Thornburg, Boyd Lee, 1891-1935

THORNBURG, ELDREDGE, PANNILL, VIZTHUM

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Rock Valley Bee, February 15, 1935:

Death of Former Resident

B. L. Thornburg, a former well-known resident of Rock Valley, passed away at a hospital in Sioux City Sunday. He had been sick for several weeks, his death being due to hemorages. Since leaving Rock Valley, Mr. Thornburg had made his home in Sioux City.

Mr. Thornburg came to Rock Valley in 1913 and resided here for about twenty years, being engaged in the wholesale tobacco business. He was born at Huntington, W. Va., on June 25, 1890, where he grew to manhood and attended high school and Marshall college.

Funeral services were held in Sioux City Tuesday in charge of the Masonic lodge.

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From the Alton Democrat, February 15, 1935:

FORMER ROCK VALLEY MAN IS SUMMONED
B. L. Thornburg Dies in Sioux City Sunday

Boyd Lee Thornburg, the head of the Thornburg Tobacco Co., passed away Sunday noon in a Sioux City hospital. Mr. Thornburg was born June 25, 1892 at Huntington, West Virginia, where he attended high school and Marshall college. He came to Rock Valley in 1913 at which time he was united in marriage to Miss Luthere Eldredge and lived here up until two years ago when he moved to Sioux City.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Westcott’s chapel conducted by Rev. A. B. Schwertz. Burial took place at Graceland Park cemetery, Sioux City. Members of the Landmark lodge No. 103 A.F. and A.M. directed by Oscar Hoberg performed the Masonic service at the grave site.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate gives his Sioux City address as 2320 Pierce St., resident in Sioux City 2 years; married, wife Dorothy Thornburg; occupation, wholesale tobacco dealer; born June 25, 1891 in Huntington, West Virginia; parents Chas. M. Thornburg and [no forename] Pannell; died in St. Joseph Hospital, Sioux City at 1 p.m. February 10, 1935; cause, agranulocytosis [severely low white blood cell count, often from a reaction to a drug or medication].

His FindaGrave.com entry adds his parents as Charles Miller Thornburg (1867-1942) and Louise Pannill Thornburg (1871-1920). Spouses, Luthera Linda Eldredge Thornburg (1888-1942, married 1913) and Dorothy Vizthum Thornburg (1894-1964). Added notes say that at age 24 he married Luthera Eldredge on June 13, 1913 in Lincoln, South Dakota.

The West Virginia Births Index on Ancestry.com also shows his birth date as 25 June 1891. The South Dakota marriages index shows their marriage date as June 3, 1913.

His World War I draft registration card (June 1917) shows him a resident of Rock Valley, born June 25, 1891 in Huntington WV, occupation jobber, married, medium height and build, light brown eyes, light hair.

The 1930 U.S. census for Rock Valley shows him (age 38), Luthera (39), and son Bobby (8, born in South Dakota); he is proprietor of a wholesale cigar and candy firm. The 1940 census for Rock Valley shows Luthera and son Robert living with her parents and brother.

News notes in Sioux County newspapers show Luthera E. Thornburg filing for divorce from Boyd L. Thornburg in December 1932, with the divorce granted on January 30, 1933. In reporting on the divorce settlement, De Volksvriend says she received the house and half ownership of the Thornburg Company, and suggests that Bobby was their adopted son. Articles in 1934 discuss the subsequent affairs of the company. Boyd married Dorothy Vizthum sometime prior to August 1934; no marriage record for them was readily located.