My Genealogy Hound

EDWIN I. THORN, M. D. There are few practitioners within the limits of Greene County who, according to their years, have attained to a more enviable position than that of Dr. Thorn, who is still on the sunny side of fifty, having been born October 31, 1847. His native place was Yellow Springs, and he was the youngest in a family of five children, the offspring of Isaac and Hannah (Smith) Thorn, both of whom were likewise natives of this county, and are now deceased. The paternal grandfather of our subject was William Thorn, a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. He emigrated to this county at an early day, and spent his last years near Cedarville. His son, Isaac, who was reared on the farm, when approaching manhood, turned his attention to the medical profession, and became successful and prominent as a physician, having an extensive practice in the early days in this and Clark Counties. He was actively engaged in his practice at the time of his death, which occurred from cholera in the city of Springfield, when he was in the forty-ninth year of his age. The mother of our subject survived her husband many years, and died in California in February, 1890.

The subject of this notice was but two years old at the time of his father’s death, and remained with his mother in Springfield during his boyhood and youth. He attended the district school until fifteen years of age, then going to Richmond, Ind., became clerk in a dry-goods store, and was thus occupied for eighteen months. Then deciding to enter the medical profession, he went into the office of his uncle, Dr. E. Thorn, of Yellow Springs, and when sufficiently advanced in his studies, took his first course of lectures in the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor. His second course was taken during the winter of 1867-68, at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in the class of the latter year.

In entering upon the practice of his profession, Dr. Thorn associated himself in partnership with his uncle, which partnership continued until the death of the latter, October 2, 1876. Thereafter Dr. Thorn continued his practice alone, and is now in the enjoyment of an extensive and lucrative business. In the meantime, October 12, 1871, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Rebecca A., daughter of Elder R. Stewart, the wedding taking place at the bride’s home in Clifton, Greene County. Mr Stewart and his wife were both natives of this State.

Mrs. Thorn was born May 7, 1849, in Yellow Springs, received a good education, and remained with her parents until her marriage. This union resulted in the birth of three children — Carrie S., Una Maude, and Edwin H. The little family occupy a snug home in the northern part of the city, and number their friends and associates among its cultured people. The Doctor is a member of the Ohio State Medical Society, and keeps himself thoroughly posted upon the new theories and the modern methods of practice. Although no politician, he gives his uniform support to the Republican party, is the friend of education, and has served for several years as a member of the School Board.