 1916 - 2001 (84 years)
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| Name |
Bernard Dean Thornton |
| Born |
19 Aug 1916 |
Broome, Binghamton, New York  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
10 Mar 2001 |
Broome, Binghamton, New York |
| Person ID |
I45 |
Thornton |
| Last Modified |
8 Apr 2014 |
| Father |
Raymond Lewis Thornton, b. 13 Jul 1889, McDonough, Chenango, New York , d. 18 Mar 1965, Binghamton, Broome, New York (Age 75 years) |
| Mother |
Ada J Fish, b. 24 May 1889, Binghamton, New York , d. 8 Feb 1989, Binghamton, New York (Age 99 years) |
| Married |
29 Aug 1913 |
Broome, Binghamton, New York |
| Notes |
- 1920 US Federal Census: NY, Broome, Chenango, District 0067
Ray Thornton age 30, Pattern Maker, Valve Factory
Ada J age 30, Parents born in PA
Bernard age 3
Bernice age 1
- 1930 US Federal Census: NY, Broome, Chanango, District 54, Town of Chenango, Nimmonsburg Village
Ray Thornton age 40
Ada (wife) age 40
Bernard age 13
Bernice age 11
Myrl age 8
Winifred age 4
Loretta age 3
Donald age 1 yr 3 months
Fish, Julius age 64
Fish, Loretta age 64
- 1940 US Federal Census: NY, Broome, Conklin, 4-83B
Woodside Avenue
Ray Thornton age 50, Pattern Maker, Valve Factory, Highest grade: HS 1 yr
Ada J age 50
Bernard D age 23, Apprentice, Valve Factory
Bernice age 21
Winifred E age 14
L Joyce A age 13
Donald G age 11
Ada J age 7
Home Value: 500; Income: 1200
- Raymond had the mumps not long before his wedding to Ada. The doctor told him he would likely not have children.
- Bernard was born on Alfred Street, Binghamton. then the family moved to Seminary Ave.
Ada was born on Charlotte St. in Binghamton although the Fishs were from Standfordville, PA according to Jane.
The Thorntons moved to Nimonsburg. Bernard moved there first and lived in a tent while Ray built the house in the evenings and on weekends. All but Bernard were born at Nimonsburg.
Then they moved to Conklin to a farm just east of the Lawrence farm. Ray built a house there. The house later burned down (around 1953) while Jane was away at college. When that happened, the family moved into a trailer home on the same property and lived there for 4 years. Ray and Ada moved to Florida for 4 years then back to Binghamton for 5 years when they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Source: (Interview with daughter Jane in Feb 2014).
- Ray and Ada were married in Binghamton. they honeymooned in Stanford, PA, a trip that took all day by horse and buggy. (Source: Ada Jane Thornton)
- When Bernard and Ray cut down the black maple tree in Nimonsburg, the tree was so large that it became the largest inventory of black walnut wood in the northeast United States. Most of the wood was stored in a large barn that burned, along with the wood in it. Over the next 5 to 6 decades, Bernard and Ray produced fine furniture from what was salvaged from the fire.
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| Photos
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 | Photo of Ray and Ada Thornton Wedding
Photo of Ray and Ada Thornton Weeding |
 | 7 Thornton kids
1937 postcard showing the seven children of Ray and Ada Thornton |
 | Thornton Kids at Nimmonsburg home
Thornton kids sitting on black walnut tree cut down by Ray and Bernard. Left to right: Winnie, Bernice, Joyce, Myrl, Don, and Bernard standing in the back. |
 | Family Picnic
Nita in baby carriage, back row: Bernice, Ray, Ada front row: another cousin Bernice, Don, Winnie, Joyce and Ed Fish standing |
| Headstones |
 | Headstone Ray and Ada Thornton
Headstone for Ray and Ada Thornton |
| Family ID |
F9 |
Group Sheet |
| Family |
Marguerite Ruth Cornwall, b. 15 Apr 1919, Broome, Binghamton, New York , d. 16 Feb 2010, Broome, Binghamton, New York (Age 90 years) |
| Married |
11 Jun 1942 |
Binghamton, New York |
| Notes |
- Bernard and Marguerite Thornton were married at the First Christian Church, Binghamton. At the time the Thorntons were living very close to railroad tracks and Bernard had to wait for a long train before making it to the wedding on time. Their first home was an apartment on Beethoven Street.
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| Children |
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| Photos |
 | Newspaper Wedding Announcement
Newspaper description of wedding |
| Documents |
 | 50th Anniversary
Article from Binghamton Newspaper |
| Headstones |
 | Headstone for Bernard and Marguerite Thornton
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| Last Modified |
8 Apr 2014 |
| Family ID |
F11 |
Group Sheet |
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| Notes |
- Employment: Bernard worked nearly his entire adult life at the Fairbanks Valve Company in Binghamton, New York and he retired from there. For many years he operated the credit union for the company during his non-working time.
During times of strikes he took on other jobs, such as driving a taxi cab. He did independent free-lance work from designing and creating a wood headed golf driver to design and creation of outside molding around the roofs of large estate mansions around the Roberson Memorial.
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