Biography of L. G. Thornton - Craighead Co, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Unknown < >
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1889.

page 360

L. G. Thornton, a farmer of Jonesboro Township, has been a
resident of Craighead County for twenty-five years. He was born in Wayne
County, Tenn., October 17, 1827. His parents, Hosea and Catherine
(Hendrix) Thornton, were both natives of the old “Volunteer State.” They
were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, L. G.
being the second child. The father died of consumption when the subject
of this sketch was nine years of age, and the mother was married again,
to John Baker. They moved to Arkansas just before the War of the
Rebellion, and located in Izard County. Mr. Baker gave his life for the
Confederate cause, was taken prisoner, and died in prison at Little Rock.
The mother died in Izard County, in 1881, aged seventy-nine years. L. G.
Thornton was reared on a farm, grew to manhood there, and was married
November 7, 1844, to Cynthia Ballard, a native of Hardin County, Tenn,
Her parents were Williford and Catherine (Carr) Ballard; the former died
in Tennessee, [p.360] and Mrs. Ballard subsequently removed to Izard
County, where she died in 1855. They were the parents of four children,
three daughters and one son. Mr. Thornton removed to this State in 1849,
coming by wagon and water, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Izard
County, at that time nearly all timbered, cleared it up, and lived in
that settlement until 1865. He served bravely as a Confederate soldier,
being a member of Col. Freeman's regiment, and Capt. Meadows' company. In
December of 1864 he started for Craighead County, arriving January 1,
1865; rented for one year, then bought his present farm of 180 acres, on
which he has since lived. By dint of hard work and perseverance he has
cleared about 100 acres, most of which he rents, himself at present
farming only forty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are the parents of ten
children, four of them living: Martha Ann, Henry C. (married to Amanda
Garrett, and living in Jonesboro), James M. (married to Mary Travis, and
lives on the old homestead), Lewis S. (married to Mary Wood, and is a
prominent physician of Big Bay Station). Those deceased were Mary,
Sparling, William, Lucy and two daughters who died in infancy. At the
time of his death, April 18, 1880, Sparling was a prominent young man of
twenty-five, and at that time county clerk of Cross County. While a
citizen of Izard County Mr. Thornton was justice of the peace and
constable. He is a Democrat, has held local positions of honor and trust,
and is a practical farmer and progressive citizen.