornton (1848-1914). Married John Dowson (1842-1914).
- Charles Jonas Thornton (1850-1932). Married Elanor Hughson (1853-1935).
- Laura Eliza Thornton (1852-1935). Married Cornelius Hughson (1847-1947).
- John James Thornton (1854-1874).
- Benjamin Thomas Thornton (1855-1929). Married Bertha Turner (1862-1939).
- Rebecca Rachel Thornton (1857-1940) Carries the name of her grandmother Rebecca LaRue.
- Helen Marritie Thornton (1860-1932) Carries the name of her great grandmother Marritie LaRue, Huguenot exiles from France and then the USA. Married Hugh Simpson (1858-1944).
- Ulysses Nathaniel Thornton (1865-1929). Carries the name of his grandfather and great grandfather, both named Nathaniel Powers. Married Augusta Dale (1859-1916).
- Martha Emma Thornton (1861-1953). Married W.E. Souch (1866-1951).
- Franklin Calvin Thornton (1863-1900). Married Eva Turner (1864-1923).
- Bernice Sophia Thornton (1869-1948). Married Robert Warder (1863-1949).
Starting at top left: 1. Benjamin 2. Laura 3.Ulysses 4. Helen 5. Bernice ? 6. Jonas
Bottom left: 1. Marshall or Franklin 2. Martha ? 3. Rebecca 4. Franklin or Marshall 5. Sarah. I assume this was taken after 1874, the date of son John’s death, explaining the presence of 11 children rather than 12.
Taken about 1875-1880. Only sure of Helen Thornton on far left. Rebecca, perhaps top middle.