THORNTON WILLIAMS was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1826, and is the elder of the two children living born to Thornton and Harriet Williams. Thornton Williams, Sr., was an officer in the war of 1812, and at one time was an extensive land-holder in Pennsylvania, but lost the greater portion of his property by going surety for his friends. At the age of five years, Thornton Williams, our subject, lost his father, and at the age of seven was compelled to seek his own living. Until sixteen, he worked at whatever he could do-chiefly teaming,. He then learned carpentering, and for fifteen -or sixteen years followed the trade in Pennsylvania, Ohio and this State. In 1848, he moved from La Fayette to this county and farmed on shares in Big Creek Township for several years. Near the close of the war, he bought a farm in this township, but five years later lost it through the ravages of the cattle plague ; he then moved to Reynolds, and soon afterward engaged in hunting and trapping in connection with farming and grain shipping. In December, 1881, he moved upon his present farm in Section 34, which had been left to his wife by her father. He was married, January 13, 1849, to Mary E., Rinker, a native of Virginia, and daughter of Joshua and Louisa (Reece) Rinker. To this marriage were born ten children, seven of whom are still living. Mrs. Williams died August 20, 1872, a devoted and consistent member of, the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which church Mr. Williams is also a member, and has been for over thirty years.

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