Martin Thorpe,
was born in Drax, Yorkshire, England, Nov. 23,
1814, to William and Ann Petty Thorpe. He was
left alone when quite young due to the
untimely death of his parents. At the age of
14, he embarked for America in company with
Adam Allinson, where they became residents of
Morgan County, having located west of
Jacksonville. Martin remained with Mr.
Allinson until he became of age, in
consideration of the amount of his passage
money and a horse, saddle, and bridle; then
hired to Mr. Allinson two years -- first year,
$10 per month; second year, $12 1/2 per month.
In February,
1843, he was united in marriage to Hannah
Hembrough. Prior to her death in 1845 she gave
birth to a child, William H., born July 3,
1844, who later became a resident in
Missouri.
Subsequent
to this marriage, he rented for two years of Mr.
Allinson, then moved to Apple Creek Prairie,
near White Hall, where he expected to stay for
good, but after contracting for some land, the
trade not being consummated, he then, in 1846,
settled on the place he now owns in Sec. 23 of
Rockbridge Township.
After his location, he
first bought 120 acres, and began work with a
right good will. He added to it until he
held 600 acres of choice land; also 440 acres in
Cass County, Missouri. He was a farmer and
stock-raiser, was engaged in stock-trading during
his latter years, and in this capacity was of much
service to the county.
1) James Hardin, born
July 9, 1848, m. Mary V. Bowman;
This is a family
cemetery located in Linder Twp.,
Greene Co., on land
registered to the Bauer family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2) Benjamin F.,
born April 30, 1850, m. Lydia Henderson;
Ben
Thorpe, son of Martin Thorpe, Greenfield, married
Lydia Henderson, May 31, 1873. He purchased the
Cato interest in Secor and Cato’s grocery of
Greenfield on March 13, 1875. The Whitehall
Register also states that on December 22, 1877,
Ben Thorpe returned from Kansas where he had
opened a claim.
Four children were born to
this union, but in Ben’s absence, were raised by
Lydia alone. No account of his adult life has been
passed down to the family.
1) Eliza
Willia, m. Jesse Blackburn Thornton;
2) Effe
Henderson Thorpe
3) Edwin
Lemin, m. Grace Naomi Wheeler
4) Frank
Robinson Thorpe
Lydia is
interred with the two unmarried children at
Greenfield, Greene Co. IL.
Oakwood Cemetery
Lydia
with son, Frank R., and daughter, Effe H.
Thorpe
3) Mary A., born February, 1852; m. James Greaves;
4) Sarah Allinson, born Oct. 1854, m. G B Metcalf;
5) Maria Otis, born Feb.
10, 1856, m. Ebert K. Metcalf.
A notice in the
Carrollton Patriot states: “Ebert K. Metcalf and
Miss Otis Thorpe, daughter of Martin Thorpe
married October 7, 1880, at the bride’s home south
of Greenfield”.
Home built by Martin Thorpe,
date unknown.
Current
(April 2015) owner /residents - Jim and Wilma
Davis
As published in a
Directory of Rockbridge Township, testimonies to
the life of Martin Thorpe include the following:
“he was highly respected for his commercial
honesty”, “his word was as valid as his note” and,
“he was prominent among the residents of the
township who are self made and industrious”.
Thorpe, died at Greenfield April 17, 1893, at the age of 52.
Descendants of
Martin Thorpe and L. N. Bibb living in Greene County
as of 1 Jan 2015:
Allison
Leigh - d/o Sam III and Tracy Thornton;
Annabeth
Catherine - d/o Joe and Melanie Plogger
Thornton;
Brooke
Elizabeth - d/o Josh and Sara Chapman Thornton;
Lydia
Suzanne and Isabelle Grace -
d's/o John and Susan Thornton Lansaw.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Compiled with
assistance and research of Betty Silvey, David
Vander Plaats & others.