Bio: Francis Marion Thornhill, M.D., Bienville & Caldwell Parish Louisiana
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted by Kay Thompson Brown
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FRANCIS MARION THORNHILL M.D.
Arcadia, La
Dr. Thombill is a man of decided intellectual ability, is ever ready to obey
the call of all classes, and is in truth a physician of thorough learning and
experience. He was born in Caldwell Parish, La., September 10,1850, and was
third of a family of seven children-six sons and one daughter--who are named
as follows: A. G. (married and resides in Texas, where he is engaged in
farming), Joseph J. (deceased), Francis M., J. C. (married and resides in
Texas, where he is also engaged in agricultural pursuits), Louisa (married
Orin 0. Gray, who is a farmer of Caldwell Parish), W. H. (resides in Caldwell
Parish), C. P. (is the youngest and also a resident of the last-named parish).
The father of these children was a native of Mississippi, born in 1816, was
fairly well educated, and is now a successful agriculturist. The mother,
whose maiden name was Matilda Blackburn, was also born in the Bayou State and
was educated in the common schools. She is also living.
Dr. Thornhill received the rudiments of an education in the common schools,
and then attended academy about two years before commencing to read medicine
under Dr C. C. Meredith, at Columbia, La., in the fall of 1868. There he
remained until 1870, and in October of that year he entered Tulane Medical
College now, but at that time it was called the University of Louisiana.
There he completed the full course of medicine in this far-famed institution,
which has a national reputation, graduating in a class of seventy-five in
March, 1872. He then at once began practicing at his home in Columbia, La.,
and remained there in 1882, during the noted flood year, when the whole
surface of the parish was under water. There he established a large and
extensive practice, but not a paying one, so he wisely changed his base of
operations and located in Arcadia, La., in 1882. Here the Doctor has resided
since, and he stands today, not only one of the leading physicians, but a
liberal-minded, public-spirited citizen.
The Doctor was married, January 26,1874, to Miss Anna Meredith. a native of
Caldwell Parish, La., who was educated in the female seminary. Only one
child was born to this union and that died in infancy. Dr. Thornbill has
always been a Democrat in politics. But he has never been a bitter partisan.
He has aimed to support men of principle and honor. He is one of the
directors of the Arcadia State National Bank, and is a man full of energy and
determination. He is a Master Mason of Arcadia Lodge.
Like a few others of the prominent men of Arcadia Dr. Thornhill started out in
life for himself with limited means, but he had the push and determination to
succeed in whatever he undertook, and he now has a large and lucrative
practice. He also has a full line of drugs, and is doing well in this
business. He is a land owner, and is not only the owner of his residence
property, but owns his place of business as well. Mrs. Thornhill is a member
of the Baptist Church in Arcadia, La.