My Genealogy Hound

J. W. Thornburgh, M. D., was born in New Market, Tenn., February 25,1828, the son of Ai and Mary (Landsdown) Thornburgh. The father was born October 7, 1793, and followed tanning in early life, and afterward merchandising in New Market. He died at New Market, Tenn., July 7, 1883. The mother was born October 11, 1791, and died at the same place April 20, 1876. Our subject, the seventh of nine children, was a boy at school at the time of the Mexican war, and at the age of eighteen, during the progress of the war, volunteered in 1848 in Company G, commanded by Capt. J. J. Reese, Col. George R. McClellan commanding, Fifth Tennessee Regiment Infantry; served until the close of the war, was honorably discharged, and returned to New Market, his native town; completed his education, and when of age began medicine under Dr. A. Blackburn, and since twenty-three years old has been practicing in his native town, excepting a short time in Union County before the civil war. In 1861 he organized a company of cavalry, and while en route to the United States Army in Kentucky, was attacked by the Confederates at Wilson’s Gap, in the Cumberland Mountains. They were unarmed and were captured, he receiving a wound in neck. He was taken to Knoxville, and after a provisional trial for treason to the Confederacy was imprisoned at Nashville, to await his regular court trial, but a mutual friend of Jefferson Davis and himself succeeded in influencing Mr. Davis to procure his release without trial. He then began practice at home, and, when the Federals captured the State, he became assistant surgeon in the hospital at Knoxville. In 1867 he was elected to represent Grainger County in the Legislature, and in 1868 was made surgeon-general of Tennessee militia for a year. He then returned to New Market to his present successful practice. In 1850 he married Louisa M. (Haskins) Bewley, of Cocke County, Tenn. To them four sons were born: William P. and Samuel H. survive their deceased two brothers. The former is at home, and the latter in the postoffice department at Washington City. Our subject is a Presbyterian and a warm Republican. He is one of the oldest and ablest physicians in the county of Jefferson.