The Alpena News, October 15, 1949

 Eular Thorne, Long An Alpena Resident, Will Be 99 Sunday

             A former resident of Alpena County now living in Port Huron, will celebrate his ninety-ninth birthday Sunday, looking forward despite physical handicaps to make the century mark a year hence.

             Eular Thorne marked his anniversary in cheerful spirits in the home of his son Jackson Thorne, 2722 Gratiot-av, Port Huron.

             Although he has become blind in recent years and is unable to get around like he used to, he still takes an active interest in life and likes to reflect on his hunting days in Alpena county.

             [This story and picture of Eular Thorne came to The News through the courtesy of the Port Huron Times-Herald (City Editor Louis Dunn), whom The News contacted on hearing of Mr. Thorne’s coming birthday.]

             He shot his last deer just 11 years ago near Alpena to climax a hunting career which started when he was a lad of 16.

             Since 1938 the infirmities of old age have kept him out of the fields stalking game, but the memories still linger.

             One of the events of his life which he remembers vividly was his first – and only – airplane ride taken in 1932, when he was 82 years old.

             Mr. Thorne has no special formula on attaining an age as advance as his.  “It’s just plain living I guess,” he says.

             He was born in London, England, Oct. 16, 1850, and came to Canada when a young man and later to Alpena count.  He spent most of his life on a farm near Alpena.  His wife, Mrs. Mary Thorne, whom he married after he established his farm, died Sept. 12, 1914.

             For a while Mr. Thorne used to spend the winters with his son in [piece missing] with him permanently.

             Mr. Thorne has two other sons, Ralph and Milo Thorne, both of Alpena county, 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.