Biography - Edwin Thorp
Edwin C. THORP, grocer, Litchfield, was born at Upper Alton, Ill., May 21, 1843. At the age of five years, he accompanied his parents to Springfield, and, after living there three years, moved to Woodburn, Ill., where he remained until 1862, and engaged in farming. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Capt. Carr's company at Upper Alton, and served two years; he was ten months in the Eightieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and assigned to the Army of the Cumberland; his regiment passed through twenty-three hard fought engagements, besides skirmishes; he was in all the active engagements of his regiment, and was only off duty three days from sickness, he was taken prisoner on Sand Mountain in 1863, while on a raid in Georgia; Col. Streights' brigade were all captured, and were only in the hands of the enemy fourteen days, when they were paroled. Mr. THORP was mustered out at the close of the war, and came to Litchfield in July, 1865; here he engaged in the fruit and grocery business on State street, continuing for a period of five months; after selling off his stock, he was successively an employee in the business houses of Smith & Tuttle, J. LEVY, L. LEVY and Valentine HOFFMAN; Mr. HOFFMAN sold his interest to Ezra TYLER, and our subject continued for a time with the new firm; he afterward entered the employ of Mr. STETSON, continuing eighteen months, when he went into business for himself, buying out William EDWARDS in December, 1872, but in a few months sold his stock at auction. After spending five months as shipping clerk in a sash and blind factory in Chicago, Ill., he returned to Litchfield and engaged his services to Mr. HOFFMAN again; after continuing five years, he became the partner of Mr. LEACH, and established a grocery and boot and shoe business on Jackson street, near the Catholic Church; here they have built up a large and flourishing trade; in 1881, they enlarged and improved their store. Mr. THORP was married, on May 23, 1867, to Miss Rachel L. TYLER, daughter of Ezra TYLER, of Litchfield; they have six children - Addison C., William T., Frances, Edwin, an infant child which died unnamed, and Bertha.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, page 178
