Amos Burroughs Thornton

http://nlt.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ftp/bios/ThorntonAB.txt

BIO: Amos Burroughs Thornton, Cooper Co Mo

http://nlt.rootsweb.com/ftp/bios/ThorntonAB.txt

trice--AT--vci--D0T--net

History of Howard and Cooper Counties (Mo.), pg 1167.

(If anyone can supply me with the full reference to this book I would greatly appreciate it. This was sent to me years ago by someone but they didn't give me the full reference, just copied the page from the book.)

Mr. A. B. Thornton, the editor and founder of the Boonville News, was born in Batavia, Clermont county, Ohio, October 2d, 1833. His father, Dr. S. G. Thornton, moved to Missouri and settled near Castle Rock, Osage county, in 1857. Mr. Thornton studied medicine, but never entered into the practice of the profession. He was married to Miss Ophelia O. Dow in Boonville, December 22d, 1862. He followed the insurance business in Lexington and Jefferson City where he was appointed special agent of the Life Association of America. After his connection with that company ceased, he became the agent of the Mound City Mutual. He returned to Boonville Sept. 23d, 1875, bought a half interest in the Topic, a democratic organ, and took the editorial chair of that paper in January, 1880. While connected with the Topic he was the more fully persuaded that the financial policy of the leaders of the Democratic party -- so called -- which he represented, had materially changed the true intent and purposes of that party in the days of Jefferson and Jackson, so he ceased his connection with that paper and founded the News, October 1st, 1880. It was a power in the hands of such a man, advocating the principles of justice, truth and what he thought to be for the public good, let the consequences be what they may; knowing no fear, he did at all times what he believed to be right. He stood in the front ranks of journalism, firmly believing in the right of the press to expose all frauds and misconduct of officials, ever demanding justice and equality to all men. To know him was to love him; he was a companion and warm bosom friend of the writer; a loving devoted husband, a kind indulgent father, a warm enthusiastic friend, a bright shining light in his profession, and an honored and firm exponent of the cause he espoused. Under his guidance the News gained in favor and pastronage, until, perhaps, no one paper in central Missouri stood highter in the minds of the people as a true representative of the general interest and welfare of the producer, the manufacturing and the laboring community.

[another transcription is available at http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/national-historical-company/h... ]

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trice--AT--vci--D0T--net note: Amos Burroughs Thornton, born 2 Oct 1833 in Batavia, Clermont Co, Ohio, died 19 Nov 1881 in the street in Boonville, Cooper Co, Mo., gunned down by U.S. Marshall McDermott over a running feud he had with the town Marshall who also ran the local ice house. It's quite an interesting story. Following the death of Amos, his wife continued to operate the News and in the days following the death of her husband, and the arrest of the Marshall on murder charges, she published interviews of all the witnesses to the shooting as well as editorials concerning the Marshall in the News. The Marshall was arrested by the townspeople immediately following the shooting and placed in his own jail (which is still standing today). The trial was transfered to Jefferson City on a change of venue, and the Marshall was ultimately acquitted. I'll have that story up as soon as I can find it in my stack of papers.

If anyone knows where Amos is buried I would greatly appreciate the information. Amos and Ophelia were my gg-grandparents. nt

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https://books.google.com/books?id=Jbs6AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA160

The Nowlin-Stone Genealogy: A Record of the Descendants of James Nowlin...
By James Edmund Nowlin

Dow - Thornton.

iv Mary Ophelia Nowlin Dow, daughter of Elizabeth Mahan Dow and Dr. James Dow, was born in Boonville, Cooper Co., Mo., 22 May, 1841. She is a grand daughter of James and Mary Nowlin Mahan and carries her grandmother's name. Mary O. N. Dow was married to Amos Burroughs Thornton, 22 December, 1862. He was bora in Bethel, Clement Co., Ohio, 2 October, 1833, died 19 November, 1881.

To this union were added Children: 1 Mary Lozetta Thornton; born in Cooper Co., Mo. 2 Clara Kittle Thornton; born in Castle Rock. 3 Elizabeth Clotilda Thornton; born in Orange Co., Mo. 4 Amos Berger Thornton; born in Cooper Co., Mo. 5 Nellie Ophelia Thornton; born in Jefferson City. 6 Frederick Milton Thornton; born 17 June, 1874, In Boonville. 7 Edward Dow Thornton; born 13 July, 1877, in Boonville. 8 Junia Clark Thornton; born 23 December, 1878; died 8 November, 1888.

The older members of Mrs. Thornton's family attended public schools in the forenoon, typewriting in the afternoon; and the younger members were educated in the public schools in Boonville and St. Louis.

Thornton - Bain.

2 Clara Kittie Thornton was married to Frank P. Bain, 3 August, 1910. Their home is in Osceola, La. where he conducts a horse sale business.

4 Amos Berger Thornton, son of Amos B. and Mary Ophelia N. Dow Thornton, is becoming known as a poet through this gift for it, though it is said poets are born. He has portrayed the life and character of his mother's family in rhyme. His loyalty to his name and to his ancestry has no peer. He is the logical man for this work; his discernment and patriotism has been proven. While he has not only given a full report of his ancestors' lives in a most pleasing manner, he has showed such fitness for the same in rhyme.

He is now trying to mark out the old trail route of his first pioneer ancestor, James Mahan (whose life's work has been inserted in this history), to help preserve the historical record of this ancestor who settled in Howard Co., near Boon in 1816.

We have a poet in both Northern and Southern lines and we highly appreciate them to weave life lines around the family tree and through the waving branches to let the sunlight in. No doubt we will before long have that famous route reduced to a poem also by Amos Berger Thornton.

iv Mary O. N. D. Thornton attended Pleasant Retreat Female College at Boonville seven years and one term at the Baptist College, Columbia, Mo. She was out of school for four years then entered the Kemper family school as primary teacher and advance pupil.

Amos B. Thornton was educated at Batavia, Clemont Co., Ohio. His father, Dr. S. Y. Thornton, bought a large farm on the Osage River where his three sons commenced life at farming. Amos B. remained with his father seven years. After his marriage he studied Allopathy and Homopathy but did not attend lectures. He was an insurance agent for a number of years. When he had built up his renewals to $5,000 a year with a guarantee of $3,000 more of the New York Life Association of America the company failed which caused him to lose confidence in all insurance business. Five yeara elapsed before he could make another start. Though the influence of his wife he purchased a half interest in the Boonville Topic. After editing for six months he sold out and started the Boonville News, a green back paper. When he had run it a little over one year he was murdered most brutally through political enmity on his way home.

iv Mary Ophelia N. Dow Thornton is a broad minded, whole soul woman who has been the life and good cheer of her household through her sweet, jolly spirit; the stay and solice of her husband in time of dark days, trial and discouragement when it seemed nothing was left but her sympathy and noble aim, which remained his greatest comfort amid all these.

"A queenly woman, statuesque and grand,

Royal in manners, courteous in command, 

Of reverential presence, and her face 

Radiant fair beaming with hope and grace; 

Her valiant life one long sweet symphony 

Of duty, love, and soulful harmony." 

After her husband's death a short time she was brave and courageous enough to take charge of the paper he had conducted before his death and run it for five years carrying out the same political ideas as those of her husband. She with her children made a success of the paper which proved quite a schooling for them, preparing and fitting them for more advanced work in that line in after life which they have utilized in a most becoming manner. This great minded woman, coupled with tact and energy has proven herself equal to the task or responsibility of both father and mother; answering the demands of each and in a ligitimate way, carrying out the plans of rearing and educated the family as both would have done perhaps had he lived, and has proven the old adage true "Trials of times come in disguise" and in this case to make amends for his loss.

"May all thy days with hope be rife, 

Thy faith increase through all thy life." 

Her judgment in the oversight or distribution of the income of her family is unequaled. Her experience along this line stamps her a financier in a true sense of the word. She is a remarkable woman in her mental activities. She, with an exuberant spirit of progression and advancement, lofty aims, and aspirations at this age of life holds on to that which she obtained in her youth as stenographer and is improving other talents. She is gathering trophies along the golden pathway of life in which she has entered with the strength and vigor of her girlhood. No more encomium of her life could be written than the following quotation from the Bible, "Give her of the fruits of her hands and let her own works praise her." May she live long upon the earth to inspire others with her love of vitality and grand aspirations!