Biography of David H. Thornton, M.D. - Mercer Co. WV

The History of West Virginia, Old and New 
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. 
Chicago and New York, Volume II 
pg. 158

DAVID H. THORNTON, M. D. Engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in
Mercer County for nearly thirty years, and for twenty years of that time a
specialist in eye, ear, nose and throat diseases, Doctor Thornton has in
addition to his character as a high minded and proficient doctor exerted a
helpful influence in community affairs and particularly in behalf of the
simplicity of original Christianity and the application of the Bible to the
common life and affairs of mankind.
Doctor Thornton was born in Mercer County, June 30, 1865, is of English and
Irish descent and of Virginia stock, both his parents, William M. and Eliza
J. (Hatcher) Thornton, being natives of Virginia. His father was a farmer,
served as a soldier in the Civil war with a Virginia regiment under Colonel
French, and was all through the fighting to the end. In the battle of
Clark, near Princeton, he was wounded in the arm, but recovered and
rejoined his command. After the war he returned to his farm, and lived
there, manifesting a commendable interest in public affairs, and was a
member of the Primitive Baptist Church, but before his death became
attracted to the study of the Bible with his son, Doctor Thornton.

David H. Thornton acquired a common school education, attended the State
Normal at Athens, and, leaving there, went to Janesville, Wisconsin, to the
Valentine School of Telegraphy. After mastering the technique of the
telegraph key he entered the service of the Norfolk & Western Railway as
clerk of the Clinch Valley Division while it was under construction. Doctor
Thornton was a railroad man for three years, and following that bought a
store from his brother at Elgood and was in the general mercantile business
two years. He sold out and used his capital to prepare himself for the
profession of medicine. In 1893 he graduated M. D. from the College of
Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, and began practice at Athens where he
remained twenty years, and since then has had his home and professional
headquarters at Princeton. Doctor Thornton began specializing in 1902 in
the eye, ear, nose and throat, taking in that year a post-graduate course
at the Chicago Post-Graduate School an!
d also a private course on the ear under Albert Andrews and on the eye
under R S. Pattillo. In 1912 he did other work along his special lines in
the New York Post Graduate School and Hospital; and for a number of years
his practice has been limited to his specialties.

In 1889, at Graham, Virginia, Doctor Thornton married Mary Jennings,
daughter of William H. and Isabel (Shanklin) Jennings, natives of West
Virginia. Doctor and Mrs. Thornton had six children: Chauncey Bryan, Eunice
Janetta, Mabel Clara, Paul Benson, Joseph Harry and David Jennings. Two of
them are now deceased, Eunice and Joseph H. The daughter Mabel is the wife
of C. J. Moore, an employe in the general office of the Norfolk & West
Virginia Railway. The son Chauncey, who is an electrician with the
Appalachian Power Company at Bluefield, married Hattie Meadow, daughter of
Attorney J. H. Meadow. His son David is an electrician in the navy on the
battleship destroyer Davis No. 65.

Doctor Thornton many years ago was attracted to the independent religious
movement of Pastor Russell, and has been an enthusiastic member of the
International Bible Students Association and for several years has
conducted a class for the study of the Bible, which is outside of all
denomination and free from creeds, concentrating upon the essential
teachings as presented by Christ and his followers. Some years ago, before
the World war, in prosecution of his study of the Bible and his interest in
Old World affairs, Doctor Thornton and his brother J. T. of Bluefield made
a long and interesting trip abroad through Asia, Africa, the Holy Land,
Germany, Italy and France.

Doctor Thornton is a member of the Business Men's Club at Princeton,
belongs to the County and State Medical Society, is a Fellow of the
American Medical Association, and was formerly active in Masonry, being a
Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason and Shriner. He served as master of his
Lodge and as high priest of his Chapter.


Submitted by Chris & Kerry <cmac4330@chesapeake.net> 

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