Albert H. Thornton, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 499-500 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ALBERT H. THORNTON, M. D. 

	Dr. Albert H. Thornton, a successful physician and surgeon of 
Edgemont, was born at Fort Dodge, Iowa, on the 16th of March, 1874, of 
the marriage of Frank G. and Naomi (Herrick) Thornton. The father was 
born in the state of New York in February, 1854, and the mother in 
Minnesota in November of that year. About 1868 the father removed to 
Fort Dodge, Iowa, with his parents and there grew to manhood. He 
engaged in the hardware business at Kalo, Iowa, and later at Laurens 
and Rolfe, Iowa. While living at Laurens he served as postmaster and 
for four years was county auditor of Pocahontas county. At length he 
removed to Grand Junction, Colorado, and was engaged in ranching there 
until his death, which occurred in May, 1904. He had survived his wife 
for many years as she passed away in November, 1887. They were the 
parents of two children, of whom our subject is the elder, the other 
being Fannie B., the widow of James Calvin. She was formerly a resident 
of Miles City, Montana, but now makes her home in San Francisco. 

	Dr. Thornton attended the common schools of Pocahontas county, 
Iowa, and remained at home until twenty-one years of age, assisting 
with the work upon his father,s farm. For about three years in his 
early manhood he taught during the winter but at the end of that time 
entered the medical department of the State University of Iowa as he 
had decided upon the practice of medicine as his life work. He was 
graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1898 and 
began practice at West Bend, Iowa. After eighteen months he removed to 
Pocahontas, where he continued until the fall of 1907. He then located 
at Buffalo Gap, in the Black Hills, but four years later took up his 
residence in Edgemont, where he has since resided He has built up a 
good practice and has v on an enviable reputation for conscientiousness 
and for ability in his chosen field of work. 

	On the 31st of January, 1899, Dr. Thornton married Mrs. Linnie C. 
(McGonigle) Seymour, who was born at McGregor, Iowa, on the 29th of 
October, 1872, a daughter of Charles and Helen (Barnes) McGonigle, both 
of whom are now deceased. By her first marriage she had a son, Mac K., 
who was born on the 4th of December, 1895, and who is now employed in a 
bank at Hawarden, Iowa. By her union with Dr. Thornton she became the 
mother of a son, Frank G., who was born on the 6th of December, 1900. 
Mrs. Thornton passed away on the 6th of November, 1911, and on the 11th 
of February, 1914, the Doctor was again married, Miss Nellie Colgan 
becoming his wife. She was born in Nebraska of the marriage of Arthur 
J. and Ella (Stack) Colgan, both natives of Iowa. 

	Dr. Thornton is a republican with independent tendencies but has 
never taken an active part in politics, the only office that he has 
ever held being that of coroner of Pocahontas county, Iowa. His wife 
belongs to the Royal Neighbors and is a communicant of the Roman 
Catholic church. He finds that his practice demands his undivided 
attention, and his devotion to his professional duties and constant 
study are among the most important factors in his success as a 
physician. He holds not only the confidence of his patients but also 
the sincere respect of his colleagues.