    WILLIAM A. GUTHRIE was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, May 13, 1851. He grew up on a farm and attended school at College Hill and Moore's Hill. On October 28, 1875 he married Miss Sarah Lewis, daughter of Dr. George Brown Lewis, at Dupont, Indiana.
    In politics he is a Republican. In 1888 he was elected to the State Senate from Jefferson, Ripley and Switzerland Counties, being one of the ablest members of that body during sessions of 1889 and 1901. A distinction that will long attach to his anme was the credit for introducing and bring about the passage of the first and present food law, and both measures were written by the eminent Dr. Wiley. Mr. Guthrie was delegate to the Republican National Convention from his home district in 1908, and in 1916 was presidential elector. He was appointed by Governor Goodrich [Goodrich served from 1917 - 1921] as a member of the state forestry commission.
    Governor Goodrich also appointed him to Food Production and Conservation committee. From: INDIANA BIOGRAPHIES-Volume III page 494

The INDIANA HISTORY BULLETIN march 1966 states: The Guthrie Trail Marker is erected at Walnut and State Streets, in North Vernon, Jennings County. It was erected by the Chamber of Commerce in 1921.

From the NORRIS scrapbook: At the Jennnings County Public Library

"North Vernon, Indiana--The North Vernon Chamber of Commerce has completed the placing of three markers along the north and south highway. One marker was placed at North Madison, one in this city and one at Columbus, Indiana.
The markers rest on a cement base, are of stone, and weigh three tons each. They were obtained on the N. E. Smith farm in Bigger Township and were supposed to have been formed during the glacial period. Shortly after the north and south highway from Madison to Columbus had been designated by the state highway commission, the Chamber of Commerce by resolution asked that body to name the route the "GUTHRIE Trail" in honor of William A. Guthrie, of Indianapolis and Dupont, a member of the state board of conservation, and who worked in conjunction with Madison, North Vernon and Columbus citizens in obtaining the highway. The board finally consented and the markers, paid for by the Chamber of Commerce were the result. From an old newspaper clipping.

Jefferson County Files about the Guthrie Family

WILLIAM A. GUTHRIE
    William A. Guthrie, whose home is Dupont, Indiana, but whose prominent business and civic interests require much of his time at Indianapolis, has been more than a representative Indianan for many years and is a worthy descendant of a long line of patriotic and substantial ancestry. The Guthries have resided in the United States for many generations and have taken high rank in education, industry, material wealth and citizenship.
    The original home of this family was in Scotland. Thomas Guthrie, of Scotland, was one of the more noted of the name. He founded the famous "Raggedy Schools of Edinburgh, and was widely known as a scholar, orator and philanthropist. Lord Charles Guthrie, present owner of the Robert Louis Stevenson home at Edinburgh and a of the Thomas Guthrie just mentioned, is probably the most widely known member of the family in Europe.
    The Ameericans of the name are probably all descended from William Guthrie. He was a planter and slave owner in South Carolina, being one of the first settlers in the Waxhaw district. One of his descendants was James Guthrie of Louisville, Kentucky, who served his state in the United States Senate and was also a cabinet officer. Another direct descendant of William Guthrie of South Carolina was James Guthrie, who served the colonies in the Revolutionary war. He married Jane Carnes, daughter of Alexander Carnes.
    William Brown Guthrie, son of James and Jane (Carnes) Guthrie, was born in South Carolina and moved to Kentucky during the time of Daniel Boone. He there married Polly Crawford, daughter of James and Rebecca (Anderson) Crawford. The Andersons were also from Scotland, but on coming to America settled in old Augusta county, Virginia, where their names occur frequently among the old records and deeds. Rev. James Anderson, a Presbyterian minister, was the projenitor of the family in America. He too served in the Revolution.
    William Brown Guthrie had an interesting career. While serving the colonies in their second struggle with Great Britain, his wife, then living in Jefferson county, Indiana, was compelled to flee from home to escape an Indian raid. She carried one small child in her arms and led another by the hand, and after many miles of travel finally reached the safety of the blockhouse. William Brown Guthrie died and is buried at Hanover, Indiana.
    Anderson Crawford Guthrie is next in direct line. He was the child carried in arms by his mother to escape the Indians. He was born April 22, 1811, in Jefferson county, Indiana. A farmer by occupation. He also taught school, and while in that occupation met and married Anne Wilson. She was born in Nottingham, England, in 1815, and came with her parents, Captain Samuel and Anne (Orme) Wilson, to the United States in 1820. Captain Wilson was trained to arms in England, and because of that experience drilled a company of Americans and was thus invariably called Captain.
    Anderson Crawford Guthrie was a man of superior mental attainments. Politically he was identivied with the republican party from the time of its organization, and was a man of highest esteem. He died in 1866, his widow surviving him until 1901. They had six children: Mary Ann, Elzabeth Jane, Sarah Lucinda, Samuel Wilson, who was a soldier in the Civil war, Ruhamah, and William Anderson.
    William Anderson Guthrie, whose ancestry has thus been briefly traced, was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, May 13, 1851. He grew up on a farm and has always kept in touch with the agricultural interests in the southern section of the state. He attended schools at College Hill and Moore's Hill, On October, 28, 1874, he married Miss Sarah Lewis, daughter of Dr. George Brown Lewis, at Dupont, Indiana.
    Despite his large business interests, centered at Indianapolis, William A. Guthrie still maintains his home at Dupont, in Jefferson county. In politics he is a republican. In 1898 he was elected to the State Senate from Jefferson, Ripley and Switzerland counties, being one of the ablest members of that body during the sessions of 1899 and 1901. A distinction that will long attach to his name was the credit for introducing and bringing about the passage of the first and present pure food law. This law corresponds in all important essentials to the National food law, and both measures were written by the eminent Dr. Harvey Wiley. Mr. Guthrie was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from his home district in 1908 and in 1916 was a presidential elector. He was appointed by Governor Ralston and reappointed by Governor Goodrich, a member of the state forestry commission and has been its President all the time since a member.
    Governor Goodrich appointed him on the Food Production and Conservation Committee. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and a member of the Columbia Club of Indianapolis.
    Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie are the parents of two children, Dr. George Lewis Guthrie and Lucy Anne Guthrie. Dr. George L. Guthrie is a graduate of the Indiana Medical College, was the thrid vice president of the Indiana State Medical Association, and now hold a Majors Commission in the United States Medical Reserve Corps. On his return from the war zone in France, he was assigned Post Surgeon at Fort Ethan-Allen, Vermont. He married Jessie Femont Bowman, a graduate of Shortridge High School and before her marriage a teacher in the Indianapolis schools. Dr. and Mrs. Guthrie have one son, William Bowman Guthrie. Lucy Ann Guthrie is a graduate of the Shortridge High School and of Franklin College, received her musical education Cincinnati College of Music and New York. She married Dr. E. W. Cracraft, and their three children are named Lucy Anne, Jane Willis and Richard Guthrie. Dr. Crecraft is a graduate of Franklin College and Columbia University, attaining his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the latter institution. He is now a lecturer on international law and politics in New York University.
    Among the prominent Indiana women of the present generation Mrs. William A. Guthrie is widely known. She is the Indiana State Regent of the Daughters of the Union, is state Secretary of the Indiana Daughters of the War of 1812, and is honorary state regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution having served State Regent three years and is now one of the Vice President Generals National Society, D.A.R.

Madison Courier - May 15, 1948

The life of the late Senator William A. Guthrie was the subject of a prize winning paper submitted by Lois Ann Rodert, a junior in Dupont high school, who was a successful competitor in a recent essay contest arranged by the Jefferson County Historical Society. Her paper follows.

WILLIAM A. GUTHRIE

    William A. Guthrie was born May 13, 1851, on the farm where Howard Hinds now lives at Dupont. He was the son of Anderson and Ann Guthrie of Scotch ancestry. He attended College Hill at Lancaster and Moores Hill college, the latter now Evansville college.
    In 1875 he was married to Miss Sarah Lewis, descendant of and old Jefferson county family. They then moved to Dupont. Two children were born to this union. Dr. George Guthrie, who preceded him in death, and Lucy Crecraft, wife of Dr. Earl Crecraft of Kent Ohio.
    Mr. Guthrie was a farmer and timber man. He bought tracts of timber all over the county and was very successful in this line. He was also interested in other lines of business. Mr. Guthrie was also a shrewd business man. He was a devoted husband and father. He also built a modern home in Dupont to please his wife. It was a place for their children and grand-children to come for 13 years.
    This couple made two trips abroad, to England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Italy. While on their third trip to Cairo, Egypt, in 1925, Mrs. Guthrie died.
    Mr. Guthrie had been prominent in Indiana Republican politics and was widely known for his work in the State Conservation Commission. He was appointed to the commission in 1919, and during his seven years tenure, McCormick's Creek, Turkey Run, Clifty Falls, and the first of the Dunes State Parks were added to the state's holdings.
    The "Guthrie Trail" leading from Madison around under Hanging Rock through Dupont and northward to Indianapolis is named for him in honor of his work in improving highways. When he reached his eighty-fifth birthday a plaque was placed at the entrance to Clifty Falls Park, commemorating his service. Mr. Guthrie likewise sponsored restorations of the old Lanier home in Madison.
    Mr. Guthrie, associated with a small group of state senators, effected the first election of the late Albert J. Beverage as United States senator. At one time he was township trustee. Then he was sent to the legislature twice. He was then elected joint-senator from this county. While he was in the legislature he was instrumental in getting money to help restore the Lanier home.
    His service with the republican party included being a delegate to the 1908 national convention. In 1916 and 1928 he was presidential elector. He was then sent to Washington, D. C. and British Columbia and Canada to get information for Governor Goodrich. Mr. Guthrie was vice-president of food production in the state during the first world war, and subsequently he became vice-president of the Indiana Deep Waterway Commission.
    Much of the time he lived at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis, but many of his interests lay in Lancaster township and Jefferson County. He was vice-president of the Belt Railroad and Stockyards company; vice-president of the Fletcher Avenue Savings and Loan association; vice-president of the Guthrie-Thompson, contractors, the Federal Timber company and the Florida company. He was president of the Freehold company and a director of the Union Land and Timber company and of the National Branch Bank in Madison.
    Held held membership in the Academy of Science, the Rotary club of Madison, the Nature Study club of Indiana, the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, the Audubon Society, the Pioneer Society of Indiana, the Jefferson County Historical Society, and the Dupont Baptist church to which he was a generous contributor. He financed half of the funds for the first parsonage.
    Mr. Guthrie was a type of Hoosier of whom the township and county is proud-solid, genuine, and of strong character. He died August 5. 1936.
By Lois Anne Rodert, Dupont High School,
Dupont, Indiana,
Grade 11.

The Madison Courier - August 6, 1936

Senator W. A. Guthrie Dies at Dupont Home
    Hon. William Anderson Guthrie, 85, former state senator and former member of the state conservation commission, died last night at 10:30 o'clock at his home in Dupont.
    Death was attributed to a hemorrhage following pneumonia from which he had suffered for the last few days. He had been in failing health for a month or more.
    Senator Guthrie was born at Five Points in Jefferson county, May 13, 1851. He grew up on a farm and had always kept in touch with the agricultural interests in this section of the state. He attended school at College Hill and Moore's Hill. On October 28, 1875, he married Miss Sarah Lewis, daughter of Dr. George Brown Lewis, at Dupont.
    Despite his large business interests, centered at Indianapolis, Senator Guthrie maintained his home at Dupont. In politics he was a republican. In 1898 he was elected to the state senate from Jefferson, Ripley and Switzerland counties, being one of the ablest members of that body during the sessions of 1899 and 1901. A distinction that will long attach to his name was the credit for introducing and bringing about the passage of the first and present pure food law.
    This law corresponds in all important essentials to the national pure food law, and both measures were written by the eminent Dr. Harvey Wiley. Senator Guthrie was delegate to the republican national convention from his home district in 1908 and 1916 was residential elector.
    He was appointed by Gov. Ralston and reappointed by Gov. Goodrich a member of the state forestry commission, and had been its president for many years.
    Gov. Goodrich appointed him on the food committee. He was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Noble of Mystic Shrine and a member of the Columbia Club of Indianapolis. He was also a member of the Madison Rotary club and of the Baptist church, Masons and Odd Fellows lodges at Dupont.
    One of the most recent incidents in which the interest of Jefferson county residents was focused on Senator Guthrie's prominence, was on his last birthday, May 13 of this year, when a tablet was erected at the entrance to Clifty Falls state park, the entrance having been dedicated in his honor in recognition of his services in obtaining the land for Clifty Falls state park. Gov. McNutt and members of the state conservation commission, of which Senator Guthrie was formerly a member, took part in the dedication.
    Senator Guthrie, whose prominent business and civic interests required much of his time in Indianapolis, had been more that a representative Indianian for many years and was a worthy descendant of a long line of patriotic and substantial ancestry. The Guthries have resided in the United States for many generations and have taken high rank in education, industry, material wealth and citizenship.
    The original home of his family was in Scotland. Thomas Guthrie, of Scotland was one of the more noted of the name. He founded the famous "Raggedy Schools" of Edinburgh and was widely known as a scholar, orator and philanthropist. Lord Charles Guthrie, present owner of the Robert Lewis Stevenson home at Edinburgh and a son of Thomas Guthrie just mentioned, is probably the most widely known member of the family in Europe.
    The Americans of the name probably all descended from William Guthrie. He was a planter and slave owner in South Carolina, being one of the first settlers in the Waxhow district. One of the descendants was James Guthrie of Louisville who served his state in the United States senate and was also a cabinet officer. Another direct descendant of the William Guthrie of South Caroline, who served the colonies in the Revolutionary War.
    William Brown Guthrie, son of James and Jane Guthrie, also served in the Revolution. Another member of the family was Anderson Crawford Guthrie, a man of superior mental attainments. Politically he was identified with the republican party from the time of its organization, and was a man of highest esteem.
    Senator William A. Guthrie's position in Indiana placed him among the most prominent statesmen in the state. He was born in moderate circumstances but while still a young man he had become exceptionally successful financially.
    He dealt in railroad ties, having furnished them and sold to railroads companies for many years. He was instrumental in organizing the Madison Safe Deposit & Trust company and for many years he served as a director of the Trust company and the National Branch bank. He held many interests. in Madison and on numerous occasions he assisted this city in obtaining civic enterprises. For many years he met regularly with the Madison Rotary club.
    On October 28, 1875, he married Miss Sarah Lewis, daughter of Dr. George Brown Lewis, of Dupont. She died in 1927, in Cairo, Egypt, while she and her husband were on a Mediterranean cruise. She was returned to Dupont for burial. They were the parents of two children, Dr. George Lewis Guthrie and Mrs. Lucy Ann Guthrie Crecraft, wife of Dr. Earl W. Crecraft, professor of govenment at the University of Akron, at Akron,O., where the family has resided for 17 years.
    The late George Guthrie died in 1931 at Columbus on his way home from Indianapolis. He was a graduate of Indiana Medical college, was third vice president of the Indiana State medical association and held a major's commission in the United States medical reserve corps. He married Jennie Freemont Bowman, a graduate of Shortridge high school who before her marriage was a teacher in the Indianapolis schools.
    Senator Guthrie is survived by five grandchildren. William B. Guthrie, son of the late Dr. George Guthrie, who operates the hotel at Turkey Run state park, and Jane Willis, Richard Guthrie, William A. and Susan Crecraft, of Akron, O. Surviving also are two great grandchildren. Jessie and George, children of William B. Guthrie.
    Funeral services will be conducted at the Guthrie residence Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock by Dr. P. L. Powell, dean of Franklin college, who will be assisted by Rev. D. P. Rowlett, of Dupont. Interment will be in the Dupont cemetery.