Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY

They have two sons and one daughter. Rose is a maiden lady and
lives at home with her parents.
She was a successful public school teacher until failing health
forced her to retire.
Willian Warren was born in Delhi Aug. 14, 1858, and was married Jan. 31, 1878, to Anna T. Wauvle, also of Delhi, and to them
was born one son, George, on Dec. 24, 1878. Mr. Thorburn's
second marriage occurred on Oct. 20, 1891, to Marian Lang, of
Delhi.
Robert Clark, third son of John Thorburn, was born Aug. 14,
1865, and on Aug. 10, 1899, he married Bertha Phelps, of Bath.
They had one son, Russell, born March 18, 1900. Robert C. was
a member of Co. F, 31st Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with the
rank of sergeant, and served in Cuba during the Spanish-American
War. He contracted fever in the service, which resulted in his
death on Oct. 30, 1903.
John Thorburn was a blacksmith by trade, and after getting his
father and mother comfortably located in the new home in Delhi,
he worked for some years in Mason, Jackson and Ypsilanti. He
finally located in Lansing and built a brick shop on the south side
of Franklin Avenue east, which he run for five years very successfully. He contracted typhoid fever about that time, and
after a three months illness concluded he would quit blacksmithing
and move to the farm.
In March, 1858, he moved his family to the farm on section 24,
Delhi, and there remained the balance of his life, having collected
950 acres of land and other property. He died Dec. 20, 1908.
His wife Hannah Jane died March 16, 1889.
Politically the Democratic and Republican parties are both represented. However the Thorburn's never figured much in politics,
but they have all been conscientious and loyal supporters of the
government, and also loyal supporters of the Presbyterian church
at Holt. In fact, they were so numerous in the church at one time
that nearly every other person you met was a Thorburn, but, like
the disciples of old, they have been scattered and can be found
doing a good work for the Master in other churches.
Well do I remember Grandfather James Thorburn as a weaver,
farmer and churchman. Weaving was his trade in Scotland, and
of course when he came here the country was new and cloth