My Genealogy Hound

L. G. Thornton, a farmer of Jonesboro Township, has been a resident of Craighead County for twenty-five years. He was born in Wayne County, Tenn., October 17, 1827. His parents, Hosea and Catherine (Hendrix) Thornton, were both natives of the old “Volunteer State.” They were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, L. G. being the second child. The father died of consumption when the subject of this sketch was nine years of age, and the mother was married again, to John Baker. They moved to Arkansas just before the War of the Rebellion, and located in Izard County. Mr. Baker gave his life for the Confederate cause, was taken prisoner, and died in prison at Little Rock. The mother died in Izard County, in 1881, aged seventy-nine years. L. G. Thornton was reared on a farm, grew to manhood there, and was married November 7, 1844, to Cynthia Ballard, a native of Hardin County, Tenn. Her parents were Williford and Catherine (Carr) Ballard; the former died in Tennessee, and Mrs. Ballard subsequently removed to Izard County, where she died in 1855. They were the parents of four children, three daughters and one son. Mr. Thornton removed to this State in 1849, coming by wagon and water, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Izard County, at that time nearly all timbered, cleared it up, and lived in that settlement until 1865. He served bravely as a Confederate soldier, being a member of Col. Freeman’s regiment, and Capt. Meadows’ company. In December of 1864 he started for Craighead County, arriving January 1, 1865; rented for one year, then bought his present farm of 180 acres, on which he has since lived. By dint of hard work and perseverance he has cleared about 100 acres, most of which he rents, himself at present farming only forty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are the parents of ten children, four of them living: Martha Ann, Henry C. (married to Amanda Garrett, and living in Jonesboro), James M. (married to Mary Travis, and lives on the old homestead), Lewis S. (married to Mary Wood, and is a prominent physician of Big Bay Station). Those deceased were Mary, Sparling, William, Lucy and two daughters who died in infancy. At the time of his death, April 18, 1880, Sparling was a prominent young man of twenty-five, and at that time county clerk of Cross County. While a citizen of Izard County Mr. Thornton was justice of the peace and constable. He is a Democrat, has held local positions of honor and trust, and is a practical farmer and progressive citizen.