The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-26
HERMIT COUSIN OF HARRISON.
wOulsln't Vote for Him for President and
Had Many Peculiaritaes.

INDIANAPoLIs, July 25.-The death OF
Willism Henry Harrison Thornton ot
Ellettsvlle. known for many years IN the
community as "the man OF mystery has
caused a persistent search for the causes
that led to the hermit life OF the old man,
hut the most energetic in the quest nave
been forced TO abandon it and confess
that the secret has been buried with him
Thornton was a grandson OF william
Henry Harrison, Governor Of Indiana
Territory and President of the United
States; cousin Of Benjamin Harrison
and also relative of Chief Justice Simms
and of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. He was born
in North Bend, Ohio, Feb. 81, 1880. He
went TO Ellct !svilc in 1872 and bought
farm OF lis acres. Paper money was the
only kind in circulation at the time, but
the newcomer surprised the seller ny pay
ing for the farm in gold. the purchase price
being $3.50, He bought some cheap fur
niture. and Al few days later an old chat"
and tnhle, which he said were orc, the
property OF his grandfat her, were hrough
TO his fam from the nearest railroad sta
stion. He seemed to prize these two piece
OF furniture above everything else
II soon became eviGen, to the people of
Ellettsville that the new resident had come
among them for the purpose Of losing him
self from the world. Neighbors passing
by and wishing to show friendly spirit
We're not encouraged, and gradually these
attempts 10 cultivate pleasant relations
with him ceased and he was left to himself.
But he was not without the means of
enjoyment in his home. He had hardly
settled in the place before the local post
master began TO talk about the amount OF
mail matter which came to his Address
and to wonder how he could read all the
magazines and newspapers for which he
subscribed. Twice each week he went to
Ellettsville, two miles from his farm, and
took home the accumulated mail. He
rarely received letter or wrote one, but
buried himself in his books and in the
periodicals and newspapers which he re-
ceiNed regularly year after year.
One of the peculiarities OF his life WAS
that while discouraging the visits of the
elder members Of his neighbors' families,
he WAS very fond Of children, and when
ever possible would have them at his home
to spend the day with him. On such oc-
casions he would busy himself in devisng
some means Of enjoyment for them. and
in his later years his house was regular
meeting place for the younger children Of
the neighborhood. He put up two swings
in his yard. laid off croquet ground and
had balls and bats for the Use Of his little
guests some OF whom would remain two
or three days at a time with him.
When Ben iamin Harrison was the nom-
nee of the Republicans for President in 1888
strong appeals were made to Mr.. Thornton
to go to the polls, but he positively refused,
ard did not vote even in that election.
He said TO his neighbors that he did not
want 10 take any part in the election, and
though he believed his cousin was good
man and that the country would be safe
under his rule he would not break his
pledge TO himself NOT to take any part in
politics.
MIR, Thornton was stingy with himself,
but liberal with other people. He rented
his land for a portion Of the crop each year,
and his terms were always more liberal
than those given by his neighbors, though
his land was more productive than much
of theirs and he could easily have secured
larger rental. On the other hand, he
was the worst dressed man in the county,
for hn bought the cheapest grade of clothing
and wore il till it was made up almost en-
tircly of patches.
To see him making his trips 10 the post
Office twice a week. one would suppose
that he was living in the most abiect pow
erty. but when the physician told him that
death was near at hand he pointed out
several places about his little cabin where
his money was secreted. Several hundred
dollars we're found and turned over TO his
sister Mrs Lewis Of Chicago.
When an inventory was taken of his effects
il was found that he had given a great
deal of time 20 the preparation of scrap
books, ard this appears to have been mania
with him. Several large ones were found
in his home, and they appeared to have
references to nearly all the principal events
in the history Of the world for the past
forty years,
One book was devoted to marriages.
births and other matters in connection
with the Harrison and Lee families.