Surnames: Thornton, Lewis, Scease
James I Thornton. The coal industry of Pennsylvania ranks next in importance to that of agriculture. Among the energetic and successful coal operators is James I Thornton of the Knob Coal Company. He was born in Ironton, Ohio, January 14, 1857, and is a son of James Thornton and Ann Lewis Thornton, both natives of Wales.James Thornton emigrated to the United States in 1854 and located at Pittsburgh but subsequently removed to Ironton, Ohio, and in a few years returned to Pittsburgh where he died n 1863. He was a marble cutter and machinist and a consistent member of the Baptist church.
Three of his daughters are married and live in Pittsburgh. His wife died in 1868 at the age of forty seven years.
James I Thornton removed with his parents from Ohio to Pittsburgh. At Pittsburgh he attended the public schools for some years; leaving school he engaged in digging coal along the Monongahela river and continued in this work up to 1878. In 1878 he became a member of the Knob Hill Coal Company. This company has been very successful in mining and shipping coal and do an extensive business.
Mr Thornton was married in July, 1879, to Miss Jennie Scease, daughter of Benjamin Scease, the latter a farmer of Redstone township. They have four living children: Charlie A Thornton; James A Thornton; Annie M Thornton; and DeWayne Thornton.
Mr Thornton is now a resident of Bridgeport. He is a member of I O O F and Royal Arcanum. He is one of Bridgeport's most public spirited young businessmen. He is self-made and his rise from a coal digger to a successful coal operator is an illustration of what intelligence, combined with energy and determination, can achieve for a man.