Extracted from The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, NC)
Tuesday, September 5, 1916

Samuel D. Thornton

At his home in Wayne County on August 14, 1916, after an illness of only a few days, Mr. Samuel D. Thornton died. His condition at no time had been considered precarious, and the news of his death was a shock and a surprise to all whom it reached. He was in the 67th year of his life, and he appeared in no respect to be reclining into dotage.

Any community can ill-afford the loss of such a man as was Mr. Thornton. From his earliest manhood days he has been prominently identified with all constructive progress in reach of him. Near his late home stands one of the best rural schools in this State, and he wrought much in its establishment; the Mill Creek Christian church has had no worker during the past half century more zealous than he; for forty years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and when Mill Creek Lodge No. 480, A. F. and A. M. became chartered some twenty years ago, he became a charter member, serving for several years as Master of the Lodge; for twenty-five years he has been a Justice of the Peace, and so impartially has he rendered justice that no man can censure his judgment.

Mr. Thornton was a son of the late N. K. Thornton and was born and reared in Bentonsville township. When quite a young man he was married to Miss Charlotte Williams, of Wayne County, by whom he is survived. He is further survived by one brother, Mr. I. I. Thornton, of Goldsboro; and three daughters, namely: Mrs. Walter Oberry, of Mt. Olive; Mrs. Ben Weeks of Newton Grove, and Miss Lizzie Thornton, who resided with him at the time of his death.

It can truly be said of him that he was a faithful servant of his fellowman, and he wrought much in Johnston as well as Wayne County, and Johnston joins Wayne in lamenting the death of such a citizen.

We, in our way that is human, lament and say that although he was an old man, yet many useful years might still have been accorded him. Divine Providence, however, willed otherwise, and we can in no way honor his memory more than to emulate the noble and useful life he spent in our service.