The Thornbery and Meredith families both came to Wisconsin in the latter half of the 19th century, settling in and around Milwaukee.
John Thomas Meredith was born in Wolverhampton, England in 1840. John Meredith moved to the United States in 1867 with his wife Sarah and their children and established an industrial company in Bay View, the Meredith Brothers Company, with his sons George and Richard. This company became associated with Milwaukee Iron Company and later United States Steel Company based out of Chicago, Illinois. John Meredith's first wife was Sarah Swain and after her death, he married her sister, Eliza Swain who had come to the United States with her sister, brother-in-law (later husband), and her father Samuel.
John had seven children, one of whom was Mary Anne Meredith (1866-1963). She was born in England and met Clarence Howard Thornbery in Milwaukee; they married in 1892.
Clarence Howard Thornbery (1863-1936) was born in Worchester, England and immigrated to Milwaukee sometime in the 1870s. He lived in Bay View and worked at the electric company there. Clarence and Mayr Anne lived in Milwaukee until 1912 when they moved to a farm in Greenland, Arkansas. Clarence died in 1936 and is buried in Milwaukee at Forest Home Cemetery. Mary Anne subsequently lived with her daughter Marion in Milwaukee.
The oldest child of Mary Anne and Clarence Howard was Frederick (Oz) Osborn Thornbery (1896-1985), named after Clarence Howard's father. Oz lived in Milwaukee his whole life and served in the army during World War I. He had two sons, William Roulac and James, both of whom served in World War II where William was killed. James settled in Madison.
Marion Meredith Thornbery (1902-1999), a sister to Oz, went to the University of Arkansas and graduated with honors, receiving a Masters degree in 1931. Marion moved back to Milwaukee and became one of the first female school principals in the area. She compiled extensive genealogical notes that trace the family history back to England in the 17th century.
Another sibling, John Howard (Meredith) Thornbery (1908-1975) met and married Evelyn Lamb while living in Arkansas in 1933. John and Evelyn moved to Milwaukee where John worked as director of Baso Inc. The company was later bought by MGS Co. which prompted John to sue MGS Co. over pension plans, which the company had failed to pay out in their entirety in 1966. This and a subsequent class-action suit were both unsuccessful. Evelyn was a prolific journal writer, and her journals detail the family activities and current events in and around Milwaukee during her lifetime. John and Evelyn also traveled extensively and Evelyn's journals document their U.S. and European travels.
John and Evelyn had one child, Jerry (Gerald) John Thornbery. Jerry married Carrie Jean Himes in 1969. Jerry and Carrie both went to Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) where they received their Masters' degrees. Jerry became a teacher of African-American History and taught at Gilman School in Maryland.
Please see the following family charts for further clarity on individual relationships.
Thornbery Family Chart
This chart is not intended to be a complete family history of the Thornbery family, but rather exists as a guide to the individuals within the collection. Bold lettering indicates the family member has materials included in the collection.
- Frederick O. Thornbery (1822-?) m. (1859?) Hannah Mound
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- ch. Edith Louisa Mary Thornbery (1865-?)
- ch. Katie M. Hannah Thornbery (1861-?)
- ch. Ernest Clarence Howard Thornbery (1863-1936?) m. (1892) Mary Anne Meredith (1866-1963)
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- ch. Frederick Osborn (Oz) Thornbery (1896-1985) m. Irene (?)
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- ch. William Roulac Thornbery (d. 1945)
- ch. James Meredith Thornbery m. Jean (?)
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- ch. James Jr. m. Diane (?)
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- ch. Marion Meredith Thornbery (1902-1999)
- ch. John Howard (Meredith) Thornbery (1908-1975) m. (1933) Evelyn Reece Lamb (1907-199?)
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- ch. Jerry (Gerald) John Thornbery (1944-) m. (1969) Carrie Jean Himes
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- ch. Reece (1977?-)
- ch. Meredith (?)
Meredith Family Chart
This chart is not intended to be a complete family history of the Meredith family, but rather exists as a guide to the individuals within the collection. Bold lettering indicates the family member has materials included in the collection.
- John Thomas Meredith (1840-1911)
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- m. Sarah Ann Swain (d. 1872)
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- ch. Susannah Maria Meredith [called Aunt Rye] (1862-?) m. F.W. Bailey
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- ch. Grace Bailey m. Arthur Osborne
- ch. Alfred John Meredith (1864-died by 1909) m. (?)
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- ch. Alfred John Meredith
- ch. Ernest Robert Meredith
- ch. Blanch Edna Meredith
- ch. Hazel Ann Meredith
- ch. Owen Matthew Meredith
- ch. Evangeline Lingan Meredith
- ch. Mary Anne Meredith (1866-1963) m. (1892) Clarence Howard Thornbery
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- ch. Frederick Osborn Thornbery (1896-1985)
- ch. Marion Meredith Thornbery (1902-1999)
- ch. John Howard (Meredith) Thornbery (1908-1975)
- ch. Richard Meredith (1866-1916) m. Lucy Bartel
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- ch. George Meredith
- ch. Richard Meredith
- ch. George Swain Meredith (1870-?) m. (1890) Charlotte D. James
- m. Eliza Swain (d. 1908)
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- ch. Horatio Samuel Meredith (1874-?) m. Isabelle Drake
- ch. Sarah Ann Meredith [married name Howard] (1876-?)
Lamb/Orr Family Charts
This chart is not intended to be a complete family history of the Meredith family, but rather exists as a guide to the individuals within the collection. >Bold lettering indicates the family member has materials included in the collection.
- Thomas Lamb (1833-1885) served army 1865 m. ?
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- ch. Reece Lamb (b. 1871-?) m. (1896) Dollie Orr
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- ch. Evelyn Reece Lamb (1907-199?)
The Orr family was related to the McKinney/Logan families.
