In this letter to George Perkins March (considered to be America's first environmentalist), GPA Healy mentions how he has just finished the Thorn portrait. *Dubourjal is a French artist of the time. Paris March 27 1854. 16. Place Vendôme Page 1My dear Marsh, I have been greatly disappointed in not being able to make my... Continue Reading →
I continue to collect snippets of information that weave into the tapestry of the Thorn's life. There is always the possibility that some of these are inaccurate, but it is worth recording in order to cross reference them. Herman and his family moved into "Elmwood" (Apthorp mansion) soon after William Jauncey died in 1828. Though... Continue Reading →
I have found a few memories of what Colonel Thorn's final home in Manhattan was like, but this is a particularly informative and poignant recount. I didn't realise that he lost all of his French furniture in a fire. How devestating, to a man who was an aesthete. It was also great to garner a... Continue Reading →
I discovered something ultra cool today! Eugene Thorn, the youngest of the Thorn sons, and the only one to survive Herman, composed a polka for his love (and later wife) Mary Hyslop in 1851. I currently have a friend recording it for me and I will upload the file so you can hear it. I... Continue Reading →
Below are some of the images I have managed to find for the Thorn men. Missing are William (the eldest), Herman Jr and John who died as a baby. From these images, it would seem that James looks a lot like his father (Eugene possibly too, but the angle makes it hard to tell). Colonel... Continue Reading →
Lynda has kindly sent me some closeups from the original family portrait. It's hard to avoid the reflected light, but I am so grateful for these. I hope you enjoy pouring over them as I have. Ida Thorn Fox Ellen (Helen) Thorn Kirkland Eugene Thorn Herman Thorn
The Colonel and Mrs Thorn 
[…] is believed that the product will have exceeded the figure of 10,000 fr. The hero of the party was…
Will do
Hi Eugene, nice to meet you. Let me know if you find out something new.
I also believe that I have correctly traced my ancestry to Ots-Toch, through my mother, Claribel Ackart (via Solomon Eckert,…
[…] From 1858 – 1871, he was a councillor at the Canton of Saint-Aignan-sur-Roe in Mayenne. And deputy of Mayenne…