From HISTORY OF THE PAN-HANDLE, West Virginia, 1879, by J. H. Newton, 
G. G. Nichols, and A. G. Sprankle. Page 273.  

Contributed by Linda Cunningham Fluharty.


THOBURN BROS. - David H. and William M. Thoburn are sons of the late John 
Thoburn, of this city, who arrived in this country, from Ireland, about 1844 or 
1845. William M. was born in Marion county, and first went to the grocery 
business, when fourteen years old, with R. J. Smyth, remaining in his service 
some six or seven years, and then opened out business, in company with M. C. 
Crawford - as Crawford &c. Thoburn - at their present address, corner of Market 
and Eleventh streets. But in January, 1877, David H. Thoburn bought out Mr. 
Crawford's interest, and the two brothers assumed the firm style of Thoburn 
Bros. David, who was born in Wheeling 1852, had also been with Mr. Smyth about 
six years, engaged in the spice and coffee roasting business with another firm, 
and gained a knowledge of the feed business. The boys have a well stocked store 
and command alike an excellent city and country trade. Both of them are single.