William Patton Thornton
Encyclopedia
Dr. William Patton Thornton (February 6, 1817 in Hillsboro, Ohio
– October 10, 1883, in College Hill, Ohio), son of William and Martha Patton Thornton, was a prominent physician, educator, author, politician, and member of the influential Thornton family of Logansport, Indiana
. Sir Henry Worth Thornton and Judge William Wheeler Thornton
were his nephews.
, Indiana, William began his preparations for medicine at the Ohio College of Medicine; He graduated from Kemper’s Medical College, St. Louis, and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. After graduation, Dr. William P Thornton spent five years in Houston, Mississippi
, where he began to specialize in diseases of the trachea and larynx.
In 1847 Dr. Thornton returned to Ohio and established a thriving practice. In the late 1850s, he spent two years in Europe, studying the latest procedures in Paris
and Vienna
. Dr. Thornton was one the first Cincinnati doctors to undertake such a study. Upon his return, he began his long affiliation with the Cincinnati Hospital and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he was named chair of the Anatomy and Physiology Department. Dr. Thornton published academic papers on cholera and laryngology.
. He was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery
, Cincinnati, Ohio
, near his brother, Dr. Joseph L. Thornton, a prominent educator and past-President of the Ohio Valley Paper Company. William was a cousin of Samuel W. Thornton
, a member of the Nebraska Legislature of 1887, and Judge James Johnston Thornton of Seguin, Texas
.
Hillsboro, Ohio
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Highland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,605 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hillsboro is located at ....
– October 10, 1883, in College Hill, Ohio), son of William and Martha Patton Thornton, was a prominent physician, educator, author, politician, and member of the influential Thornton family of Logansport, Indiana
Logansport, Indiana
Logansport is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Indiana, United States. The population was 18,396 at the 2010 census. Logansport is located in northern Indiana, at the junction of the Wabash and Eel rivers, northeast of Lafayette.-History:...
. Sir Henry Worth Thornton and Judge William Wheeler Thornton
William Wheeler Thornton
William Wheeler Thornton was an Indiana lawyer, Attorney General, judge, and author. He was born in Logansport, Indiana, to John Allen and Elizabeth B. Thomas Thornton, members of respectable farming families...
were his nephews.
Education and career
After a brief study for the ministry (1837) at Wabash CollegeWabash College
Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Morehouse College, Wabash is one of only three remaining traditional all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.-History:Wabash College was founded...
, Indiana, William began his preparations for medicine at the Ohio College of Medicine; He graduated from Kemper’s Medical College, St. Louis, and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. After graduation, Dr. William P Thornton spent five years in Houston, Mississippi
Houston, Mississippi
Houston is a city in and one of two county seats of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 4,079 at the 2000 census. The land on which Houston, MS resides was donated to the city by Judge Joel Pinson on the condition that it would be named for Sam Houston, a childhood...
, where he began to specialize in diseases of the trachea and larynx.
In 1847 Dr. Thornton returned to Ohio and established a thriving practice. In the late 1850s, he spent two years in Europe, studying the latest procedures in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Dr. Thornton was one the first Cincinnati doctors to undertake such a study. Upon his return, he began his long affiliation with the Cincinnati Hospital and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he was named chair of the Anatomy and Physiology Department. Dr. Thornton published academic papers on cholera and laryngology.
1877-1883
After retiring from practice in 1877, Dr. W P Thornton served as mayor of College Hill, Ohio, until his death. Joseph F Tuttle, President of Wabash College, delivered the sermon at Dr. Thornton’s funeral. Thornton left a sizeable portion of his estate to Wabash College to endow a professorship.Family
In 1841 William Thornton married Electa Bacon in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery
Spring Grove Cemetery
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is a nonprofit garden cemetery and arboretum located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the second largest cemetery in the United States and is recognized as a U.S. National Historic Landmark....
, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, near his brother, Dr. Joseph L. Thornton, a prominent educator and past-President of the Ohio Valley Paper Company. William was a cousin of Samuel W. Thornton
Samuel W. Thornton
Samuel W. Thornton was a prominent farmer, businessman, soldier, and politician. He was elected to serve one term in the Nebraska State Legislature , representing Buffalo County....
, a member of the Nebraska Legislature of 1887, and Judge James Johnston Thornton of Seguin, Texas
Seguin, Texas
Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
.