SIDNEY DAVIS THORNTON, Jr. was born in Oakdale, Nebraska on July 9, 1881, son of Sidney Davis Thornton and Florence Putney. The family had immigrated from New York stat. Sidney’s father was a lawyer and a judge. Florence’s father was a farmer, business man and county office holder. Sidney Jr graduated from high school and attended Gates Academy in Neligh and Yankton College in South Dakota. After that, he went to Orchard, Nebraska where he was with the local bank. BESSIE ROBINSON CASS, was born in Plainview, Nebraska on April 13, 1884, daughter of Curtis Cass. He had come to Nebraska from Weatherford, New Hampshire. He first moved to Lind, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. He grew to manhood there and in 1874 purchased a farm in Hamilton County, Nebraska. In 1881 he married ALTHEA F ROBINSON of Glenwood, Iowa. She was a school teacher. They moved to Plainview in 1882. They were parents of four girls: Percie, Constance, Lucile and Bessie and a son, Charles. Mr Cass purchased a hardware store in Orchard. Bessie and Sidney Thornton were married December 31, 1907 and had a son, Sidney Burke Thornton, born October 15, 1908. Sidney Davis became president of the Security State Bank in Neligh in 1910 and remained there until 1932. Alden C Thornton, their oldest son, was born in Neligh and was a banker. From 1932 to 1942, Sidney and Bessie lived in Omaha. In 1943 they moved to Hartington, Nebraska. Sidney died on April 25, 1948. Bessie passed away December 15, 1948. Sidney Burke Thornton died on April 4, 1981 in California. Alden Thornton married Elinor Marie Johnson on December 4, 1937. They had three children: Nancy Gail, Thomas James, and Jody.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in Dec 2007