Dr. Thornhill came to Austin in 1869 and remained until the time of his death in 1879.
He was by nature a keen man, possessing much ability, but he was his own worst enemy, for he allowed strong drink to ruin his manhood and hasten him to the grave.
The following obituary notice, which was written by Mrs. Ellen Fairbanks, who was a student under him, and at whose house he made it her home, appeared in the Register of March 13, 1879;
"Dr. Samuel Payne Thornhill, whose remains we have so recently buried amid the evergreens of our beautiful cemetery of Oakwood, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia March 21, 1821. Left an orphan when a very small child, he was cared for by relatives a few years, and quite early in life thrown upon his own resources for his support and education. He studied his profession in West Carlisle, Ohio; commenced there with his preceptor and married there. His three children from that marriage were all well known to the people of Austin.
While his children were quite young, he removed to Horicon, Wisconsin and from there to Watertown. There he married again. Two children were the fruit of this marriage. From Watertown he went to Janesville, in 1848, and became a partner of Dr. Treat, afterward quite an eminent physician of Chicago. In 1855 he removed to Hudson, Wisconsin and there practiced seven years.
When the Rebellion broke out; he was made Regimental Surgeon of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers-the eagle regiment, under Col. Murphy. In 1862 he was promoted to brigade surgeon. He came to Austin in the winter of 1869-70. Since that time he has been known to you, as an energetic, untiring, skillful physician, loved and honored by those who knew him best. If he had faults he also had virtues. To his friends he was generous, kind, and true. A tender father to his children, and second to none in his professional acquirements. His loss to us is a public calamity. He died quite suddenly, having walked home from the other side of the river about two o'clock. Between four and five, was taken with hemorrhage of the stomach, which no remedy seemed potent to arrest. It continued increasing in violence, taking his life-blood and strength, until 9 o'clock Sunday morning when, without pain, he ceased to breathe."
"History of Mower County" 1884
-------------------
Surg'n
8th Wis Inf
-------------------
The 8th regiment was called into camp from the 1st to the 16th of September, 1861, and placed under the command of Col. Robert C. Murphy, of St. Croix Falls. The other field and staff officers were, George W. Robinson, lieutenant-colonel; J. W. Jefferson, major; Ezra T. Sprague, adjutant; F. L. Billings, quarter-master; S. P. Thornhill, surgeon; W. Hobbins and J. S. Murta, assistants; and W. McKinley, chaplain. The companies were from the counties of Waupaca, Sheboygan, Eau Claire, Crawford, La Crosse, Racine and from Fox Lake, Fitchburg, Janesville and Belleville. The numerical strength of the regiment when it left Camp Randall was 966 men, and it was mustered into service by companies, by Maj. Brooks.
---------------------
Father of French, Amsted and Grace by Rebecca Porter first wife. (1822-1851?) married July 1842 in Ohio.
Father of Charles W Thornhill and Elsie Crosswell Thornhill by second wife Abbie Eugenia Jones whom he married 1852 in Rock, Wisconsin. Samuel and first wife are in Watertown, WI on page three and Abbie and her parents are on page 5 of the 1850 Census.
He was by nature a keen man, possessing much ability, but he was his own worst enemy, for he allowed strong drink to ruin his manhood and hasten him to the grave.
The following obituary notice, which was written by Mrs. Ellen Fairbanks, who was a student under him, and at whose house he made it her home, appeared in the Register of March 13, 1879;
"Dr. Samuel Payne Thornhill, whose remains we have so recently buried amid the evergreens of our beautiful cemetery of Oakwood, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia March 21, 1821. Left an orphan when a very small child, he was cared for by relatives a few years, and quite early in life thrown upon his own resources for his support and education. He studied his profession in West Carlisle, Ohio; commenced there with his preceptor and married there. His three children from that marriage were all well known to the people of Austin.
While his children were quite young, he removed to Horicon, Wisconsin and from there to Watertown. There he married again. Two children were the fruit of this marriage. From Watertown he went to Janesville, in 1848, and became a partner of Dr. Treat, afterward quite an eminent physician of Chicago. In 1855 he removed to Hudson, Wisconsin and there practiced seven years.
When the Rebellion broke out; he was made Regimental Surgeon of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers-the eagle regiment, under Col. Murphy. In 1862 he was promoted to brigade surgeon. He came to Austin in the winter of 1869-70. Since that time he has been known to you, as an energetic, untiring, skillful physician, loved and honored by those who knew him best. If he had faults he also had virtues. To his friends he was generous, kind, and true. A tender father to his children, and second to none in his professional acquirements. His loss to us is a public calamity. He died quite suddenly, having walked home from the other side of the river about two o'clock. Between four and five, was taken with hemorrhage of the stomach, which no remedy seemed potent to arrest. It continued increasing in violence, taking his life-blood and strength, until 9 o'clock Sunday morning when, without pain, he ceased to breathe."
"History of Mower County" 1884
-------------------
Surg'n
8th Wis Inf
-------------------
The 8th regiment was called into camp from the 1st to the 16th of September, 1861, and placed under the command of Col. Robert C. Murphy, of St. Croix Falls. The other field and staff officers were, George W. Robinson, lieutenant-colonel; J. W. Jefferson, major; Ezra T. Sprague, adjutant; F. L. Billings, quarter-master; S. P. Thornhill, surgeon; W. Hobbins and J. S. Murta, assistants; and W. McKinley, chaplain. The companies were from the counties of Waupaca, Sheboygan, Eau Claire, Crawford, La Crosse, Racine and from Fox Lake, Fitchburg, Janesville and Belleville. The numerical strength of the regiment when it left Camp Randall was 966 men, and it was mustered into service by companies, by Maj. Brooks.
---------------------
Father of French, Amsted and Grace by Rebecca Porter first wife. (1822-1851?) married July 1842 in Ohio.
Father of Charles W Thornhill and Elsie Crosswell Thornhill by second wife Abbie Eugenia Jones whom he married 1852 in Rock, Wisconsin. Samuel and first wife are in Watertown, WI on page three and Abbie and her parents are on page 5 of the 1850 Census.
Dr. Thornhill came to Austin in 1869 and remained until the time of his death in 1879.
He was by nature a keen man, possessing much ability, but he was his own worst enemy, for he allowed strong drink to ruin his manhood and hasten him to the grave.
The following obituary notice, which was written by Mrs. Ellen Fairbanks, who was a student under him, and at whose house he made it her home, appeared in the Register of March 13, 1879;
"Dr. Samuel Payne Thornhill, whose remains we have so recently buried amid the evergreens of our beautiful cemetery of Oakwood, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia March 21, 1821. Left an orphan when a very small child, he was cared for by relatives a few years, and quite early in life thrown upon his own resources for his support and education. He studied his profession in West Carlisle, Ohio; commenced there with his preceptor and married there. His three children from that marriage were all well known to the people of Austin.
While his children were quite young, he removed to Horicon, Wisconsin and from there to Watertown. There he married again. Two children were the fruit of this marriage. From Watertown he went to Janesville, in 1848, and became a partner of Dr. Treat, afterward quite an eminent physician of Chicago. In 1855 he removed to Hudson, Wisconsin and there practiced seven years.
When the Rebellion broke out; he was made Regimental Surgeon of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers-the eagle regiment, under Col. Murphy. In 1862 he was promoted to brigade surgeon. He came to Austin in the winter of 1869-70. Since that time he has been known to you, as an energetic, untiring, skillful physician, loved and honored by those who knew him best. If he had faults he also had virtues. To his friends he was generous, kind, and true. A tender father to his children, and second to none in his professional acquirements. His loss to us is a public calamity. He died quite suddenly, having walked home from the other side of the river about two o'clock. Between four and five, was taken with hemorrhage of the stomach, which no remedy seemed potent to arrest. It continued increasing in violence, taking his life-blood and strength, until 9 o'clock Sunday morning when, without pain, he ceased to breathe."
"History of Mower County" 1884
-------------------
Surg'n
8th Wis Inf
-------------------
The 8th regiment was called into camp from the 1st to the 16th of September, 1861, and placed under the command of Col. Robert C. Murphy, of St. Croix Falls. The other field and staff officers were, George W. Robinson, lieutenant-colonel; J. W. Jefferson, major; Ezra T. Sprague, adjutant; F. L. Billings, quarter-master; S. P. Thornhill, surgeon; W. Hobbins and J. S. Murta, assistants; and W. McKinley, chaplain. The companies were from the counties of Waupaca, Sheboygan, Eau Claire, Crawford, La Crosse, Racine and from Fox Lake, Fitchburg, Janesville and Belleville. The numerical strength of the regiment when it left Camp Randall was 966 men, and it was mustered into service by companies, by Maj. Brooks.
---------------------
Father of French, Amsted and Grace by Rebecca Porter first wife. (1822-1851?) married July 1842 in Ohio.
Father of Charles W Thornhill and Elsie Crosswell Thornhill by second wife Abbie Eugenia Jones whom he married 1852 in Rock, Wisconsin. Samuel and first wife are in Watertown, WI on page three and Abbie and her parents are on page 5 of the 1850 Census.
He was by nature a keen man, possessing much ability, but he was his own worst enemy, for he allowed strong drink to ruin his manhood and hasten him to the grave.
The following obituary notice, which was written by Mrs. Ellen Fairbanks, who was a student under him, and at whose house he made it her home, appeared in the Register of March 13, 1879;
"Dr. Samuel Payne Thornhill, whose remains we have so recently buried amid the evergreens of our beautiful cemetery of Oakwood, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia March 21, 1821. Left an orphan when a very small child, he was cared for by relatives a few years, and quite early in life thrown upon his own resources for his support and education. He studied his profession in West Carlisle, Ohio; commenced there with his preceptor and married there. His three children from that marriage were all well known to the people of Austin.
While his children were quite young, he removed to Horicon, Wisconsin and from there to Watertown. There he married again. Two children were the fruit of this marriage. From Watertown he went to Janesville, in 1848, and became a partner of Dr. Treat, afterward quite an eminent physician of Chicago. In 1855 he removed to Hudson, Wisconsin and there practiced seven years.
When the Rebellion broke out; he was made Regimental Surgeon of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers-the eagle regiment, under Col. Murphy. In 1862 he was promoted to brigade surgeon. He came to Austin in the winter of 1869-70. Since that time he has been known to you, as an energetic, untiring, skillful physician, loved and honored by those who knew him best. If he had faults he also had virtues. To his friends he was generous, kind, and true. A tender father to his children, and second to none in his professional acquirements. His loss to us is a public calamity. He died quite suddenly, having walked home from the other side of the river about two o'clock. Between four and five, was taken with hemorrhage of the stomach, which no remedy seemed potent to arrest. It continued increasing in violence, taking his life-blood and strength, until 9 o'clock Sunday morning when, without pain, he ceased to breathe."
"History of Mower County" 1884
-------------------
Surg'n
8th Wis Inf
-------------------
The 8th regiment was called into camp from the 1st to the 16th of September, 1861, and placed under the command of Col. Robert C. Murphy, of St. Croix Falls. The other field and staff officers were, George W. Robinson, lieutenant-colonel; J. W. Jefferson, major; Ezra T. Sprague, adjutant; F. L. Billings, quarter-master; S. P. Thornhill, surgeon; W. Hobbins and J. S. Murta, assistants; and W. McKinley, chaplain. The companies were from the counties of Waupaca, Sheboygan, Eau Claire, Crawford, La Crosse, Racine and from Fox Lake, Fitchburg, Janesville and Belleville. The numerical strength of the regiment when it left Camp Randall was 966 men, and it was mustered into service by companies, by Maj. Brooks.
---------------------
Father of French, Amsted and Grace by Rebecca Porter first wife. (1822-1851?) married July 1842 in Ohio.
Father of Charles W Thornhill and Elsie Crosswell Thornhill by second wife Abbie Eugenia Jones whom he married 1852 in Rock, Wisconsin. Samuel and first wife are in Watertown, WI on page three and Abbie and her parents are on page 5 of the 1850 Census.
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