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George Thorpe. Sr. silent partner in the firm of Thorpe & Sons, is
numbered among the solid men of Woodford County, and one who has been
largely instrumental in bringing it to its present position as
representing a high degree of intelligence and
prosperity. A native of
Derbyshire, England, he was born March 3, 1819, and received careful
parental training and a good
education in the common school. He was at
an early age taught to make himself useful, and served a thorough
apprenticeship as a successful general mechanic becoming an expert in the
handling of tools This, with his habits of industry and frugality, laid
the foundation of his future success in life.
This branch of the
Thorpe family is of pure English stock, and the father of our subject was
William Thorpe, a Yorkshireman by birth, and the son of George Thorpe, who
followed the trade of a carpenter The latter when a young man made a trip
to America about 100 years ago, and spent one year in the city of
Philadelphia, Pa. He, however, was warmly attached to the old country, to
which he finally returned, and died there at the advanced age of
ninety-two years He married a lady of his own county, who, like her
husband, was of remarkably strong constitution and possessed of great
force of character She. too, lived to be ripe in years, and spent her
entire life in her native shire William Thorpe, the father of our subject,
likewise learned the carpenter's trade, and worked as a general mechanic
during his earlly manhood Later he became a contractor of considerable
importance When a young man he changed his residence to Giossop, in
Derbyshire, where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Boden This lady was the
daughter of a Derbyshire farmer.
James Boden by name, whose chief
characteristic was sturdy honesty and industry, by which he maintained his
family
comfortable, and was universally respected. William Thorpe after
his marriage sojourned in Giossop until a man of forty-twoyears, when he
was accidentally shot dead by the game-keeper of the Duke of Norfolk The
wife and mother after the melancholy death of her husband went to live
with her son. John Thorpe, in the city of Manchester, where she died, at
the age of seventy-five years.
In England the Thorpe family were
mostly Westeyan Methodists. To the parents of our subject there were bom
eight children, six of whom lived to mature years and were married George
was the first of the familry to set foot on American soil, he making the
journey in 1841, when twenty-two years old. He embarked from Liverpool on
the sailing vessel "Constantme", which landed him in New Orleans after a
voyage of six weeks and four days. From the Crescent City he made his way
to Peoria, this State, and began in earnest the struggle before him to
maintain existence and obtain something for the future. Being a stranger
in a strange place, he felt great need of companionship and of a home, and
in due time formed the acquaintance of Miss Eliza Morris, which resulted
in their marriage, Oct 16. 1842 Mrs Thorpe was born in Lancashire.
England. July 11. 1821, and is the daughter of James and Ann (Manock)
Morns, who were natives of the same county as their daughter, and were
descendants of an old family who had long been residents of that locality.
Differing somewhat from the Thorpes in their religiouos views, they were
strong adherents of the Episcopal Church James Morns and his wife, with
most of their chitodren, finally set out from their home in Haywood.
England, for Liverpool, and there took passage in the early part of
February, 1841, for the New World After a voyage of six weeks on a sailing
vessel, they landed in New York City, and thence came directly to Peoria.
Ill. The father secured a tract of land, and began farming, but died in
less than a year after his emigration, at the age of sixty-eight years.
The mother after coming to this country identified herself with the
Methodist Church. She died when sixty-nine years old.
The wife of
our subject, like her brothers and sisters was carefully reared and well
educated, and remained under the parentalroof until her marriage. Of her
union with our subject there were born seven children, three of whom,
James, Annie and Henry,are deceased. The latter was taken from the home
circle when a bright boy of twelve years, the others died in early
childhood Of the survivors, the record is as follows William married Miss
Addie Smith, and is connected with the hardware business at ElPaso. George
married Miss Annie Engle, and also belongs to the firm. Mary is the wife
of John Engle, and lives on a farm inPanola Township. Joseph Albert is
unmarried, and living with his parents. The parents and children all
belong to the MethodistChurch Our subject, upon becoming a naturalized
citizen, identified himself with the Republican party, to which he gives
hisunqualified support Mr Thorpe, upon coming to Peoria. May 20, 1841,
found a city of 1.100 inhabitants, and, as soon as possible, secured
employment at his trade of a carpenter. He soon began taking contracts,
and later, being a pattern-maker and a foundry workman, was employed for
some time in a machine shop at that place. He lived in Peoria County until
the year of 1869, and then changed his residence to Woodford County. In
the meantime he had also operated as a farmer for a period of ten years.
He is now the owner of 400 acres in Panola Township, and in Livingston
County adjoining, which he purchased in 1869, and where he made his home
until removing to El Paso in 1883. Since the latter date he has been
partially retired from active business, while he keeps a general oversight
of it, and gives to his sons the benefit of his experience. He owns
a good farm in Peoria County, and some good property in the city. He
also has property in Brimfield, Peoria County, and in Minonk, this
couonty. He has been a Director of the El Paso National Bank since
its organization.
Without question, Mr. Thorpe has been one of the
most successful men of his vicinity. The enforced industry and
frugality of his early years, although perhaps seeming severe at the time,
developed within him a self-reliance and strength of character which has
served him well later in life. The firm of Thorpe & Sons succeeded W.
A. Johonson in August, 1885, and have conducted the business with much
success. In addition to a full stock of hardware, tinware and
stoves, they deal in McCormick Reapers and Mowers, and receive a generous
patronage from the farmers around. Their correct business methods
and promptness in meeting their obligations have commended them to the
business men of El Paso and vicinity, as well as to the residents
generally. They occupy a neat and comfortable home in the
northeastern part of the city, where their cultivated tastes and ample
means have drawn around them all of the comforts and many of the luxuries
of life. |