Edwin M. Thorne was a resident of Mansfield on April 11, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. B of the 25th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and he was mustered out on August 26, 1863. On December 30, 1863, he was a Tolland resident and enlisted in Co. C of the 2^nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment.  He was wounded on June 5, 1864 in Cedar Creek, Virginia and discharged on June 5, 1865.

In the 1860 U.S. census in Mansfield, he is a 16 year old farm laborer in the household of Jabez Avery. He married Elizabeth ______ between 1865 and 1867. Their children include: Minnie L. Thorne, born about. February 1868, died March 18, 1868, Emma L. Thorne, born about 1869, Everet Thorne, born about 1872, Edwin F. Thorne, born about 1875, died July 3, 1882 and Rora E. Thorne, born about 1877. Edwin worked as an insurance agent, hay dealer and the proprietor of a hotel according to census records. He married second Charlotte I. _______ between 1880 and 1900.

On June 24, 1865, he applied for an invalid pension, No. 74,090 that was granted under certificate No. 45,994. According to the list of pensioners on the roll in 1883, Edwin M. Thorne was receiving a pension of $18 per month for the loss of his right hand.

His widow, Elizabeth filed for a pension on July 18, 1911 and his widow, Charlotte filed a contested widows pension on October 25, 1911.

Edwin M. Thorne died on January 3, 1910 and is buried at the Old Willimantic Cemetery in Windham, Connecticut. There is a large Thorne monument and the surrounding stones are for his family. One side of the monument is for Henry W. Thorne, who served in the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry from Mansfield; they are probable brothers. A metal plate on the monument is for Martha A. Thorne, born about 1802; she may be their mother.