James McDonald "Jim" Thornton (1859-1949)

THORNTON, REED, LHOMMEDIEU, BALES, PERRY, KOCH, PIPER, HANDY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal June 3, 1949 (page 5)

Funeral Rites For James M. Thornton

James M. Thornton was laid to rest in the Colo cemetery, Sunday afternoon, May 29th, funeral services being conducted in the Methodist church of Colo, in charge of Rev. E. J. Berreth, pastor of the Evangelical-U. B. church. Music was by a male quartette, Bert Lambeth, Mark Wilson, Lillian Lounsbury and LaVerne Horner, with Mrs. Lois Dickinson as pianist. They rendered "Sometime We'll Understand" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere."

Casket bearers were Emory Rogers, Turl White, Charles Yeager, Murry Atkins, Wilford Barrett and Henry Weeks.

The front of the church was entirely banked with beautiful floral offerings, which were cared for by Mrs. Isabelle Bamford, Mrs. Pauline Olson, Mrs. Nellie Weir and Mrs. Ruth Goodenow.

Jim Thornton, as he was familiarly known to his wide circle of acquaintances, was nearly 90-years-old at the time of his death, about 70 years of which he lived in Colo and the surrounding community. He was active, thrifty and successful in his business operations of farming and the livestock business. He enjoyed a large acquaintance among the farmers and livestock men of this part of the state, being for many years one of the leading horse buyers of this section. His horse buying operations were throughout central Iowa and southern Minnesota and for many years he shipped a number of car-lots of horses each year to the Connecticut market. He continued almost to the time of his death handling cattle and hogs on his place adjoining Colo, and was up town daily until his injury in an auto accident recently and after his return from the hospital at Marshalltown, was visiting with his friends on Main street. Following a slight stroke he gradually grew weaker until his passing. His keen sense of humor and jovial disposition endeared him to every one with whom he came in contact. His full and active life leaves an imprint on the community which will be long remembered.

Obituary

The following obituary was read at the services:

James M. Thornton, son of John and Ann Thornton was born near Bloomington, Wis., July 15, 1859. He passed away at his home in Colo, May 26, 1949, at the age of 89 years and 10 months. When a young man, he came to Colo, making his home with his sister, the late Mrs. Margaret Reed. In Nov. 1884, he was united in marriage to Eve F. Lhommedieu, who preceded him in death on December 3, 1885. To this union was born one child, a daughter, Daisy E. Perry, who also preceded her father in death on May 5, 1928.

On Oct. 24, 1889, he was married to Emma Bales and since that time, with the exception of nine years spent on a farm near Zearing, they have lived nearly 60 years of their married life in Colo, enjoying many winters in California.

Mr. Thornton was an extensive land owner and farmer, and for many years bought and shipped horses to the Connecticut market. Because of his cheerful disposition and friendliness he made friend wherever he went.

Surviving

Two brothers and four sisters preceded him in death. Surviving are his wife, Emma; three grandchildren, Mrs. Pauline Koch of Colo, Mrs. Bernice Piper and Miss Eleanor Perry of Ames; four great grandchildren; one brother, William Thornton of Bloomington, Wis., and one sister, Mrs. Agnes Handy of Mason City, Iowa, besides nephews, nieces and other relatives, a host of many devoted friends.

Relatives and friends attended the services from Bloomington, Wisc., Bagley, Wisc., Postville, Minneapolis, Minn., Oklahoma City, Winnebago, Minn., Portland, Ore., Ontario, Calif., Bondurant, Newton, Des Moines, Chicago, Marshalltown, Iowa City, Nevada, Zearing and Ames.