Joseph P. Thornisch

THORNISCH, GABEL, MEYERS

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/18/2009 at 13:32:28

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

page 749

JOSEPH P. THORNISCH is a member
of the firm of Thornisch & Isham, livery
and coal dealers, Audubon, Iowa. In
the livery business Mr. Thornisch succeeds
Mr. I. N. Simpson, of whom he bought the
business in May, 1880, which he continued
at the old stand. He formed a partnership
with Mr. Charles Isham, who with himself
constitutes the present firm. Mr. Thornisch
was born in Wyoming County, New York,
August 2, 1844. He lived in his native
county until he was sixteen years old, when
he went to Genesee County, New York,
working on a farm, breaking horses, and fit-
ting them for market. He afterward drifted
west and stopped in Audubon County, Iowa,
in 1871, and spent his first winter on Davis
Creek. In the following spring he took up a
homestead near the present town site of Au-
dubon, but through some technicality the
Rock Island Railroad Company gained pos-
session of it, and Mr. Thornisch lost about
$4,000. Abandoning the homestead he dis-
posed of his cattle ranch, and purchased the
livery stock, as before stated. The firm of
Thornisch & Isham is well known from the
fact that both parties have been residents of
the county for several years. They keep a
good stock of buggies, including a fine hack
and hearses, and attend to calls in the country
promptly, as well as in the city. Their stock
of horses is quite complete, and they have
fine driving teams. In connection with their
livery and coal business they have given
special attention to the breeding of Henry
Clay and Messenger horses; they also breed
Clydesdale horses, and have invested a con-
siderable sum in this business. Mr. Thorn-
isch was married in 1867 to Miss Elizabeth
Gabel, of Wyoming County, New York, a
daughter of Jacob Gabel, of the same county.
There she was born and reared to woman-
hood. To Mr. and Mrs. Thornisch have been
born three children -- Eli A., Francis M., and
Irma C. Mr. Thornisch has served one term
as township trustee. He is a member of
Oretas Lodge, No. 396, I. O. O. F. Mr.
Thornisch's parents were John J. and Catha-
rine (Meyers) Thornisch, natives of Germany.
The father emigrated to America before he
was married.