Richard B. Thorp, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Howard county, Missouri, in 1824, and was raised on a farm. In 1848 he came over to Saline county and engaged in teaching for several years. He then turned his attention to farming, which has occupied him ever since. In 1848 he was married to Miss Julia A. Marshall, daughter of Richard Marshall of Saline county. They have had nine children, of whom seven are living; Mary Louisa, James M., Richard J., Joseph T., Jennie, Minnie and John. In 1860, Mr. Thorp was elected school commissioner, and held the office until it was abolished. In 1865 he was appointed public administrator and road commissioner, which offices he held until the death of his first wife, 1867. In 1869 he married Mrs. Mary A. Marshall, by whom he has one child, Richard B. He has been a member of the Baptist church ever since his seventeenth year, with his membership at Zoar. Has been a very successful farmer, and has raised a large family successfully and well, notwithstanding the troublous times through which they have passed. During the war Mr. Thorp was steadily and uncompromisingly devoted to the cause of the Union, though a Missourian born and raised, but he did not enter the army. He was a pronounced republican at the close of the war. But in 1869 to 1870, he became convinced that the movement of B. Gratz Brown and Carl Schurz and others, for the re-enfranchisement of the rebels and southern sympathizers of Missouri was right, and joined in the "Liberal" movement with great earnestness. Mr. Thorp was a delegate from Saline to the republican state convention, which met in Jefferson City on the 31st of August, 1870. The convention divided on the question of enfranchisement, and about two hundred and fifty delegates, among whom was R. R. Thorp, led by Carl Schurz, seceded from the regular body, and organized a "Liberal" convention, and nominated a full state ticket. On the return of Mr. Thorpe, and in accordance with the general agreement, he called a Liberal county convention to meet in Marshall, and fixed the day for holding primaries to select delegates to the same. When the convention assembled Mr. Thorp was chosen chairman, and it proceeded to nominate a full set of candidates for county offices, and among the rest, Mr. R. B. Thorp was nominated for sheriff of Saline county. It was soon discovered that the registration supervisor for this senatorial district was in sympathy with the "Liberal" movement. In accordance with certain representations made to him, he dismissed the registrars for this county, (except one) and ordered a new registration, in which southern sympathizers who had not been in the army, were registered upon taking an oath to support the constitution of the United States and of Missouri. This registration let in about 1,200 disfranchised democrats to the polls, and the result was that the whole county (and state) "Liberal" ticket was elected. Mr. Thorp was elected sheriff, and held the office for two years.
