Athens Weekly Review
July 8, 1926
Wiley Thornton
Georgia has given Texas many fine citizens of whom Henderson
County has drawn a liberal quota, among them being Wiley Thornton
who was born in Pike County, Georgia, October 27, 1842, but
removed with his parents to Mississippi when he was about
fourteen years of age, and in which state he grew to manhood. At
the age of twenty-four years he came to Henderson County where he
arrived December 15, 1866.
Mr. Thornton has been twice married and is the father of sixteen
children; eight of them being by his first and eight by his
second wife. He was married the first time to Mrs. Sarah Murreil
August 15, 1866 in Mississippi. She died in 1878. His second
marriage was to Miss Mary Elizabeth Murphy, March 1st, 1879.
Mr. Thornton is an ex-Confederate soldier, having enlisted early
in the beginning of the war between the states and saw his first
service at Corinth, Miss. He was made prisoner at Ft. Donaldson
and taken to Chicago, being released on exchange after six months
confinement. His first service was under Johnston. After his
exchange which was effected at Vicksburg, Miss., he was attached
to Loving's Division, 20th Miss. Reg't Co. I. Captain Chatfield,
who was succeeded by Captain Cole. The last engagement in which
Mr. Thornton took part was at Nashville, Tenn. He was on furlough
when Lee surrendered. This is in brief, the record of his four
years service to the South.
Mr. Thornton became a large landowner and stockman and is perhaps
the most widely known private citizen in the county, by reason of
his long residence and prominence in the political and financial
affairs of the county.
He is a Missionary Baptist and for many years of his active life
was a staunch and uncompromising supporter of his church. He was
made a Mason before coming to Texas and is the oldest member of
that order in the county. He took the Royal Arch degree at Athens
in1873. He is a charter member of the Malakoff Lodge. He was
active in the organization of the Athens National Bank and was a
member of the board of directors of the institution for many
years. He was drafted by the citizenship for service as county
commissioner and served one term and was forced to refuse a
second term.
Mr. Thornton has retired from active business life and is living
comfortably on the fruits of his energy and business acumen of
his earlier days. He holds the honest respect and admiration of
the citizenship of his county in the history of which is written
largely the influence of his sterling qualities of citizenship,
for his hand has had much to do with shaping the early destines
of his home county.
Submitted by Aaron Freeman
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