One of Davenport's most distinguished and honored citizens was the late James Thorington. He was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, May 7, 1816. His father, John A. Thorington, was a Protestant Irishman , who, when quite young, fled from an oppressive apprenticeship in his native land and sought a home in this country, settling after the War of 1812 in Wilmington. Here he pursued the trade of ship-carpenter until he was about twenty years of age, when he married the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier who had lost his life in the struggle for independence. Some years later the family removed to the then Territory of Alabama, settling in Mobile, where Mr. Thorington pursued the business of master mechanic and contractor. He took the contract for building the first capitol of the State, at Cahaba, whither he removed with his family, and where he resided for many years. Here he devoted himself to the study and practice of the law, and built up a large and lucrative practice. In 1827 he located in Montgomery, and at once took first rank at the bar, a position which he sustained as long as he resided in the South.
James Thorington was educated at the military school at Fayetteville, North Carolina, for two years until the institution was destroyed by fire. This was in 1832. He then entered the Alabama University, where he remained till 1835, when he undertook the study of law in his father's office. About this time his father determined to remove to the Northwest and James preceded him in the fall of 1835 to St. Louis and took up his abode, the family following in the ensuing spring.
In 1837 young Thorington became enamored of life on the frontier and resolved to take a trip across the continent with the traders and trappers who annually started out from St. Louis across the plains to rendezvous at the head-waters of the Columbia and Missouri rivers. He was duly fitted out and left in the spring of 1837 with a company of hardy mountaineers on a trip which it was supposed at the time would not last more than a season, consisting of about twelve or fifteen months, but which was prolonged until the fall of 1839, a period of nearly two years. During this time he encountered all the dangers and hardships peculiar to the life of the mountain hunter of that period and became the companion of the famous Kit Carson, in whose thrilling adventures and hairbreadth escapes he participated while on a trip of six months beyond the Rockies.
On his return to civilized life and society Mr. Thorington brought as the fruits of his frontier experience a vigor of manhood and a power of endurance, with a self-will and self-reliance, which seryed him well in after life. Soon after his return he, with his father's family, removed to Davenport, Iowa. This was in 1839. Here his father's health failed to such a degree that a trip south was determined on, with the hope of at least partial restoration. Accordingly he and his father went on a trip to New Orleans in the fall of 1843, where the senior Thorington died the following year. The death of the father left James as the main dependence of the family. He entered actively into the practice of his profession, and, despite the large family dependent on him, prospered. He soon won a good position as a lawyer, and was repeatedly chosen to positions of trust and honor. He was elected Mayor of Davenport fourconsecutive years. He was Probate Judge of the County of Scott seven years, sheriff of Scott County six years, recorder four years, then again sheriff four more years and finally clerk of the District Court eight years. In 1855 he was nominated as candidate for Congress, his opponent being no less a personage than Hon. Stephen Hempstead, then Governor of the State. The contest that followed was a notable and exciting one . The Second Congressional District of Iowa, comprising the northern part of the State, was one of the largest in the Union. There were many important issues involved in this campaign, among them the old party issues of Whig and Democrat, the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, the slavery question, the temperance question, etc. Mr. Thorington was elected by a very handsome majority, and took his seat as a member of the Thirty-fourth Congress, in which he did effective work for his constituents, especially in connection with railroad legislation.
Senator James Harlan, one of his colleagues, while a member of the United States Senate, publicly declared in a speech in Davenport, long after Mr. Thorington had retired from Congress, that of all men who had anything to do with the passage of the Iowa Land Grant Bill, Mr. Thorington was of all others entitled to the credit.
He never sought a renomination to Congress, but retired for the time being to private life. He was sheriff of Scott County during the Civil War, and rendered every assistance in his power to aid the Union cause and in the support of President Lincoln and his administration.
He was appointed United States Consul to Aspinwall, United States of Colombia, in 1872, and entered on the duties of his post February 28, 1873. In the month of June following he had an important experience in connection with the Cuban question, growing out of the “ Virginius” affair.
The history of the “Virginius,” with the final disgraceful tragedy, and the international litigation and arbitration resulting therefrom, is familiar to all readers of history. At this time the “Virginius” had been accused of blockade running, but had not been proven guilty. She entered Navy bay, Aspinwall, flying the United States flag, June 21. June 22 the Spanish gunboat “Bazan” steamed into the harbor and anchored in line with her and the United States war vessel "Kansas." On the following day the commander of the “Kansas” received from the commander of the "Bazan" a communication requesting information as to whether the “ Virginius” was entitled to fly the United States flag, charging her with unlawful acts on the high seas, and demanding that the protection of our Government be consequently withdrawn. The matter was of course referred to Mr. Thorington as the official repre sentative of our Government. The correspondence that ensued was too lengthy to be given here; suffice it to say that protection and safe escort were given the “Virginius,” and the conclusion of the matter was thus referred to by a correspondent at the time. The “Kansas" on the second of July convoyed the “ Virginius” to the high seas, and the following day the “ Bazan” left this port. As the “ Virginius” steamed up, the “Bazan” brought her rear pivot gun to bear upon her; the “Kansas" moved up between the "Virginius” and the “Bazan.” The American man-of-war "Canandaigua” let roll a twenty-pound shot into her rear pivot gun, and brought the point to bear upon the "Bazan," and thus in position the “ Virginius, ” with the American flag flying from three prominent points, steamed out of the bay, the “ Kansas ” keeping her position and moving in line and the “ Canandaigua ” in position with her men at the gun. Silence reigned among the thousands of people who lined the shore and crowded the light-house to witness the scene. The “Virginius” and “Kansas " left the bay, and as they passed out by the residence of the United States Consul, the flags of the two ships were lowered three times to that official's flag, and the murmur went forth, “The Consul has protected the Stars and Stripes in Colombian waters,” and an hour afterward the “Virginius” was lost to view in the dim distance at sea and the "Kansas" returned to port.
Consul Thorington's conduct in the “Virginius” affair at Aspinwall was officially and warmly endorsed by the State Department at Washington and elicited most favorable comment from the press throughout the United States.
Mr. Thorington was attacked with isthmus fever and was compelled to return home during the summer to recuperate. He returned to his post in November recruited in health and altogether filled the position of Consul about eleven years. He was relieved from duty at Aspinwall in 1882, and returned to Davenport, where he lived in pleasant retirement up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1887, in Santa Fé, New Mexico, while he was on a visit to his daughter, then living in that city.
Mr. Thorington was the first Noble Grand of Davenport Lodge No. 7, Odd Fellows, instituted April 23, 1847; he was a Royal Arch Mason; he was a member of State Lodge No. 3, Ancient Order of United Workmen; he was also president of the Scott County Pioneer Settlers' Society, elected last winter.
Four daughters and a son survive one of the best of fathers: Mrs. George B. Pratt of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. F. B. Nash of Fargo; Mrs. George C. Preston of Denver; Mrs. W. M. Wadsworth of Davenport; Miss Jessie, who was with her father. The son is Dr. James Thorington, at Aspinwall. The other son, Lieutenant Ray Thorington, was a graduate of West Point. He died at Fort Keogh, Montana, about ten years ago.
BIOGRAPHIES