Amos Thornton
Amos Thornton, coal dealer, Washington, was born in Union Township, this county, November 27, 1833. He is a son of Thomas and Mahala Thornton. His father was a native of Ohio, and his mother of Virginia. They had a family of eight sons, all of whom are living, except one.
Amos, our subject, was married January 5, 1857, to Miss Arty Allen, daughter of James and Elizabeth Allen, of this county. They are blessed with two sons, James A. and Charles L.
In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 1st Ohio Cavalry, and was in the battles of Gettysburg, second Bull Run, cavalry fight at Brandy Station, and many others. He was discharged May 4, 1865.
He is a member of Fayette Lodge No. 107, F. & A. M. Received his education in this county where the principal part of his youth has been passed. He went to California in 1852, and returned in 1856 with a good share of the yellow dust. He is now engaged in the sale of black diamonds, in Washington, or, in other words, is extensively engaged in the coal business.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County
From the pioneer period through many decades, Amos Thornton has been identified with the business and material interests of Fayette county and Washington C. H. and he has won for himself an honorable position in the circles in which he has moved. Not a pretentious or exalted life has been his, but one that has been true to itself and to which the biographer may revert with feelings of respect and satisfaction. He is recognized as a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the community along material, civic and moral lines, and for years he has been recognized as one of the representative men of his city and county.
Amos Thornton was born in Union township, Fayette county. Ohio, within three miles of the court house, on November 27. 1833. His parents were Thomas B. and Mahala (Harper) Thornton, who were born and reared in Virginia. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Amos, the subject of this sketch; James, of Oklahoma; John Anderson, deceased; William H.. of Washington C. H. ; Elon. living in Washington C. H.; Thomas, of near Gallatin, Tennessee; Austin, deceased, and Noah, of Union township. Thomas B. Thornton was a farmer and acquired the ownership of about six hundred acres of land in Union township, which he improved and developed into a valuable estate, and there he died in the ninetieth year of his age. His widow, who died at the age of eighty-six years, was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, and was a Baptist in her religious faith. Thomas B. Thornton was a man of good business judgment and unquestioned integrity and served his county efficiently as county commissioner. The subject's paternal grandfather came from Norfolk, Virginia, with his wife, and they settled near Columbus, Franklin county. Ohio, where he died. Eventually his widow came to Fayette county and married again, her second husband being Mr. Coyle. She died near Van Wert. To the first union were born two children, James and Thomas. The former possessed a roving disposition and he drifted away, his subsequent history being unknown. The subject's maternal grandparents were Jacob and Phoebe (Harmon) Harper, natives of Pendleton county, Virginia. They came to Fayette county in 1829, but subsequently moved to Missouri, where the wife died. Mr. Harper returned to Fayette county and his death occurred in Union township. To him and his wife were born the following children: Sabina, Mahala. Tana. Phoebe, Delilah, Simeon. Enos. Elon. Isaac. Jacob, Noah and John.
Amos Thornton was reared in Fayette county and this has been his home for more than eighty years. He lived on his father's farm until seventeen years old, and secured his education in the district schools. When seventeen years old he came to Washington C. H. and learned the trade of saddler and harness-maker, which vocation he followed for a few years. When nineteen years old he made the long, tiresome and dangerous trip across the western plains to California, lured by the wonderful tales of sudden wealth to be found there, the trip requiring five months after crossing the Missouri river, and ox teams being used for motive power. Mr. Thornton engaged in mining gold and passed through many strange and memorable experiences. In December. 1856. he returned to his Eastern home and resumed work at his trade, which he followed until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company A, First Regiment Ohio Cavalry. He served faithfully and courageonsly with this command until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge on May 31, 1865. Being in the cavalry branch of the army, he took part in many of the most important movements of the southern armies and had some severe engagements with the enemy. He served in Virginia until 1864, when he went to Nashville, Tennessee, and was assigned to the quartermaster's department and given charge of about seventy-five men who were detailed to make saddles for the army.
After his return home Mr. Thornton engaged in farming in Fayette county, applying himself closely to this vocation for fifteen years and meeting with pronounced success. He then moved to Washington C. H., and in 1881 he engaged in the coal business, with which he is still identified, being numbered among the enterprising and successful business men of his city.
On the 5th day of January, 1857, Mr. Thornton married Artie Allen, who was born in Union township, the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Van Gorder) Allen. To this union were born two sons, James Allen and Charles Lawson. James A. is a partner with his father in the coal business. He married Louisa Reichart. and they have two children, Robert A. and Frank. Charles L., who also is associated with his father and brother in the coal business, married Annie Bell and they are the parents of four children, Esyl, Eva, Amos and James. Mrs. Thornton's parents were natives of Pennsylvania, who became early settlers of Fayette county, Ohio. They came here with one child, and at that time were very poor, the trip being made on horseback. However, Mr. Allen was industrious and ambitious and eventually became quite well-to-do, accumulating about three thousand acres of land. He died here when about seventy-six years of age, being survived several years by his widow. Their children were as follows: Ellen, Allen, Benjamin, Joseph, Eber, Ann, Madison, Elmira, Rebecca, Mariby, Esther and Artie. Mrs. Thornton's paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Allen, was a native of Pennsylvania.
Politically, Mr. Thornton has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party, while, fraternally, he is a member of Fayette Lodge No. 107, Free and Accepted Masons, and to Hayes Post, Grand Armv of the Republic. Mrs. Thornton is a member of the Presbyterian church and is a lady of charming personality, who has long been numbered among the good old ladies of Fayette county.
Mr. Thornton's long and useful life as one of the world's workers has been one of devotion to whatever labor he has addressed himself, and well does he merit a place of honor in every history touching upon the lives and deeds of those who have given the best of their powers for the betterment of their kind.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)