O. A. SILVERTHORN

CLENDENNING, CASHBAUGH, JONES, NICHOLS

Posted By: Norma Nielson
Date: 2/23/2006 at 18:53:22

O. A. SILVERTHORN (photo available in original)

From The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People", Volume II (Chicago: The
Pioneer Publishing Company), 1915.

O. A. Silverthorn, owning and operating a well improved farm of one hundred and
sixty acres on section 9, Grand River township, has been a resident of Adair
county for more than four decades and has long been numbered among its
substantial and esteemed citizens. His birth occurred in Muscatine county,
Iowa, on the 29th of August, 1846, his parents being Richard and Anna Mary
(Clendenning) Silverthorn, more extended mention of whom is made on another page
of this work in connection with the sketch of E. R. Silverthorn, brother of our
subject.

O. A. Silverthorn attended the common schools in pursuit of an education and
remained with his parents until twenty years of age, when he was married and
established a home of his own. Following that important event in his life he
operated a rented farm in Muscatine county for two years and on the expiration
of that period took up his abode in Madison county, Iowa, where he purchased a
farm and resided for six years. At the end of that tiem he disposed of the
property and came to Adair county, subsequently purchasing a tract of one
hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Grand River township, the further
cultivation and improvement of which has claimed his attention continuously
since. He carries on his work in accord with the most practical and progressive
methods of agriculture and the well tilled fields annually yield golden harvests
in return for the care and labor bestowed upon them.

On April 10, 1866, Mr. Silverthorn was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M.
Silverthorn, who is not a near relative, their grandfathers being cousins. She
is a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Oliver P. and Anna (Cashbaugh)
Silverthorn, both of whom were born in New Jersey. They removed to Pennsylvania
in an early day and in 1855 located on a farm in Wisconsin, while in 1862 they
took up their abode on a farm in Johnson county, Iowa. Later they came to Adair
county and here the mother passed away, but the death of the father occurred in
Canada. To them were born fourteen children, five of whom still survive. Mr.
and Mrs. O. A. Silverthorn became the parents of four children, namely: Alvind
D., who is the wife of W. S. Jones of Fonatanelle; Olive G., who married Ernest
G. Nichols of Bridgewater; and Ernest W., who died when thirty three years of
age.

Politically Mr. Silverthorn is a democrat and he has done able service in the
capacity of school director. His wife is a devoted member of the Congregational
church. They are genial and hospitable people and are held in high esteem by a
large circle of friends in this section.