The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-05-21
MR. TH0RNE|S DEAD
POPULAR CLERK OF COURT Sue
CUMBED SUNDAY MORNING.
Death Was Not Unexpected as He Had
Been Ill for Weeks and His Condi-
tion Grew Worse and Worse; Ha.
Not Enjoyed the Best of Health
for Year and More; Held
Office Many Years.
From Mondays Daily.


court, died rather suddenly at SAC
o'clock Sunday morning, of valvulai
disease of the heart, known technically
as aortic incompetency. For four OIL
five years he had been afflicted with
chronic eczema, and with rheumatism
and the past year had both very badly
and last year was obliged to 60 to a
watering place for treatment. Eleven
weeks ago his condition became SO
much worse that he was removed to
st. Josephs hospital, where he re-
manned ever since. His eczema became
nearly cured, and he was able to sit
out of doors, but about week ago he
began to fail. Saturday he was taken
with oedema of the lungs His tenn
perature was normal in the morning,
but by noon it mad assembled to los,
and by $50 p. III. he had lapsed into
Inconsistencies, from which he did not
recover. His end was painless and
peaceful.
Death Not Unexpected.
Mr.. Thorne's death was in no sense
of the word unexpected, although the
end came rather suddenly, as the at
tending physician had expected that it
would. The public was prepared for
the outcome, by bulletins previously is
sued, yet the ending of his life caused
such general sadness as to almost
amount to shock. Mr. Thorne was so
generally known and we'll liked that it
seemed to all like the taking off of
some near friend or relative.
Mr.. Thorne was born Feb. 2S. lS45.
at Danbury. Conn.,, and was son of
William and Deborah DEAN Thorne.
He was from French ancestry, and part
of his family were Quakers. He was
educated in select school and acad-
envy and at Schenck's and Hunting
toms boarding schools at Danbmy,
Conn. At the age of fourteen years
he moved with his parents to West
chester county, New York, and com
pleted his education at Pecks institute,
at New Castle, n. Y.
His education completed, young Thorne
was employed in clerking and book
keeping for time. From 1851 until
the close of the Civil war he was
engaged as recruiting officer. Then
he followed civil engineering until
1874, at which time he went to the
Pacific coast. He travelled extensively
part of the country, and acquired a
great fund of information
Located Near Lake Crystal
In 1878, Mr. Thorne located near
Lake Crystal, purchasing farm, and
later engaged in the saloon business,
which he followed until the big fire
there wiped out his building. with other
business places. In 1886, Mr.. Thorne
was elected clerk of the district court,
and held the office ever since, this be-
ing his twenty second year in the po-
sltion. He filled the office with great
efficiency and to the satisfaction of all
having business with the office.
Mr. Ihorne was united in mar
riage to Miss Frances f. Purcell in
New York state about thirty -fve years
ago She was an invalid during the
latter part of her life but Mr.. Thorne
found time to give her faithful and de-
voted attention. She was sister
of John Stevenson of Lake CRYSTAL.
She died four years ago last April |.
No children were born to the couple.
but Mrs. Thorne's niece, Julia Steven
son, had made her home with them
ever since she was three years old. and
was almost a daughter to them After
Mrs. Thorne's death, she kept house
for Mr.. Thorne at the latter's home.
which he maintained at Lake CRYSTAL.
and where he spent every Sunday un-
til his health failed
Mr.. Thorne's only relative surviving
is sister, Mrs. Katherine Wixon. who
lives at Danbury, Conn.,. and who is
seventy years of age. George A. Tate
OF Balaton was related to Mr.. Thorne
by marriage, his wife and Mrs. Thorne
being cousins
Was Mayor of Lake Crystal.
Mr.. Ihorne served as mayor of Lake
Crystal at one time. He was Mason
and Knight Templar; knight of
Pythias, an Elk, an Eagle and
member of the A. O. U. w. lodge. and
carried $1,000 of life insurance in the
latter
Mr., Ihorne was kind and consid.
crate husband, good friend and neigh
Dor, and pleasant gentleman to meet
His popularity was shown by his re-
Feated reflections to the county office
which he held so long that few remem-
Der when there was any other incum.
bent.
Remains Lie in State.
The remains will lie i'm state at John
Klein Co.'S undertaking rooms from ten
to twelve o'clock tomorrow forenoon.
when friends wishing to view them
may do so. They will be taken to
Lake Crystal on the noon train, and
funeral services will be held at the
residence at 80 o'clock in the after
noon. Rev. w. S. Emery of Amboy
will conduct the services. The pail
bearers have been selected from among
the county officers, and will be Audi
tor Ed. Weaver, Treasurer T. w. Hart,
Register of Deeds j. G.. Fowler, Pro
bate Judge w. F. Hughes, Sheriff J.
w. Donahue and County Superintendent
0. o. Ulvin.