California Biographies

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


WILLIAM THORNTON. This well-known rancher, now practically a retired resident of 
Merced county, Cal., was born in county Kerry, Ireland, November 15, 1840, and is a son of 
John Thornton, a prosperous farmer of that country. Reared on his father's farm and edu- 
cated in the land of his nativity, Mr. Thornton, at the age of twenty-four, in 1864, left Ireland 
for a home in the United States, and upon his arrival came direct to California and took up 
his residence in Napa county. Cal., where he worked five years on a ranch as hired man, and 
having been economical, he accumulated some capital. With this, in 1868 he purchased two 
hundred and thirteen acres of land in Merced county, a part of the place upon which he now 
resides. By additional purchases from time to time he has acquired a farm of seven hundred 
and forty-two acres. 

The intervening years of Mr. Thornton's life have been spent in the active cultivation of the 
soil, raising grain and stock. His ranch is located four miles southwest of Merced. In 1904 
his land was divided as follows, this being an average, three hundred and fifty acres in barley, 
sixty-five in wheat, six in alfalfa and the rest in pasture; having also one hundred and ten 
head of high-grade cattle, a small number being choice dairy cows, and forty head of sheep. 
Although he is in poor health, he manages the work on his farm. He wedded Julia Whalen, 
also a native of county Kerry, Ireland, and they have eight children, as follows : Patrick, Mary, 
Maggie, John, Anna, Rose, William and Joseph. In politics Mr. Thornton is a conscientious Dem- 
ocrat and votes to uphold the principles of that party with the convictions of a man who believes 
he is right and dares to maintain his position. He is a member of the Catholic Church.