7 July 1906, Alton Evening Telegraph, Alton, Illinois
DEATH OF EDWARD C. THORNTON
Alton Travelling Man Dies From Congestion of the Stomach, Very Suddenly
Edward C. Thornton, a well-known Alton travelling man, died very unexpectedly Friday night at his residence, 295 Madison avenue, from heart failure brought on by congestion of the stomach. HIs death followed an illness of a few days from which it was supposed he had completely recovered. He was feeling well and in good spirits Friday evening and had been pronounced recovered by the attending physician. He was bright and cheerful and ate a hearty supper. Before retiring he took a bath and having shaved himself he had evidently made every preparation for his dying, almost as if he had been given a premonition that his end was coming. He had been in excellent spirits and had spent and spent part of the evening playing around on the porch with some children. Mrs. Thornton says that they retired about 10 o’clock and shortly her husband seemed to be asleep, from his deep regular breathing. She went to sleep too, and was aroused about three-quarters of an hour later from her sleep. She noticed that her husband was very still and that the sound of his breathing had subsided. She touched his hand and found it was cold and lifeless. The wife was given a terrible shock by the discovery of her husband’s death. Neighbors were summoned and she soon had plenty of friends near to lend assistance, but it was too late for anything to be done.
Edward Thornton was born in Alton and lived here all his life. He was a son of Philip Thornton. He would have been 38 years of age August 20. For many years he was engaged as a traveling salesman for Alton grocery houses and recently he severed his connection with an Alton firm to become connected with a St. Louis grocery firm. He was highly thought of by everyone who knew him. His unusual intellectual talents, his conversational ability and his uniform good humor made his company very much sought after and he was the life of any party of which he was a member. His death was a great shock to the entire community, as few knew that he was not in good health.
He was an orator of considerable ability, althought making no profession of being such, and as a speaker for small gatherings he frequently entertained audiences delightfully. He was to have delivered an address at a Fourth of July picnic at New Douglas, but did not do so.
Mr. Thornton leaves besides his wife, one daughter, and two brothers, James P. Thornton, and Michael Thornton, and a sister, Miss Thornton.
The funeral will be held Monday at 9 o’clock from SS, Peter and Paul’s Cathedral.
