When William Thornton was born on May 29, 1873, in Idaho, his father, William, was 22 and his mother, Mary Hillman, was 19. He married Anna Marie PRATT in October 1898 in Downey, Idaho. They moved to Eastern Nevada. They soon had son, George, who died at age 3. Son Jefferson Castle was born in 1900, followed by daughter, Odette. One more son was born, who died at age 1. He worked as a mechanic on railroad cars in Carlin, Nevada for many years. He then became a night watchman of his community. His wife died of cancer just under 2 years before he died of a heart attack while on a fishing trip with a friend in Idaho. He is best remembered for getting a call while on duty as a constable that a man was at a local bar who had a pistol drop out of his pocket and was acting suspiciously. William subdued the man with the help of some in the bar and took him to jail, booking him for resisting arrest. He did not know it at the time, but he'd just jailed a dangerous murderer of 4 people. While in jail the arrested man confessed to the crimes. William died on May 9, 1937, in Rogerson, Idaho, at the age of 63, and was buried in Ogden, Utah near the graves of his wife and predeceased little boys.
Contributor: Jean Irwin (48198157)
Contributor: Jean Irwin (48198157)
When William Thornton was born on May 29, 1873, in Idaho, his father, William, was 22 and his mother, Mary Hillman, was 19. He married Anna Marie PRATT in October 1898 in Downey, Idaho. They moved to Eastern Nevada. They soon had son, George, who died at age 3. Son Jefferson Castle was born in 1900, followed by daughter, Odette. One more son was born, who died at age 1. He worked as a mechanic on railroad cars in Carlin, Nevada for many years. He then became a night watchman of his community. His wife died of cancer just under 2 years before he died of a heart attack while on a fishing trip with a friend in Idaho. He is best remembered for getting a call while on duty as a constable that a man was at a local bar who had a pistol drop out of his pocket and was acting suspiciously. William subdued the man with the help of some in the bar and took him to jail, booking him for resisting arrest. He did not know it at the time, but he'd just jailed a dangerous murderer of 4 people. While in jail the arrested man confessed to the crimes. William died on May 9, 1937, in Rogerson, Idaho, at the age of 63, and was buried in Ogden, Utah near the graves of his wife and predeceased little boys.
Contributor: Jean Irwin (48198157)
Contributor: Jean Irwin (48198157)
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