Biography of D. H. Thorn - Craighead Co, AR

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        Date: 26 Sep 1998
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1889.

page 359

D. H. Thorn, of Jonesboro, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Craighead
County, was born in York District, S. C., September 1, 1836. His parents,
Jesse and Frances (Miller) Thorn, were both natives of South Carolina.
The paternal grandfather, Hezekiah Thorn, also a native of “The Palmetto
State,” was a farmer by occupation, and died in the State of his
nativity. The maternal grandfather, Jacob Miller, also a farmer, went
from South Carolina to Kentucky, in an early day and there died. Jesse
Thorn went to Calloway County, Ky., about 1838, and in 1844 came to
Craighead (then Poinsett) County, Ark., and located twelve miles south of
the present site of Jonesboro. There he remained until 1850, when he
removed to what is known as East Bottom, where he settled in the woods,
building a little log cabin with clapboard roof and door, and puncheon
floor. They were subjected to all the privations and hardships incident
to pioneer life, using all manner of crude contrivances for making meal,
wearing home-spun and home-made clothing, and, with Memphis as the
nearest market, hauling there all produce with wagons and oxteams. Jesse
Thorn was the first school teacher in the county, would make his crop and
then teach a subscription school for the remainder of the year. He taught
for several years, and died in this county in 1873, his wife having died
two years previously. They were the parents of thirteen children, only
six of whom are now living: John N., Alsey S., Dawson H., Martha (wife of
G. W. Hubbs), Sarah (wife of Abraham Brown), Caledonia (wife of William
Guinn). One brother, William, was killed during the war. D. H. Thorn was
but ten years of age when he came with his parents to Arkansas, and,
until his marriage, remained with his father assisting in clearing the
farm, and then settled near the old homestead where he resided until
1869. He then moved to Jonesboro, where he is now living in his second
house in Arkansas. In 1874 he was elected sheriff of Craighead County,
and was re-elected each successive election until 1880. He has served
four years as deputy sheriff, has been constable and justice of the
peace, and has been thirteen times a candidate for minor offices, and
been each time elected. He is one of the most extensive land owners in
the county, and has about 2,000 acres of land with 500 under cultivation,
and has also a large stock farm known as the Miller Mounds. His especial
attention is now given to the raising of fine stock. For twelve years he
has been engaged in the manufacture of lumber, owning two fine large saw-
mills. He was first married in 1858 to Eliza Ford, a native of Tennessee,
and they are the parents of three children, all married: William T.,
Dawson H. and John N. He was again married in 1876, to Cora Henson, also
a native of Tennessee, a consistent Christian and member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Mr. Thorn is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a
leading citizen of the county. Having been a pioneer citizen, he has
witnessed the rapid growth and development of the county, the change from
a cane brake to the thriving little city of Jonesboro. By industry,
thrift and economy, he has accumulated a competency, and can now enjoy
the fruits of his toil.