Hello,
My brother-in-law was from a Thorburn family in Michigan,US.
I am researching for him and saw your message. I am not familiar with records after 1900, but thought you might be interested in these biographies. Being these aren't my relatives, I don't have any further information.
Colleen

John THORBURN - Delhi
Author: County Coordinator Date: 3 Jan 2000 12:00 PM GMT
Surnames: THORBURN, OLDS
Classification: Biography
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John THORBURN was born in the parish of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 29, 1824. At the age of twenty-three he had served four years as an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, and worked six years as a journeyman. He emigrated to America in 1848, in company with his younger brother, Robert, his father and mother following the next year. He worked a short time at his trade in Pittsburg, Pa., but came to Michigan the same year and located one hundred and twenty acres of land in Delhi, which is a part of the farm he now owns. He chopped five or six acres of woodland and built a log house, which his father occupied the next spring. He then worked four years in Ypsilanti, Mich., and from there went to Lansing in 1852 and commenced blacksmithing in North Lansing.

Two years later he married Miss Hannah J. OLDS, who was born in Prattsburg, N. Y., in 1829, and came to Michigan in 1832. He worked five years and did a successful business; but his health failing he moved to his present home in Delhi, and turned his attention to the management of the farm and to stock-raising. He has now over eight hundred acres of land in a high state of cultivation, with good buildings and fences, and a large part of it tile-drained. He owns a very fine herd of short-horn cattle, and sheep and swine of the most improved breeds. He has three sons, - James B., who is superintending the farm; William Warren, who is also a farmer; and Robert Clark, who is at home with his parents.

THORBURN, JAMES
Date of death: 28-May-1872
1872
-76
------
1786

Ledger Page: 277
Record Number: 192
Place of death: Delhi
County of Death: Ingham
Sex: Male
Race: WHITE
Marital Status: Widowed
Age: 76 years
Cause of Death: OLD AGE
Birthplace: SCOTLAND


Portrait and Biographical Album
Ingham & Livingston Counties
Michigan

Image of Dr. William W. Thorburn

Our subject is the proprietor of the institution know as Dr. Thorburn's Veterinary Infirmary which is the place of rest and tender, skillful care for injured or debilitated horses that the name would indicate. Dr. Thorburn was born in Holt, Delhi Township, Ingham County, August 18, 1858. He is of Scotch ancestry, his father being, John Thorburn, born in Scotland. His paternal grandfather, James Thorburn, was a weaver. Our subject's grandfather came to America on the death of his father and engaged in farming in this State, being thus employed until his decease, which took place in May, 1872, in Delhi Township. The father was a blacksmith by trade and was about twenty-five years of age when he came to this country, bringing his family with him.

John Thorburn first located in Pittsburgh, Pa. after coming to this country and was there engaged in following his trade, and as a horse-shoer. In 1849 he came to Ypsilanti and there at once engaged in his trade. In 1852 he came to Lansing and buying out the firm of Ferguson, of North Lansing, built the first brick block which was erected in that place. There he located his shop and by close application to his business, in which he was obliged to stand much of the time over the furnace, he lost his health and was obliged to give up active business. He then located on a farm in Delhi Township, where he still resides. On first coming to Ypsilanti our subject's father purchased Government land and bent his energies to improving the same. He followed farming for some time most successfully and is now the owner of over one thousand acres of fine arable land in Ingham County, seven hundred and twenty-five acres of which is included in one farm. This is well improved and stocked and is one of the most valuable as well as attractive farms in the county, as its owner is one of the most prominent as well as largest farmers here. He is engaged extensively in breeding Short-horn. cattle, Merino and Yorkshire hogs.

(266) For many years Mr. Thorburn, Sr. has identified himself with church work in the Presbyterian denomination having been Elder in the church of which he is a member for many years. Our subject's mother was in her maiden days, Miss Hannah J. OIds. She was born in Brattleboro, Vt., and was a daughter of Alanson Olds, who was also a native of Vermont. He was a cabinet-maker and located at Lansing in 1847. But after coming hither he engaged in the hotel business of North Lansing and afterward located on a farm in Conway, Livingston County, where he died. Our subject's mother died in March, 1889, at the age of sixty Years. She was a woman of sterling worth and strong personality and bequeathed these traits to her son. She was the mother of three children.

W. W. Thorburn was raised on the home farm and received the rudimentary portion of his education at the district school of Mason, after which he attended the High School, from which he was graduated with honors. When but nineteen years of age he began life for himself, working the home farm, then taking the adjoining farm under his proprietorship and continuing the cultivation of this until he was twenty-two. In 1881 he entered the Ontario Veterinary College where he pursued his studies for two years, graduating in 1883, at which time he received the title of Veterinary Surgeon.

In February, 1884, Dr. Thorburn located at Lansing and has since continued to practice his profession here. In 1887 he purchased the ground and built the infirmary of which he is at present proprietor. This institution is complete in every detail, having all the latest improvements and being built according to the most advanced sanitary theories in use in such places. It has fine box stalls, pneumatic troughs and is perfectly ventilated and lighted. It is, moreover, well located, being convenient and accessible, both by reason of high road and railway advantages, to every portion of the surrounding country. Dr. Thorburn was the first graduate of veterinary surgery to locate in Lansing, and is the oldest practicing one now here. Much of his patronage is from adjoining counties, as well as from his own locality. Horse dealers and owners in Eaton, Clinton, Ingham, Ionia and other counties find Dr. Thorburn's Infirmary the safest and surest place to send fine animals that perhaps have been hurt or have contracted some disease.

Our subject adds to his veterinary practice farming, being the owner of two hundred and forty acres of fine land in Delhi Township, only four miles from the city of Holt. It is devoted to stock farming and here one may find some of the finest specimens of equine beauties. He is engaged in raising blooded horses, Short-horn cattle and fine wool sheep. His personal attention, however, is given to his infirmary, having an experienced foreman as supervisor of the stock farm. This last named place is well improved, having good building and beautifully-tilled soil.

Dr. Thorburn was married in Morrice, Shiawassee County, October 20, 1886. His bride was a Miss Marion Lang, who was a native of Scotland, having been born in Lark Hall, Lanarkshire, August 18, 1861. She is a daughter of John Lang who is a native of the same place and was there a carter. Her grandfather, Thomas Lang was also a carter. Her father came to America in 1880 and located in Delhi Township where he engaged in farming. He is now in Alaiedon Township, this county. Mrs. Thorburn's mother was in her maiden days, Miss Mary Cleland, also of Scotch birth and ancestry. She was a daughter of Thomas Cleland, a farmer in Scotland. Her family were adherents of the Presbyterian Church, which has so large a following in Scotland, of the strictest Calvinistic kinds. Mrs. Thorburn is the fourth child in a family of twelve children who lived to be grown. She was reared and educated in her native country and came to America in 1881 in the steamer "Bolivia", a delightful trip of nine days from her starting point to New York. Their sailing port was Greenock. After coming to this country they at once located in Delhi Township, where she lived with her parents until her marriage. One child graces this union, a boy, who is the pride and object of the fondest hopes on the part of both parents.

Our subject interests himself in every way that can be of advantage to him in the acquiring of knowledge that pertains to his profession. He is a (267) member of the State Veterinary Medical Association and is on the standing committee in regard to legislation in veterinary matters. He is a constant attendant upon all the State meetings and is an active worker in this society. In his church relations our subject is by inclination as by bringing up, a member of the Presbyterian denomination and has been Treasurer of the church in Holt for a number of years. In his political predilection he is a thorough Republican, finding in the tenets and doctrines of that party the balance of what is best and truest in political life.


John Thorburn
THORBURN, John, educator, born near Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, 10 October, 1830. He was educated at Edinburgh university in 1855, became classical master in the Western institution in that city, and came to Canada in 1856. In 1860 he was appointed principal of St. Francis college, Richmond, and its professor of classics, and in 1862 he became head master of the grammar-school (now the collegiate institution) at Ottawa, which post he held for about twenty years. In 1882 he was appointed librarian to the geological and natural history survey of Canada, and the same year he was appointed by the government a member of the board of civil-service examiners. He was president of the Ottawa literary and scientific society, prepared for the department of militia a scheme for entrance examination into the military college at Kingston, and has been active in other respects as an educator. He received the degree of M. A. from McGill university in 1860, and that of LL.D. from Queen's university, Kingston, in 1880.

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM