Richard Thornton (1843-1938) was the biological son of John J. Thornton (1820-1905), a brother of Thomas Thornton. John J. married Eliza Powers (1822-1843), daughter of Nathaniel Hart Powers and Rebecca LaRue. It appears she may have died during the delivery of Richard and the child was adopted by John’s sister, Mary Ann Thornton (1815-1899) and her husband Thomas Best (1810-1878); Richard became Richard Best Thornton (or R.B.). Mary Ann Thornton may have formed a stronger relationship with Thomas Thornton than expected as he lived with Mary Ann and her husband when he moved to Clarke Township in 1835. John J. Thornton married twice more and had several children.
Richard Best Thornton married Adelia Whaley (1846-1901) and they had 5 children. They lived in Oxford County, the same area as Benjamin and Franklin Thornton. Richard remarried. Richard moved to Columbus, Ohio by 1912 (reference in a local newspaper) and died there.
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Edwin Carman Thornton (1867-1951). Married Mary Ellen
Gertrude Smith (1869-1953).
- Cyril Thornton (1894-1895)
- Marie Thornton (1896-)
- Carmen Thornton (1898-)
- Jean Thornton (1904-1984). Married x Linderman.
- Eber Thornton (1870-1930). Married Annie Jones.
- Wilbur S. Thornton (1874-1939). Died in Detroit. Is this the couple whose photo I have posted noting it was taken in Detroit? See Detroit.
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Percival Sanford Thornton (1833-1956). Married Jessie
Robertson.
- Philip Thornton (1911-)
- Margaret H. Thornton (1912-).
- Robert E. Thornton (1914-1998)
- Marion Louise Thornton (1917-1983)
- Donald A. Thornton (1922-1999)
- Anne E. Thornton (1924-).
- Hugh Richard Thornton (1919-). Note: there is much more information available on the Sanford Thornton line.
- Lunetta Almina Thornton (1886-1971). Went by the name Mina – is this the Aunt Minnie I have been looking for? Married (1) Charles Hayes (2) Albert Tatham.
Is this photo of Richard B. Thornton and Adelia Whaley? (Please note: the notes on reverse of these photos, entered much later, say “Souch family”). Photos taken in Toronto. The age difference between the young man and the couple seems too great for them to be parents, so are they grandparents. We have 3 photos of young men with the prominent ears, one is attached next to the threesome. There is also the photo of the 5-6 “brothers” in Toronto who might be part of this family. Of course, my claims here are only a guess.
Now a couple of photos of grave markers. In Hillview Cemetery, Woodstock Ontario.
Is this Ewin? Perhaps Percival?
