Biography of Charles Perry THORN, Monongalia County, West Virginia

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 56


CHARLES PERRY THORN.  In recognizing his natural inclinations and having the
courage to mold circumstances to enable him to follow them, has, perhaps,
brought business success and contentment to many young men, but in scarcely
larger degree than to Charles Perry Thorn, one of the leading business men of
Morgantown, general manager of the General Woodworking Company, of which he
was one of the organizers.  Mr. Thorn was born on a farm and came from a long
line of farmer ancestors, but this did not make him a farmer.  The call of
the soil was not insistent in him in youth, and wisely he turned to
mechanics, kept steadfast in determination to gain perfection in that line,
and today he is at the head of one of the largest manufacturing concerns of
its kind in West Virginia.

Charles Perry Thorn was born on his father's estate, in Grant District,
Monongalia County, West Virginia, November 2, 1880, and is a son of David and
Harriet A. (Potter) Thorn.  His paternal grandfather, Jesse Thorn, was born
in old Virginia and at an early date settled on the farm in Grant District,
Monongalia County, on which his son, David Perry Thorn was born in 1843 and
died in 1903.  The maternal grandfather of Mr. Thorn died in 1903.  The
maternal grandfather of Mr. Thorn was Henry Potter, who came to West Virginia
from Frostburg, Maryland, and settled on the farm in Grant District,
Monongalia County, on which Mrs. Thorn was born.

Charles P. Thorn attended the public schools at Laurel Point, near his
country home, and assisted his father on the farm until his nineteenth year,
when he came to Morgantown, learned carpentering and worked at the trade as a
journeyman until 1903, when he entered a planing mill and remained until he
had learned the business.  As soon as circumstances permitted, in 1910, he
embarked in business for himself, being one of the organizers of the General
Woodworking Company, of which he became general manager and has so continued,
and largely because of his able management this enterprise has expanded
tenfold and is still growing.  Mr. Thorn takes enthusiastic interest in his
business, devotes himself closely to it and is very adequately rewarded.

In 1906 Mr. Thorn married Miss Olive M. Jacob's, a daughter of Benson and
Ellen Jacob's, of Little Falls, West Virginia, and they have two sons:  Ralph
Benson born in 1909; and Fred David, born in 1912.  Mr. Thorn and his family
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  He is an active member of the
Morgantown Chamber of Commerce, and belongs to the Rotary Club, the Elks and
the Knights of Pythias.  While never unduly active in politics, Mr. Thorn as
a reliable citizen and dependable business man, has always kept an open mind
and a listening ear in regard to public affairs, and when he casts his vote
it is in support of a candidate who by word and act has shown devotion to
American principles.