William Wheeler Thornton

William Wheeler Thornton

William Wheeler Thornton (June 27, 1851 - January 31, 1932) was an Indiana lawyer, Attorney General, judge, and author. He was born in Logansport, Indiana, to John Allen and Elizabeth B. Thomas Thornton, [See “Descendents of Giles Wheeler Thomas”: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/nbhihtml/psgengwt.html] members of respectable farming families. After attending Smithson College, a Universalist educational center, William became interested in law, entering the University of Michigan in 1875. He graduated in 1876 (LL.B). [General Catalogue of Officers and Students, 1837-1901, University of Michigan] Upon returning to Logansport, Indiana, William Thornton worked in the law office of his uncle, Henry Clay Thornton, a prominent lawyer and father of Sir Henry Worth Thornton.

From 1879 to 1889, he alternated private practice with civic positions, including Crawfordsville, Indiana city attorney and Deputy Attorney General of Indiana (1880-1883). From 1889 to 1893, William W. Thornton served as Librarian of the Indiana Supreme Court.Dunn, Jacob Piatt (editor). A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood. The American Historical Society, 1919.] After two more decades of private practice, William Thornton became judge of the Superior Court of Marion County, Indiana (Nov. 20, 1914),Indiana State Library Manuscript Division: http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/isl/indiana/manuscripts/inlawyers/smthorn.htm] serving until his death on January 31, 1932. [Death Notices: General Catalogue of Officers and Students, 1837-1931, University of Michigan.]

Publications

William Wheeler Thornton was one of the foremost authors on Indianan jurisprudence. In "Indiana and Indianans: A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood",Dunn, Jacob Piatt (editor). A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood. The American Historical Society, 1919.] the author made the following claim:

At one time it was claimed for Judge Thornton that he had written more articles for legal periodicals than any other one man in America or England except only two (pg. 1620)."Dunn, Jacob Piatt (editor). A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood. The American Historical Society, 1919.]

The citation continued to list writings on myriad topics: municipal and school law; railroad law; estates, gifts, and advancement law; and several biographies, including one for prominent lawyer and judge, Isaac Newton Blackford.Indiana State Library Manuscript Division: http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/isl/indiana/manuscripts/inlawyers/smthorn.htm] Many of William W. Thornton’s writings are still read and studied today. The William Wheeler Thornton Papers are held at the Manuscript Division, Indiana Division, Indiana State Library .

Family

On January 25, 1882, William married Mary F. Groves, who died July 22, 1905. He then married Irene F. Blackledge on July 20, 1911.Dunn, Jacob Piatt (editor). A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood. The American Historical Society, 1919.] William was a nephew of prominent physician Dr. William Patton Thornton and educator Dr. Joseph L. Thornton.

At the time of William's death, he had a half-brother, John Lambert Thornton, who lived in Los Angeles, California, with his wife, Emma Gay Shouf Thornton, and son, Raymond Allen Thornton. Raymond would later serve in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, rising to Lieutenant Colonel of the US Air Force.

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • William Patton Thornton — Dr. William Patton Thornton (February 6, 1817 in Hillsboro, Ohio – October 10, 1883, in College Hill, Ohio), son of William and Martha Patton Thornton, was a prominent physician, educator, author, politician, and member of the influential… …   Wikipedia

  • Thornton (surname) — Thornton is a surname, and may refer to:* A. P. Thornton * Alvin Thornton * Andre Thornton * Andrew C. Thornton II * Andy Thornton, baseball player * Barry Thornton * Big Mama Thornton, musician * Billy Bob Thornton, actor * Bonnell Thornton,… …   Wikipedia

  • Isaac Wheeler Geer — (Feb. 1, 1873 Plainfield, Conn. – June 20, 1953, Chicago) was a prominent railroad executive who served as General Manager of the Southwestern Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, based in St. Louis. He is best known for his involvement in… …   Wikipedia

  • Henry Thornton (railway manager) — Sir Henry Worth Thornton, KBE (6 November 1871 in Logansport, Indiana ndash; 14 March 1933 in New York City) was a businessman and president of Canadian National Railways. His parents were Henry Clay Thornton and Millamenta Comegys Worth. Henry W …   Wikipedia

  • Samuel W. Thornton — (Oct. 23, 1832 in Madison County, Ohio – July 20, 1917 in Kearney, Nebraska) was a prominent farmer, businessman, soldier, and politician. He was elected to serve one term in the Nebraska State Legislature (1877), representing Buffalo County.… …   Wikipedia

  • William Gargan — Dans Furie noire (1935) Données clés Naissance …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Logansport, Indiana — Infobox Settlement official name = City of Logansport native name = settlement type = City nickname = motto = imagesize = image caption = image imagesize = image caption = image mapsize = 250x200px map caption = Location in the state of Indiana… …   Wikipedia

  • Edna Goodrich — infobox actress caption= birthdate=December 22, 1883 birthplace=Logansport, Indiana deathdate=May 26, 1972 deathplace=New York City, New York occupation=Film, stage actressEdna Goodrich (born Bessie Edna Stevens; December 22, 1883 ndash; May 26,… …   Wikipedia

  • University of Michigan Law School — Established 1859 School type Public Endowment US$248 million(2000) Parent endowment US$7.8billion (2011) …   Wikipedia

  • Crawfordsville, Indiana — City of Crawfordsville, Indiana   City   Crawfordsville Courthouse, 1997 Nickname(s) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”