The Thompson Families of Story County, Iowa

Frank D. Thompson is an attorney at law and the present postmaster of Nevada, Iowa. He was born in Erie County, Ohio, December 13, 1835, and is a son of Jason K. and Eliza Ann (Frisbee) Thompson, who were born in the " Green Mountain State" and died in Erie County, Ohio, aged about seventy-eight and sixty-seven years, respectively. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and the father was a farmer by occupation. Frank D. Thompson is the third of five children, two now living, and in his youth was initiated into the mysteries of farm life by his father, and attended the country schools near his home. He afterward entered the high school of Berlin Heights, and later spent some time at Oberlin College, Ohio. Leaving this institution, he taught a number of terms in the country, and later at Milan, Ohio, where, for four terms, he was principal of the graded schools. In 1858 he took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in Huron County, Ohio, in 1800. On the 30th of September, of that year, he came to Nevada, and until February, 1864, he was associated in the practice of law with George A. Kellogg. He then enlisted in Company D, Twelfth Iowa Volunteer Infan-

Mi try, and from the latter part of March, 1864, until August, 1865, he was chief clerk at Gen. A. J. Smith's headquarters of the Sixteenth Army Corps. On August 14, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Montgomery, Ala., but before returning to Iowa he spent about two months at his old home in Ohio. In the spring of 1866 he became associated in his practice with Capt. McCall, a connection which lasted sixteen years, but he has since been alone. He has always been an ardent Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for Lincoln. He was elected county superintendent of schools of Story County at one time, but resigned the position before his term had expired. He continued the practice of law until May 28, 1889, when he was appointed postmaster at Nevada by President Harrison, and he has since devoted his attention to discharging the duties of that office. On the ist of September, 1889, he removed the office from the Patton building to the Dillon & Morris Block, where it now is. Mr. Thompson is careful, accurate sud obliging, and it is saying a great deal when the statement is made that he is one of the best postmasters the town has ever had. He filled the office of mayor of the town in 1884-85, and the four following years was a member of the town council. As an official he has always shown good judgment, and as a lawyer, is considered one of the best in Central Iowa. He belongs to the I. O. 0. F. and the G. A. E. In November, 1862, he was married to Miss Abby N. Price, a native of Iowa, by whom he has the following children: Kate (who assists him in the post-office), Frank L., Sylvia L. (who is also her father's assistant), Clayton and Cora (twins) and Olive.

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, Collins, Iowa. Mr. Thompson was born in Wayne County, Ohio, on November 14, 1840, and his father, William Thompson, was a native of Pennsylvania. The elder Thompson was reared and married in his native State, and moved to Ohio in about 1830. He settled in Wayne County and afterward in Hancock County. Mr. Thompson was a wheelwright by trade, and worked at this in connection with farming for many years. In 1851 he made the trip overland to California, spent twenty-six years in that State, and then returned to his family in Iowa, in 1878. He died in Jasper County, in 1885, and his wife died in Wayne County, Ohio, in about 1886. They were the parents of five sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. John Thompson was reared in Hancock and Medina Counties, remained with his mother until twenty-five years of age, and in February, 1862, he emigrated to Iowa. He located first in Jasper County, followed farming for several years, and in 1878 moved to Story County, where he has resided ever since. He is the owner of 200 acres of laud in a good state of cultivation, has a two-story house and a good barn. His farm is situated two miles south of Collins, and is a very desirable property. Although starting in life a poor man Mr. Thompson has improved every opportunity, and is today one of the substantial men of the county. He is a Democrat in politics, and has held several local offices in tne township. He is president of the school board. On January 1, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Ann Angelo, a native of Illinois, but who was reared and educated in Iowa. She is the daughter of Samuel Angelo. The two children born to this marriage are Walter H., and Bhoda Ellen (a young lady of fifteen years). Mr. Thompson is a Master Mason, and Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Christian Church.

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

Lorenzo D. Thompson, of Iowa Centre, Iowa, a respected and esteemed resident of Story County, was born in Illinois, Ogle County, on the 18th of October, 1850, and is the son of James and Catherine (Mellinger) Thompson, natives, respectively, of New York and Ohio. The father went to Ohio with his parents when a child, married there and shortly afterward moved to Illinois, locating on a farm in Ogle County. He still resides on the same, and his wife is also living. He is hale and hearty and about seventy years of age. Lorenzo D. Thompson grew to manhood on the Ogle County farm, remained with his father until twenty-one years of age, and in 1875 came west to Iowa, locating in Story County on a farm near Nevada. He moved to Iowa Centre in the fall of 1882, and has not been engaged in business since that time, except handling some stock at this place. Mr. Thompson was married in Ogle County, Ill., on the 31st of March, 1875, to Miss Sarah Richardson, daughter of William Richardson, of Ogle County, and a native of Ogle County, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have four children: Katie, Luleen, Flora and Edna. One child — Clair — was killed in the tornado of June, 1882. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics, was elected justice of the peace of Indian Creek Township in 1886, re-elected in 1888, and is now serving his second term. He is a delegate to the next Story County Convention. He has been reasonably successful since his residence in this county, and is considered one of ts substantial citizens. He owns a good farm in Nevada Township and good residence prouty in Iowa Centre. He is a Master Mason, cially. James Thurston, farmer and stock-breeder, Nevada, Iowa. Nearly ever since his identification with Story County as one of her citizens, Mr. Thurston has been interested in the raising and breeding of horses, and by reason of his long and intimate acquaintance with this branch of industry, he has become well known. Born in Delaware County, Ohio, on the 13th of September, 1827, he was the son of Isaac and Phoebe (Inman) Thurston, the father a native of Rhode Island. The mother died in Ohio in 1841, and the father died in Kane County, Ill., at the age of sixty-nine years. James Thurston, the youngest of nine children, three of whom are living, came to Kane County, Ill., in 1844, and made his home in that State until 1880. As he had early been taught the duties of the farm, he followed this occupation in Illinois, until coming to Story County, Iowa, in the last mentioned date. He settled on 140 acres on Section 13, Nevada Township, and has for many years been engaged in stock-breeding. He is now the keeper of two thoroughbred Percheron horses, owned by a Farmers' Stock Improvement Company, of New Albany — Sebastapol, four years old, and weighing 1,850 pounds; and Muscat, also four years old, and weighing 1,700 pounds. These thoroughbred horses, valued at $2,000 each, were purchased in Europe by W. L. Elwood, of DeKalb, Ill., in March, 1889, and were imported thence direct to this country. These are two of the finest horses in the county. Mr. Thurston was married in 1852 to Miss Sarah Perry, a native of DeKalb County, Ill., and three interesting children have been born to this union: Laura J., Esther A., and Anna V. Mr. Thurston is a Republican in his political views, and Mrs. Thurston is a member of the United Brethren Church.

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