W. Thornhill was born in Ontario on December 28, 1877. In 1880 the family moved to Jamestown. Mrs. Thornhill worked for the Beck Clothing Company in Jamestown.
In 1906 he came to Carrington to manage the store of the Beck Clothing Company of Jamestown. After twenty years he bought the business and it became known as Thornhill, Inc. On July 12, 1917, he married Viola Fowler at St. Cloud, Minnesota. They had two daughters: Rosemary and Jane.
Mr. Thornhill was a charter member of the Kiwanis. He died in 1933.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 41B