The Thompson Families of Nodaway County, Missouri

ALEXANDER C. THOMPSON.

Few dates in the century that is past are better known or stand out more prominently in the history of the West and Middle West than 1849, when thousands of citizens of every station and condition of life in the Mississippi and Missouri river valleys left health and home behind and made a mad rush for the Eldorado on the Pacific slope. On May 17th of that memorable year was born Alexander C. Thompson, one of the best known citizens of the southern part of Nodaway county. He was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, the son of Joseph P. and Letitia (Lower) Thompson, the former a native of Kentuckv and the latter of Tennessee. Thev came to Buchanan county in 1839 and in 1840 entered land there, improved a farm and lived there until 1864. when Mr. Thompson traded his farm for one in Nodaway county, a half section, which was partly improved, and here he made quite a success of farming and stock raising, doing much trading in stock, always keeping a good grade. He was an excellent business man and prospered, accumulating much property. He was a prominent man in the early history of this section, being well known and bore an unassailable reputation. He was a Democrat in politics and he and his wife were members of the Christian church. Here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1885, at the age of sixty-nine years, having been born in 1816. His wife was born in 1825 and died in 1879. They are buried at Guilford cemetery. Eleven children were born to them, seven of whom are living, namely: William H., Mary A., Alexander C., Emaline, Joseph O., Jacob L. and Cornelius R. Those deceased are John J., Margaret, James and Edward. William served during the last year of the Civil war.

Alexander C. Thompson remained with his father on the home farm until he was twenty-four years old, and he received a limited education. He was married on January 30, 1873, to Josephine Campbell, daughter of William and Nancy C. Campbell, old settlers of this county, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Indiana.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson began their married life in Nodaway county on forty acres which he purchased, and to which he later added eighty acres and lived here for a period of nineteen years, farming and stock raising. He sold this farm and bought one hundred and eighty acres in White Cloud township in 1892. living there eleven years. In 1903 he bought the farm where he now resides consisting of one hundred and twenty acres and which is one of the choicest in the community, having remodeled the buildings thereon, erecting a good barn. In 1906 one of his barns was destroyed by fire. He has this farm under a fine system of cultivation and it is regarded as one of the best kept farms in the county.

Politically. Mr. Thompson is a Democrat, and while he has had no time to mingle much in political matters or hold public office, he is well known in political and all other circles, and is highly respected by all who know him.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, named as follows: William E. married Ida Goff and they have three children, Ross, Margaret and Russell; he is cashier of the bank at Nashua, Clay county, Missouri. Leotus married Lilian Shoote; after teaching school four years in this county, he went to Portland, Oregon, where he is engaged in the real estate business. Margaret A. married Charles Armstrong and is the mother of three children. Mamie. Mildred and James. Stella married George W. Cole and has one child, Mary L. Mr. Cole, who taught school in this locality for four years, is now assistant cashier of the Barnard State Bank. Golda married Brice Wilson and she is now teaching in the public schools, while Mr. Wilson engaged in farming. Gladys, who lives at home, is a teacher in the public schools; she completed the teacher's course at the normal at Mary ville.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

NOAH T. THOMPSON.

One of the substantial citizens of Polk township, Nodaway county, is Noah T. Thompson who is deserving of the large success that has attended his efforts, for he has been a man who has relied upon no one to assist him in the battle of life, preferring to push forward on his own account until he accomplished what he meant to do, and his fine farm near Bedison Station is an evidence of his ability in this direction. He was born in the southeast corner of Polk township, in what was then Washington township, June 29, 1865, the son of Squire and Julia Ann (Jones) Thompson. He and his two brothers, Boge and John B., came to Putnam county, Indiana, in 1856 or 1857 and entered land there. Loge removed to Oklahoma and died there four years later; John B. came to Maryville, Missouri, and died here in 1907. Squire Thompson later went to near Barnard, where he lived five or six years and about 1878 came to the farm at Bedison village. His wife died there and he sold his property and lived with his sons until his death. While in the village of Guilford in company with his son, Noah T., he fell dead, in July, 1903, at the age of sixty-seven years. He traded a great deal in a general way in his earlier years, but his life was devoted principally to farming and he was well liked in his community.

To Mr. and Mrs. Squire Thompson fourteen children were born, twelve of whom reached maturity, and ten are still living, six in Nodaway county, four near and at the old home, Noah T. at the old home.

Noah T. Thompson worked on the farm in his youth and attended the common schools. He began life by renting land in partnership with his brother and he has continued this line of endeavor ever since. On March 17. 1889, he married Sina Newcomer, daughter of Martin D. and Susan (Schechter) Newcomer, who came to this county from Illinois when their daughter Sina was seven years old, locating in Maryville in 1876. Both are still living at Guilford, Nodaway county.

For two years after his marriage Mr. Thompson rented land, then bought fifty acres, one and one-half miles from Maryville, for which he paid twenty-five dollars per acre, going in debt for nearly all of it, having only two or three hundred dollars to pay on the place, but he had a team and went to work with a will and soon had a good start. Selling this place in about a year, he bought nearer Maryville, about the same time getting nearly out of debt. In two years he traded for Phelps county land without going to investigate it. This he traded for one hundred and five acres adjoining his father's old place. This he sold in time and bought eighty acres. Selling this, he rented one year and then bought eighty acres at Barnard, selling and buying one hundred and ten acres one mile south of Barnard. He sold this and bought his present farm. He was a close observer and a good trade, and in all these exchanges he had accumulated the sum of ten or eleven thousand dollars. His present excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres lies north of Bedison, for which he paid the sum of seventy-five dollars per acre. He moved on the place in March, 1907. He has added many important improvements, his farm ranking with the best in the vicinity, and on it stand substantial and comfortable buildings. The place was mostly in grass when he came here and he has raised some large crops of corn on this rich land. Mr. Thompson is not a public man, but he is active in the affairs of the Democratic party.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, named as follows: Alvin, Edgar, Nellie, Merle; Ophelia died when ten years of age, and Leland.

Mr. Thompson has made what he has as much by the use of his brain in buying and selling or exchanging land as in the use of his muscle, although he has been a very hard worker all his life. In the successful management of a farm he has no superior in the township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN THOMPSON, farmer and stock raiser, section 36, post office Hopkins. The subject of this sketch is a native of Indiana, and was born November 7. 1829. He was there raised to manhood, following agricultural pursuits till 1873, when he emigrated to Missouri and settled in Andrew County. After one year he removed to this county and located where he now resides. He has 95 acres of good average land, 80 of which are under cultivation. He has a nice residence on his place, and his improvements generally are among the best. Mr. Thompson was married November 6, 1852, to Miss Rebecca Hazzlett, a native of Indiana. They have five children: Charles C, George Y. A., James C, Jennie C. and William L. Mr. T. is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He also belongs to the M. E. Church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. B. THOMPSON, postmaster at Barnard, was born in Hamden Junction, Vinton County, Ohio, in March, 1849, and in 1859 he came with his father to Mills County, Iowa. He there received a common education, completing his schooling at Otoe College, Nebraska City. He learned the saddle and harness trade, at which he worked for several years in Nebraka City and St. Joseph, and in 1871 he came to Barnard and opened a shop, continuing to conduct it for two years. In 1873 he sold out and commenced to run a grocery, drug and confectionery store, which he kept until October, [881, when he sold out. In May, 1876 Mr. T. was appointed postmaster at Barnard, and has been the incumbent of the office since that time. In the spring of 1878 he entered the office of Dr. Heath, and was engaged in the study of medicine until he entered the Hospital Medical College at St. Joseph, where he attended during the course of 1880-81. Mr. Thompson commenced life poor in pocket, but has been fortunate in everything that he has undertaken. Honorable in his dealings, consistent in his course, politically and otherwise, he has gained a good reputation. He was appointed census enumerator in 1880 for Hughes Township. He is a Mason and Odd Fellow. Mr. T. has ever been active in all improvements of the village, and is a great friend of schools.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.