Recently UGA has microfilmed some of the remaining issues of our local paper, The Hartwell Sun, Hartwell, Georgia.  They are from about 1897-1907.  This makes our collection of newspaper from 1886 to present.  What a treasure and wealth of information for anyone.  Just browsing through I see so many places where articles have been cut out of the originals.  This really saddens me because that part is probably death notices and that part is gone forever.

The Savannah River Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) will have a program called "Spend the Night with the Dead" on Friday, November 13, 2009  from 6pm -10 pm. at the Hart County Library, Hartwell, Georgia. There will be time for research, help for beginners and use of the Library computers.  

You can visit our website:  www.srvgs.com

 One of the obsessions of genealogy for me is reading the old local newspapers.  The way I got started reading is I knew my great grandfather, Dr. Henry E. Thornton, was a doctor in Hart County, Georgia.  All I wanted to find at first was something in the newspaper showing he was a doctor here.  Well, I found it along with much more than I ever expected not just on him but with other members of the family.  With the little local community columns, I was able to put a time period on when and where he started his practice and his moves from a community to town. The time period that I really wanted to find in the late around 1898 to early 1900's are being prepared to be microfilmed right now.  That is the time period where he made and sold Easy-Teether Powders for children and I hope to find out more about that.

For anyone that hasn't seen any of these newspapers, they would have a column from the different communities.  Although some of it was just visiting family or neighbors, grandchildren visiting grandparents,  relatives coming  from out of town, or maybe the sickness of a family member.  It made me feel as if I got a glimpse of their life. They would also have reunions or just a birthday celebration in the papers and most often they would list everyone that came. 

 I encourage any one especially from a small town to just take the time to look through some of the local newspapers where their ancestors came from.  Lucky for me most of my great great and greats are from my hometown or a neighboring county.

Below is what I was able to put together on Dr. Henry Eugene Thornton just from our local newspaper, "The Hartwell Sun" and from a neighboring county newspaper, "The Elberton Star."

Henry E. Thornton taught school before going to medical school and in between going to school and while being a doctor. 

 He went to Southern Medical College, Atlanta, Georgia and graduated April 1894. 

 18 April 1894 - He married Sallie Ward.

 May 1894 - He started his practice in the Middleton community, Elbert County, Georgia. I saw this ad until Dec 1894.

 May 1895 - He was living in the Reed Creek community of Hart County, Georgia. 

March 1896 - He was still living in Reed Creek community. He has been kept busy with measles in that section and he also has a large farm. 

September 1896 - He was ordained as a deacon at Reed Creek Baptist Church. 

August and November 1900 - Ad shows he was living in Hartwell and had a practice there.

September 1902 - Article in the paper mentioned he had recently taken a course at the Polyclinic Institute in New York City.  He is going to build an office building on the north-east corner of the public square. 

February 1908 - Dr. H. E. Thornton, originator and proprietor of Dr. Thornton's Easy-Teether, sold and transferred the proprietorship and right to manufacture Easy-Teether to Messrs. J. H. Hodges and Thos. J. Cunningham. 

June 1909 - Dr. Thornton's mother-in-law, Mrs. G. M. Ward of Elbert County, was knocked unconscious by lightning. 

December 1909 - He has been confined to his bed with rheumatism for the past month.

February 1910 - He retired from his practice on account of ill health and ran for Treasurer of Hart County.  He lost but looks like he ran a good race. 

July 1910 - He raised a tomato that weighed 25 and ½ ounce. 

February 1911 - He sold his house on the square in Hartwell to Dr. B. C. Teasley.   He moved into the house vacated by Mr. George Teasley.

February 1911 - Dr. Thornton had some health issues but is feeling better.  He went to Atlanta to take a post-graduate course in medicine and surgery.

July 1911 - Ad says Chronic and Diseases of Children a Specialty.  His office is in the McMullan Building. 

September 1911- The family moved from town back to the Reed Creek community.

May 1913 - Dr. Thornton had a fractured rib.

July 1913 - Alston, [my grandfather] youngest son of Dr. Thornton was bitten by a snake.

March 1914 - Dr. H. E. Thornton lost his buggy and contents by fire. 

March 1914 - New telephone lines have been built.  Dr. Thornton's number is Old Reed Creek 33333.  The figure 3 means a short ring.

January 1915 - Dr. Thornton went to South Carolina on business.  He made the trip in his buggy driving his brother's fast horse.

Dr Thornton last shows up living in the Reed Creek community in 1916 and in 1920 shows him living back in his home community, Nuberg community, Elbert County, Georgia.

Dr. Henry Eugene Thornton was born 29 Jul 1869 in Elbert County, Georgia and died 7 Mar 1942.  He was a son of James William Thornton and Amanda Drucilla Jane Teasley.  He was a grandson of Fleming Payne Thornton and Harriet Adams and great grandson of Rev. Benjamin Thornton.  He married Sallie T. Ward 18 Apr 1894 in Elbert County.  Sallie was the daughter of George Monroe Ward and his 2^ndwife, Sara Elizabeth McMullan.