THORPE, L. N.

THORPE, VANDERBILT, BENNETT, NEWMAN, LAW, WILSON, GODFREY

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/14/2003 at 18:42:19

Biography reproduced from page 486 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

L. N. Thorpe, who for the past twelve years has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Sherman township, Kossuth county, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, was born near Milledgeville, Carroll county, Illinois, on the 30th of March, 1852. His father, Caius Thorpe, was born and reared in Batavia, New York, whence he later removed to Illinois, first settling in Carroll county. From there he subsequently went to Whiteside county, that state, where he passed away in September, 1856. Mr. Thorpe had married twice. His first union was with Catherine Vanderbilt, and to them were born three children who attained maturity, as follows: Isaac Newton, who died in the army; Mary, the wife of E. S. Bennett, of Grundy county, Iowa; and John H., of Audubon, Iowa. For his second wife he chose Miss Elizabeth Newman, the mother of our subject and a native of Jacksonville, Illinois. She passed away in 1902. Our subject is the eldest of the three children born to his parents. The next in order of birth is a daughter Catherine M., the wife of I. O. Law, of South Dakota; and the youngest member of the family is a son, Alfred C., who lives in Chicago, Illinois. The father was a carpenter by trade, but in connection with this work he engaged in farming for many years and for a time he was postmaster at New Genesee, Illinois. The paternal grandfather of our subject was English and the grandmother was French.

L. N. Thorpe, who was only a child of four when his father passed away, was educated in the public schools of New Genesee, Illinois. He resided in that vicinity until 1900, when together with his wife and family he removed to Iowa, and purchased the farm he now owns in Sherman township. During the period of his ownership, Mr. Thorpe has wrought extensive improvements in the place, including the remodeling of the residence and the erection of various buildings, and now owns one of the best farms and most attractive homesteads in that community.

In 1878, Mr. Thorpe was married to Miss Patience H. Wilson and they have become the parents of four children: M. Ethel, who was married April 3, 1912, to George W. Godfrey, of Prairie township; Clara M.; Frances L., who is attending school at Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Burton A.

They all hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Thorpe is a republican in his political views, and while living in Illinois served for a time as justice of the peace. He is prospering in his undertakings and is classed as one of the representative agriculturists and reliable business men of the township, where he and his family have made many warm friends during the period of their residence.