James Thornton was also referred to as "Elder" James Thornton. The book, "key to Ministers and Justices", Andrew Co., Missouri, 1841-1856 includes the terminology,"James Thornton, M.G., Baptist.
William Thornton and his son, James, also settled in Callaway Co. in 1817. They were great hunters and trappers.
James & Sarah came to Boone County, Mo. in 1827.
In 1830 Missouri they lived in Callaway County with two children.
In the 1840 Census they were still in Callaway County with 10 children. James was a Minister in Salem, Callaway Co Missouri. He bought 112 acres in Callaway Co. MO in December 1840 for $500.00
In the 1850 Missouri census he is living in Nodaway, Andrew, Missouri, age 43 with 4 children in his household. He listed his occupation as a wheelright.
In 1860 he and Sarah with two children named Joel and Emma Litman, lived in Lewis, Holt, Missouri.
James and Sarah were alive in 1870 in Perry,Jefferson Kansas, living with Lewis Thornton. James listed his occupation as a carpenter and Lewis was listed as a Plastener.
No further records can be found at this time for James or Sarah. A special KS census 1875 lists Lewis and Wm Thornton in Howard County, Kansas now known as Elk County.
Family tradition says that James and Sarah went to California and died there in about 1891, but death date and place has not been proven.
*********************************************************
James Thornton ( William and Patsey's youngest son) and Sarah had 9 children while they lived in Callaway Country.
One son, Levi, was born in 1828 and died 20 years later from fighting in the Mexican War in 1846 through 1848. One of their daughters, Nancy Jane, would later marry into the Todd family.
James is mentioned in the book History of Callaway County, written in 1884.
It says: "James Thornton settled the place E. W. Laurence now occupies. Mr. Thornton supplied the inhabitants here with powder for many years. Saltpetre was made in a cave near where Marshal Gibson now lives, by one of the Phillips family. After procuring the saltpetre, he would burn coal of willow, and with the sulpher he obtained at Loutre Island, with rude instruments for the business, he would manufacture gunpowder, and could be seen at musters or other public gatherings, peddling out his powder at three bits per pound.
The powder had no glazing on it, and in damp weather would absord moisture, which would cause the gun to make "long fire" or "flash in the pan".
In dry weather it answered well for ordinary purposes.
He was a man who scorned to kill small game; and when he did hunt, it was for bear or an old buck. Smaller game he left for others to kill. The writer of this was riding with Mr. Thornton one day, going to Fulton {Missouri} when he came on a bear just west of where James Bellamy lives. Mr. Thornton having his gun with him, as he did on almost all occasions, it did not take him long to dismount and send a bullet through bruin's heart, laying him out dead on the spot.
The hide of the bear was brought to Mr. Calvins spring on the 4th day of July following, and put up for three dollars and shot for, being won by either Frank Branham or M. V. (Buck) Harrison--I don't remember which."
Source: History of Callaway County pp 144 & 145
William Thornton and his son, James, also settled in Callaway Co. in 1817. They were great hunters and trappers.
James & Sarah came to Boone County, Mo. in 1827.
In 1830 Missouri they lived in Callaway County with two children.
In the 1840 Census they were still in Callaway County with 10 children. James was a Minister in Salem, Callaway Co Missouri. He bought 112 acres in Callaway Co. MO in December 1840 for $500.00
In the 1850 Missouri census he is living in Nodaway, Andrew, Missouri, age 43 with 4 children in his household. He listed his occupation as a wheelright.
In 1860 he and Sarah with two children named Joel and Emma Litman, lived in Lewis, Holt, Missouri.
James and Sarah were alive in 1870 in Perry,Jefferson Kansas, living with Lewis Thornton. James listed his occupation as a carpenter and Lewis was listed as a Plastener.
No further records can be found at this time for James or Sarah. A special KS census 1875 lists Lewis and Wm Thornton in Howard County, Kansas now known as Elk County.
Family tradition says that James and Sarah went to California and died there in about 1891, but death date and place has not been proven.
*********************************************************
James Thornton ( William and Patsey's youngest son) and Sarah had 9 children while they lived in Callaway Country.
One son, Levi, was born in 1828 and died 20 years later from fighting in the Mexican War in 1846 through 1848. One of their daughters, Nancy Jane, would later marry into the Todd family.
James is mentioned in the book History of Callaway County, written in 1884.
It says: "James Thornton settled the place E. W. Laurence now occupies. Mr. Thornton supplied the inhabitants here with powder for many years. Saltpetre was made in a cave near where Marshal Gibson now lives, by one of the Phillips family. After procuring the saltpetre, he would burn coal of willow, and with the sulpher he obtained at Loutre Island, with rude instruments for the business, he would manufacture gunpowder, and could be seen at musters or other public gatherings, peddling out his powder at three bits per pound.
The powder had no glazing on it, and in damp weather would absord moisture, which would cause the gun to make "long fire" or "flash in the pan".
In dry weather it answered well for ordinary purposes.
He was a man who scorned to kill small game; and when he did hunt, it was for bear or an old buck. Smaller game he left for others to kill. The writer of this was riding with Mr. Thornton one day, going to Fulton {Missouri} when he came on a bear just west of where James Bellamy lives. Mr. Thornton having his gun with him, as he did on almost all occasions, it did not take him long to dismount and send a bullet through bruin's heart, laying him out dead on the spot.
The hide of the bear was brought to Mr. Calvins spring on the 4th day of July following, and put up for three dollars and shot for, being won by either Frank Branham or M. V. (Buck) Harrison--I don't remember which."
Source: History of Callaway County pp 144 & 145
James Thornton was also referred to as "Elder" James Thornton. The book, "key to Ministers and Justices", Andrew Co., Missouri, 1841-1856 includes the terminology,"James Thornton, M.G., Baptist.
William Thornton and his son, James, also settled in Callaway Co. in 1817. They were great hunters and trappers.
James & Sarah came to Boone County, Mo. in 1827.
In 1830 Missouri they lived in Callaway County with two children.
In the 1840 Census they were still in Callaway County with 10 children. James was a Minister in Salem, Callaway Co Missouri. He bought 112 acres in Callaway Co. MO in December 1840 for $500.00
In the 1850 Missouri census he is living in Nodaway, Andrew, Missouri, age 43 with 4 children in his household. He listed his occupation as a wheelright.
In 1860 he and Sarah with two children named Joel and Emma Litman, lived in Lewis, Holt, Missouri.
James and Sarah were alive in 1870 in Perry,Jefferson Kansas, living with Lewis Thornton. James listed his occupation as a carpenter and Lewis was listed as a Plastener.
No further records can be found at this time for James or Sarah. A special KS census 1875 lists Lewis and Wm Thornton in Howard County, Kansas now known as Elk County.
Family tradition says that James and Sarah went to California and died there in about 1891, but death date and place has not been proven.
*********************************************************
James Thornton ( William and Patsey's youngest son) and Sarah had 9 children while they lived in Callaway Country.
One son, Levi, was born in 1828 and died 20 years later from fighting in the Mexican War in 1846 through 1848. One of their daughters, Nancy Jane, would later marry into the Todd family.
James is mentioned in the book History of Callaway County, written in 1884.
It says: "James Thornton settled the place E. W. Laurence now occupies. Mr. Thornton supplied the inhabitants here with powder for many years. Saltpetre was made in a cave near where Marshal Gibson now lives, by one of the Phillips family. After procuring the saltpetre, he would burn coal of willow, and with the sulpher he obtained at Loutre Island, with rude instruments for the business, he would manufacture gunpowder, and could be seen at musters or other public gatherings, peddling out his powder at three bits per pound.
The powder had no glazing on it, and in damp weather would absord moisture, which would cause the gun to make "long fire" or "flash in the pan".
In dry weather it answered well for ordinary purposes.
He was a man who scorned to kill small game; and when he did hunt, it was for bear or an old buck. Smaller game he left for others to kill. The writer of this was riding with Mr. Thornton one day, going to Fulton {Missouri} when he came on a bear just west of where James Bellamy lives. Mr. Thornton having his gun with him, as he did on almost all occasions, it did not take him long to dismount and send a bullet through bruin's heart, laying him out dead on the spot.
The hide of the bear was brought to Mr. Calvins spring on the 4th day of July following, and put up for three dollars and shot for, being won by either Frank Branham or M. V. (Buck) Harrison--I don't remember which."
Source: History of Callaway County pp 144 & 145
William Thornton and his son, James, also settled in Callaway Co. in 1817. They were great hunters and trappers.
James & Sarah came to Boone County, Mo. in 1827.
In 1830 Missouri they lived in Callaway County with two children.
In the 1840 Census they were still in Callaway County with 10 children. James was a Minister in Salem, Callaway Co Missouri. He bought 112 acres in Callaway Co. MO in December 1840 for $500.00
In the 1850 Missouri census he is living in Nodaway, Andrew, Missouri, age 43 with 4 children in his household. He listed his occupation as a wheelright.
In 1860 he and Sarah with two children named Joel and Emma Litman, lived in Lewis, Holt, Missouri.
James and Sarah were alive in 1870 in Perry,Jefferson Kansas, living with Lewis Thornton. James listed his occupation as a carpenter and Lewis was listed as a Plastener.
No further records can be found at this time for James or Sarah. A special KS census 1875 lists Lewis and Wm Thornton in Howard County, Kansas now known as Elk County.
Family tradition says that James and Sarah went to California and died there in about 1891, but death date and place has not been proven.
*********************************************************
James Thornton ( William and Patsey's youngest son) and Sarah had 9 children while they lived in Callaway Country.
One son, Levi, was born in 1828 and died 20 years later from fighting in the Mexican War in 1846 through 1848. One of their daughters, Nancy Jane, would later marry into the Todd family.
James is mentioned in the book History of Callaway County, written in 1884.
It says: "James Thornton settled the place E. W. Laurence now occupies. Mr. Thornton supplied the inhabitants here with powder for many years. Saltpetre was made in a cave near where Marshal Gibson now lives, by one of the Phillips family. After procuring the saltpetre, he would burn coal of willow, and with the sulpher he obtained at Loutre Island, with rude instruments for the business, he would manufacture gunpowder, and could be seen at musters or other public gatherings, peddling out his powder at three bits per pound.
The powder had no glazing on it, and in damp weather would absord moisture, which would cause the gun to make "long fire" or "flash in the pan".
In dry weather it answered well for ordinary purposes.
He was a man who scorned to kill small game; and when he did hunt, it was for bear or an old buck. Smaller game he left for others to kill. The writer of this was riding with Mr. Thornton one day, going to Fulton {Missouri} when he came on a bear just west of where James Bellamy lives. Mr. Thornton having his gun with him, as he did on almost all occasions, it did not take him long to dismount and send a bullet through bruin's heart, laying him out dead on the spot.
The hide of the bear was brought to Mr. Calvins spring on the 4th day of July following, and put up for three dollars and shot for, being won by either Frank Branham or M. V. (Buck) Harrison--I don't remember which."
Source: History of Callaway County pp 144 & 145
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