This is a collection of short biographical sketches submitted by individuals with a link to the Researcher. You are invited to send appropriate sketches of early Atchison County residents for inclusion on this page

THOMAS E. HORNER, MD

Diligence in the pursuit of success is inevitably rewarded, be it in the marts of finance on in the ranks of the learned professions. The profession of medicine has from earliest times offered opportunity for honor and social prominence, as well as giving its members a chance for bettering the condition of mankind in general as well as physical. The physician is at once the friend in need who alleviates our ills and is often the family adviser. To him very frequently are instructed the secret troubles which beset his patients many times and he thus becomes a benefactor to mankind in more ways than one. Thus, the needs of this noble profession require a high type of individual who is at once a learned and skilled practitioner and gentleman in whom the people can place their trust. Dr. Thomas E. Horner is of the type of physician in whom one can have confidence and whose ability in his life work is marked, the best evidence of which is his large practice in and near the city of Atchison.

He is a native born Kansan, born on a farm on Independence Creek in Doniphan County, August 8, 1875, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (FARRELL) Horner, natives of Ireland. His father was born in 1830 in the town of Coleriyne, Ireland and his mother is a native of County Cavan, North Ireland, born in 1842. Isaac died in Atchison County in 1911. He immigrated to America with his father, James Horner, who bought a farm near New York City, returning to Ireland where he resided for twelve years, after which he located in western Pennsylvania. From there Isaac removed to Kansas in 1859 and became a freighter across the plains, operating his own outfit. He married in 1866 and settled on Independence Creek. Isaac left the farm in 1880 and removed to Atchison where he engaged in buying and shipping livestock until his death. He became well-to-do and was the owner of over 1,000 acres of land in Doniphan and Atchison counties. He was an excellent business man and a keen trader who was honest in his dealings and enjoyed the respect and esteem of those with whom he came in contact during his long life. Coming of an excellent Irish family, he was a younger son and had a brother named Samuel who was educated in Oxford University, and was an early settler in Atchison Co., dying in Jackson Co. KS in 1886. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Horner are as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth McGURK, Frankfort, KS; Mrs. Ella St. PETERS, Denver, CO; James, who married Nellie DEIGAN and resides in Parnell, KS; Rose, at home with her mother and Dr. Thomas E. Horner, with whom this review is directly concerned; Mrs. Marie FARRELL, widow of James Farrell of Atchison; and Samuel, who married Mollie BUTLER, and resides at Jarbalo, Leavenworth Co.

Dr. Horner was educated in the parochial schools and Christian brothers College at St. Joseph, MO, from which academic institution he graduated in 1803 with the highest honors of his class. He then pursued the study of medicine and graduated from the Kentucky College of Medicine in 1897. For two years he practiced medicine at Vliets, Marshall Co.; then at Severance, Doniphan Co., for a period which ended in 1911, prior to his location in Atchison. He has built up an excellent practice and has a beautiful home at 1114 Santa Fe. St.

In politics, Dr. Horner is a Democrat; he is a member of the Catholic Church and is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Fraternal Aid Societies, the Mystic Workers and the Knights of Columbus. He is likewise associated with the Atchison County, the Kansas State and the American Medical associations. He served as police surgeon of the city of Atchison.

Dr. Horner was married January 11, 1898 to Sadie E. ARMSTRONG and to them have been born three children: Elizabeth, aged fifteen years; Mary, fourteen years of age and Thomas , aged seven years. The mother of these children is a daughter of Thomas T. and Mary J. (WHITE) Armstrong. Thomas T. Armstrong was born in 1846 in Canada and came to Kansas when a young man and entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific railroad. He is now living a retired life in Atchison. His wife, Mary J. died January 9, 1902, leaving one son, Fred, a resident of Seattle, WA.

Taken from:

History of Atchison County, Kansas

by Sheffield Ingalls - 1916

Submitted by:

Clemi Higley Blackburn, July 2001

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