JOHN SHERMAN THORNTON: Family Photo Circa 1915

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

On Sunday, August 3, 2008, the family of JOHN SHERMAN THORNTON [1865 - 1938] and REBECCA MARIA WILLIAMS THORNTON [1865 - 1937] will hold their annual reunion at noon in the Fellowship Hall of New Hope Church of Christ, Parham, Mississippi [note new location this year]. Bring a covered dish and join the family for this annual event.

One of my most treasured photographs is of the John S. Thornton family, a photograph made about 1915 in Monroe County, Mississippi. The picture is thought to have been made at the Thornton home at Weaver's Creek.

John and Rebecca Thornton married about 1883 when they were both about eighteen years old. In late 1902 or early 1903 they left northwest Alabama and migrated to the Indian Territory homesteading in or near the current county of Pittsburg, Oklahoma. Living first in a "soddy" the family stayed only few years in IT when they moved to Mississippi and bought farms at Weaver's Creek in Monroe County and near Caledonia, Lowndes County. Eventually they moved permanently to Weaver's Creek.

John and Rebecca are buried at New Hope Cemetery, Parham. The annual decoration/memorial day at New Hope Cemetery is also on August 3, 2008.

I have but two photographs of the John S. Thornton family --- and the one shown below hangs on my office wall. It is my favorite family history photograph.

Shown in the picture from left to right front row: John Sherman Thornton; Verbie "Dot" Thornton; Rebecca Marie Williams Thornton; and Bertie Westbrook (grand-daughter).

Back row: Garfus Sherman Thornton; Linus Westbrook held by Raymond Westbrook; Murlie Veora Thornton Westbrook; Clarinda "Clara" Thornton; Virgie Louise Thornton

It is framed in an antique metal holder without glass. The frame obscures many of the details in the photograph as you can see in the following.

Here is a close-up of the only picture I have of my father, Garfus Sherman Thornton, as a boy. Born in 1902, he would have been about thirteen years old when this picture was made. Notice the dog near his feet --- I haven't been able to learn the name of this feist dog.

At the far right obscured by the frame is another family pet --- another Feist dog. The toddler shown is probably Bertie Westbrook and the young girl is Virgie Louise Thornton.

Below is a close up of my grandparents, John and Rebecca. The child standing between them is youngest daughter, Verbie "Dot" Thornton.

The twelve children of JOHN SHERMAN THORNTON and REBECCA MARIA WILLIAMS THORNTON are

AMOS MONROE THORNTON, 1886 - 1950

NANCY JANE "Mittie" THORNTON GANT, 1888 - 1969

MAUDIE A. THORNTON, January 1890 - November 1890

MENDA THORNTON, October 1892 - July 1893

LILA A. THORNTON AUSBORN, 1895 - 1966

MURLIE VEORA THORNTON WESTBROOK, 1896 - 1972

CLARINDA "Clara" THORNTON GENTRY, 1899 - 1977

GARFUS SHERMAN THORNTON, 1902 - 1976

VIRGIE LOUISE THORNTON GILBERT, 1906 - 1990

VERBIE McCREE "Dot" THORNTON CHISM, 1910 - 1985

Infant Thornton twin, born February 1912

Infant Thornton twin, born February 1912

This photograph and article were submitted to Shades of the Departed's Fourth Edition of "Smile for the Camera," My Favorite Photograph.