California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


ROBERT C. THORN.  During the long period of his residence in Fresno county, covering thirty years or 
more, Mr. Thorn has been successful in the accumulation of landed estate. At this writing he is the 
owner of eight hundred and forty acres six and one-half miles northeast of Centerville, seven hundred 
acres also in the vicinity of Centerville, three town lots in Sanger, one hundred and sixty acres in 
Squaw valley, and one-half interest in thirty-two hundred acres of mountain ranch land. The 
ownership of these large tracts renders possible the pasturing of large herds of stock, and now he has 
one-half interest in five hundred head of cattle, in addition to other stock. While the raising of cattle is 
his principal business, he likewise gives attention to general farm pursuits and on his tillable land raises 
crops of such products as are adapted to the soil. 

In Jefferson county, Ind., Robert C. Thorn was born December 2, 1830, being a son of Alexander C. and 
Elizabeth (Taylor) Thorn, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and from 1818 until death 
residents of Indiana, where the father cultivated a farm and followed also the blacksmith's trade. The 
paternal grandfather, Joseph Thorn, was born in county Donegal in the north of Ireland, whence he 
came to America shortly before the outbreak of the first war with England. In that historic struggle he 
bore arms for his adopted country and later engaged in farming in Westmoreland county, Pa., but 
eventually joined his son in Indiana, where his closing days were passed. In a family of six sons and 
four daughters Robert C. Thorn was fourth in order of birth. After having gained a common school 
education he began to teach, which occupation he followed in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. 

When gold was discovered in Pike's Peak in 1859 Mr. Thorn started for the mines of Colorado in 
company with two companions, but he was deterred from carrying out his original purpose through 
meeting disappointed gold-seekers returning east. After considering the matter he decided to push 
through to the coast and accordingly proceeded with ox-teams across plains, rivers and mountains, in 
due time arriving in Mariposa county. For a number of years he remained in that section and followed 
mining and saw-milling, but in 1875 he became a resident of Fresno county, where he now owns a 
homestead thirteen miles east of Sanger. He has never married, but keeps bachelor's hall on his ranch. 
Political matters engage his attention to a certain degree and he keeps posted concerning national 
problems, but aside from voting a straight Republican ticket at all national elections he takes no part 
whatever in local politics.