This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Thornton Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/GW.2ADE/155.163 Message Board Post: Dear Michael: I would be interested to know if you have found the link. Here is what I have on my search. My great grandfather was Elbert Charlton Thornton. He had 2 sisters, Adelaide and Orra. He also had one brother, Jesse John Thornton who was born in NE on 5/1/1869 and died in Los Angeles 9/30/1943. My grandfather was married to Anna Edna Hoyt in Los Angeles in 1899. The moved from LA to Kern County, somewhat near Fresno. It seems that a lot of Thorntons did come west after the Civil War. My branch, according to family legend, were from the Confederate. Somehow they ended up in Missouri, where I understand many stayed. Some joined the James' Gang and headed to Texas and some went to work with the railroad. Again according to legend I am a result of the last two. My father, Carl Jesse Thornton was born in Kern County 6/15/1913. He and my grandfather worked on the Southern Pacific. It seems there was a great migration right after the Civil War to the west working with the railroad. I believe this is the short term Nebraska connection because they sure didn't stay very long. I also have a picture of A.W. Thornton. I believe he must be a cousin. It is in Arizona. He had a wife with the last name Rossi and only one child at that point named Mildred. I believe this could be the Santa Fe Trail connection. My father had one brother named Elbert "Red" Thornton, born around 1902 and one sister, Almyra "Myra" Thornton Gardiner. They both had many kids up and down the San Joaquin Valley. I hope this helps and if you have anything that can help me please let me know. My father married very late in life so all my cousins were old enough to be my parents and many of their kids were even older than me. So there never was a close connection. Regards, Penny Thornton Kaloudis