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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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George Thornburg, born in Havana, Mason County, Ill., January 25, 1847, moved to Smithville, Ark., in December, 1855. His educational facilities were meager, but used industriously, such as they were. He assisted J. N. Hillhouse for two sessions, and taught one session at New Hope. He began the study of law in 1867, with Col. Baber, and then in the law department of the Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., in 1868. He was licensed to practice by Judge (afterward Governor) Baxter, and had charge of the circuit clerk’s office from 1868 to 1870, during which time the county seat was moved to Clover Bend, and from there to Powhatan. He entered into mercantile business at Smithville, from 1870 to 1873, and in June, 1873, moved to Powhatan, where he began the practice of law in co-partnership with Col. Baber. This firm did a large and successful business until June, 1886, when Col. Thornburg withdrew to take charge of a newspaper at Walnut Ridge. He moved to Walnut Ridge, in July, 1886, and began the publication of the Telephone. The change from law to newspaper was not made from any pecuniary interest; but for the reason that journalism was more congenial to his taste. He was elected to the legislature as a Democrat, in 1870, but, after serving a month, his seat was contested, and the house being largely Republican, and politics being very bitter, he was ousted to give place to William B. Janes, who received less than one-fourth as many votes. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1872, and stood with the immortal minority in the house in 1873. In 1876 he was nominated by his county for the senate, but declined on account of business engagements. In 1880 he was forced by the demands of his party and friends to submit to an election to the legislature again, and was elected speaker for the house during the session of 1881. It is said of him, as it can be said of no other speaker of the Arkansas legislature, that none of his decisions were ever appealed. In 1884 he was again elected to the legislature, and was made chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1886 he was nominated by the State Wheel convention for secretary of State, but declined the nomination, because, as a Democrat, he could not accept any nomination that would antagonize the Democratic party. Since 1884 he has sought no political office, devoting his attention to his paper. He was appointed a colonel in the Arkansas militia, by Gov. Baxter, and again appointed by Gov. Garland. Col. Thornburg was made a Mason, in Smithville Lodge No. 29, in 1868. He served as Secretary of his lodge and Worshipful Master. He was made a Royal Arch Mason, in 1870, in Pythagoras Chapter No. 34, held at Powhatan. This Chapter is now defunct. He was made a Sir Knight Mason in Hugh De Payne Commandery, at Little Rock, in 1871. He has been a delegate to every Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter from 1871 to the present time. He was Secretary of the Masonic Convention of 1873, which made the present constitution of the Grand Lodge. Elected Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge in 1874, in 1875 he made and defended the famous minority report, which cut the Grand Lodge loose from supporting St. John’s College. He was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in 1878, and re-elected to the same position in 1879. In 1880 he was elected Deputy Grand Commander of Knights Templar, and elected Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, and in 1883 was elected Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council. He has delivered over twenty public addresses on Masonry, and is a permanent member of the committee on law of the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter. He is now the special representative of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, the Grand Chapter of Illinois, and the Grand Orient of Spain. In July, 1886, he founded the Masonic Trowel, a paper devoted exclusively to Masonry. It has a large circulation throughout the State, and grows in favor with the craft. It has been adopted by the Grand Lodge as its official organ. Mr. Thornburg is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and has been steward continuously since 1876, also Sunday-school superintendent for sixteen years. He is the only layman in the Southern Methodist Church who is secretary of an annual conference, and he has the honor of being the author of the system of reports now used throughout the church. Prior to 1886 the church had no uniform plan or system of reporting. Mr. Thornburg arranged a system for the conference, of which he was secretary. This form was so complete and systematic that Bishop McTyeire urged its adoption by the general conference, and it is now the only form allowed to be used in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Thornburg is a strong temperance advocate, a supporter of the free school system and a conservative but straight Democrat. In the newspaper fraternity he stands high, having been selected as orator the year before last, and vice-president last year. He has, perhaps, delivered more addresses on Masonic, Sunday-school and miscellaneous occasions than any man in North Arkansas. In September, 1868, Col. Thornburg was married to Miss M. C. Self, a daughter of J. M. Self, a physician and Methodist local preacher. He has a pleasant home, is surrounded by an interesting family, and enjoys a quiet life with his wife, children and flowers.

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This family biography is one of 111 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Lawrence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lawrence County, Arkansas family biographies here: Lawrence County, Arkansas Biographies

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