The Thompson Families of Summit County, Ohio

SYLVESTER H. THOMPSON, retired; Hudson, more familiarly known as Judge Thompson, was born in Hudson, Ohio. July 28, 1808. He was the fifth child born to Dr. Moses Thompson (who is mentioned in the township history, as being the first physician of Summit County). Dr. Thompson was married to Elizabeth Mills in Connecticut, in 1795; they moved into the State of New York immediately after their marriage, where they lived until 1800, when he came to Ohio and selected land in the vicinity of Hudson; then returned to New York for his family which consisted of wife and one child; they arrived here and settled permanently in 1801. They were blessed with eleven children, viz., Eliza L. (deceased) was wife of Horace Metcalf; Susan, (deceased) was wife of Horace Holbrook; Mills, now deceased was a prominent farmer: Erailv (deceased) was wife of Samuel Woods; Sylvester H.; Virgil M., of Stow Township; Ruth, wife of Leander Starr, of Hudson; Maiy, widow of John Flazeltine, who with her daughter resides west of Hudson; Sarah A. (deceased), who was the wife of Chas. Aikin; Martha, died in youth, and Elizabeth, who is unmarried. Over half a century of Mrs. Thompson's life and labors were well spent in this community. Besides the care incident to rearing of her own numerous family, it would require a volume to do justice to her memory, as respecting her humane and benevolent characteristics and acts toward the sick or needy, during the days of meager supplies.

f.k with the pioneer" settlers; her life work closed on Nov. 20, 1851. Dr. Thompson survived his wife until Nov. 17, 1858. There was nothing remarkable in the early life of Judge Thompson; he attended school in boyhood, and got a fair education in the old primitive schools of his early life. His brain was spared the confusion of college classics, but was possessed of an abundance of practical good, hard sense, which with strict integrity, eventually placed him in the front rank of honored citizens. When he was about 22 years of age, he began farming, on his own account, on 80 acres for which his father paid $420. He was married to Carolina D. Peck, May 14, 1833. She was born in Connecticut, Dec. 6, 1808, and came here from Waterbury, Conn., on a visit to her brothers, who were contractors and builders, and who built the Congregational Church in Hudson. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, viz., Charles S. (deceased); Sherman P., Martha E. (now Mrs. P. Gr. Clark, of East Cleveland); Theodore F. and Albert S., and two who died in childhood. Mr. Thompson was the first assessor in Hudson Township, and has held other offices which were the gift of the people of the township. He was elected Justice of the Peace, and after serving one year he resigned, to accept the appointment of Associate Judge, in 1845, which office he held until the new State Constitution was adopted, with provisions which abolished the office of Associate Judge, in 1851. In 1864, he was appointed. Commissioner for this county on the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad. He was connected with the City Bank of Akron, Ohio, of which he was President for thirteen years. The first apples which were grown in this vicinity, were probably those on Dr. Thompson's premises, trees produced from seeds taken from a piece of pomace, which the Doctor picked up where he stopped to feed his ox team when coming here through Pennsylvania, in 1801, formed nucleus of an orchard. Judge Thompson remembers distinctly the first apple which was borne thereon, in 1813. That was the.s and only one produced on their trees that year, and as it increased in size and reddened with the sun, like the "apple" of old, it was the source of considerable temptation to the children to taste it and not " transgress." so they devised a means: two pulled the slender tree against the house, to which it stood close, a third one would climb, scrape a hole in the apple with his finger nail and carry the scrapings down to those doing service at the stem until all would have a taste. Although in advanced years, the Judge is in robust health and enjoys in a retired manner, the fruits of his early industry, as well as the high esteem of his fellow citizens. His wife, who was his great helper in his much varied life, died Nov. 23, 1876.

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

VIRGIL M. THOMPSON is one of the lady pioneers of Summit county, and is the widow of the gentleman whose name she bears — Virgil M. Thompson, who was born in Hudson township. Summit county, Ohio, March 14, 1810, a son of Dr. Moses and Elizabeth (Mills) Thompson.

Dr. Moses Thompson was born in Goshen, Conn., and in that state married Elizabeth Mills. He practiced medicine in Goshen, Conn., until 1800, when he came to Hudson, Summit county, Ohio, and became a well-known physician among the pioneers. His children were Susan, Louvira, Ruth, Emily, Mary, Sarah A., Martha, Elizabeth, Mills, Sylvester, Virgil M. and Guy, the last named dying young. Dr. Thompson was one of the early Masons of Hudson and a prominent and respected man. He owned and lived on his farm two miles south of Hudson for many years. This land he bought in 1800 and cleared it from the wilderness, making a good farm of 200 acres, and here resided until his death, at the age of eighty years, in 1859. The farm is still owned by his heirs.

Virgil M. Thompson, deceased husband of our subject, received a good education, attending for a time the Western Reserve college, and was reared a farmer. He married, the first time. May 11, 1836, in Hudson township, Maria Smith, who was from Vermont. There were no children by this marriage. She died twenty-two months after marriage, and Mr. Thompson next married, in May, 1842, in Cuyahoga Falls, Marie Antoinette Turner, who was born May 2, 1821, in Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Rosanna (Owen) Turner. William Turner was born in Orange county, N. Y., September 5, 1782. He came to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 181 8, bringing his family and making the journey via Pennsylvania with wagons, and was six weeks on the way. He was a carpenter and followed that work in Cuyahoga Falls, where he settled in April, 1828. His children were Grant B., Edward B., Marie Antoinette, and Harriet O. Mr. Turner was in politics a whig and republican. He was an energetic, industrious and honorable citizen, acquired a comfortable property, and brought up an excellent family. He lived to be about sixty-five years of age and died at Sea Falls in the year 1847.

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thompson settled on the farm where Mrs. Thompson now lives. Mr. Thompson bought this farm in 1835, "d partly cleared it, especially the north half, which he purchased from the Connecticut Land company. He prospered by his thrift and energy, and finally acquired a goodly property, consisting of 350 acres of valuable land, which is now owned by Mrs. Thompson. Mr. Thompson was a member of the Presbyterian church of Hudson, Ohio, and Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Episcopal church of Cuyahoga Falls. In politics he was an old-line whig and afterward became a republican. He was an honored citizen, served as township trustee, and also held several other offices. He was a well-known and public-spirited gentleman, and highly respected for his sterling character, uprightness and excellent morals, and died January ti, 1894, aged about eighty-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born three children, viz: Celia M., Mary A. and Emma P. Of these, Celia M. married Henry H. Chamberlain, of Hudson, Ohio; she is now deceased, leaving no children. Mary A. married Mr. Chamberlain above mentioned; they have no children; he is now in the milling business in Hudson. Emma P. married Edward D. Ellsworth, a farmer of Stowe township, now deceased, leaving two children — Fred Thompson and Mary Antoinette. Mrs. Thompson is now a venerable lady with an excellent memory and well preserved faculties, having furnished the matter for this biography.

Edward D. Ellsworth was born July 30, 1847, in Hudson, Ohio, a son of Edgar B. and Mary (Daws) Ellsworth — was of New England ancestry, and Edgar B. was a merchant of Hudson, Ohio. Edward D. Ellsworth received a common-school education and became a farmer. He married Miss Thompson March 27, 1867, and settled on a farm in Stowe township. He was an industrious man and good citizen, but is now deceased.

Fred Thompson Ellsworth, son of above, was born October 8, 1 8 —, and married November 4, 1893, Elizabeth B. Harrington, a widow, (nee Dillon), a daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy (Connor) Dillon.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SHERMAN P. THOMPSON, one of Hudson Township's representative men, where he owns a large estate, consisting of 335 acres of valuable, highly-improved land, was born in Summit County, Ohio. February 2, 1840. He is a son of Hon. Sylvester H. and Caroline D. fPeck) Thompson, and a grandson of Dr. Moses Thompson.

Dr. Moses Thompson was born January 22, 1776. at Goshen, Connecticut, where he was liberally educated and became a medical practitioner. On December 22, 1797, he married Elizabeth Mills and immediately afterward moved to Kinderhook, New York. There ho practiced his prof.s.-ion until 1800. when he joined the first party of settlers coming to Summit County. He accompanied David

Hudson and purchased 750 acres of land in the southwestern part of Hudson Township, for himself and two brothers, Abraham and Stephen, and for his father. Deacon Stephen Thompson. Dr. Thoinison then walked back to Connecticut, making the trip in twelve days, and in the spring of 1801, accompanied by his wife and one child, he returned to Summit County and settled on a farm two miles southwest of Hudson, where he spent the rest of his life. On this land he built a log house, which he later replaced by what was considered a very grand house in those days. He lived to the venerable age of over eighty-two years, and even then an accident terminated a life which has been in high degree useful to his fellow-citizens. He was the first medical practitioner in what is now Portage County, and the territory over which he practiced covered a radius of fifty miles. During the War of 1812, Dr. Thompson served as a surgeon. His land in the meantime had proved very productive, and he engaged in the business of shipping produce from it to the southern markets. He was an earnest supporter of all religious and educational enterprises, gave liberally to charity and was a leading man of his day and locality.

Dr. Thompson has the following children: Eliza Lemira, who married Horace Metcalf; Susan, who married Horace Holbrook; Mills: Emily, who became the widow of Sanuiel Woods; Sylvested H. and Virgil M.; Ruth B., who married Leander Starr; Mary, who married John Hazelton; Martha, who died aged twenty-two years; and Elizabeth, who never married, and survived all the other members of the family.

Hon. Svlvester H. Thompson, father of Sherman P., was born July 28, 1808, on the old homestead, and attended the preparatory school in the Western Reserve. He was reared as a farmer and when twenty-two years old began farming on his own account. On May 14, 1832, he was married to Caroline D. Peck, who was born December 6, 1808, at Waterbury, Connecticut. She met Sylvester H. Thompson, whom she subsequently married, while on a visit to her brother at Hudson.

She died November 23, 1876, having been the mother of seven child'en, as follows: Charles S., now deceased; Sherman P., whose name begins this sketch; Mai'tha E., who married P. G. Clark and resides at Cleveland; Theodore F' residing in Akron; Albert S., residing at Cleveland; and two died in childhood. Judge Thompson died January 15, 1883, aged seventy-four years, five months and seventeen days.

After his marriage, Sylvester H. Thompson went to farming on a tract of land for which his father paid $420. He soon gained the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and was called upon to hold office more or less all through his life. He sen'ed first as assessor, and in other positions, and then was elected justice of the peace, an office he resigned within one year in order to accept an appointment as associate.judge. He served in this latter capacity from 1845 until the office was abolished by the new state constitution in 1851. In 1864 he was appointed commissioner of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad. For thirteen years he was connected with the City Bank of Akron. In all things he worked faithfully for the good of the community, and the annals of this section of. Summit County show his usefulness and prominence in public affairs.

Sherman Peck Thompson was born on the farm now occupied by Judge Phillips, and was there reared until six years of age, when his father settled on what is now the Townsend farm, west of the depot, in Fludson. He resided until September 12, 1861, on this place, which he purchased from his brother in 1862, He has erected all the buildings except a part of his residence, and, distributed over his property, he has fifteen houses and barns, be,ides a number of silos. He rents three properties in Cleveland. AVhen he came here first lie had 130 acres, which he has increased to 335, the larger part of the property being under the capable management of his son. Dairying has been made a specialty, and at one time as many as seventy milch cows were kept. His land is well adapted to the growing of both wheat and potatoes, and

Mr. Thompson recalls that one year he harvested 7,000 bushels of the tubers. His orchards have also been great producers. The history of apple-growing in this section is interesting. The first apples were probably grown on the old Dr. Thompson place, trees having been produced from seeds taken from a piece of pomace, which Dr. Thompson inadvertently picked up when he stopped to feed his ox-team, when coming through Pennsylvania in 1801. The wonderful vitality of the seeds were shown by their producing trees, some of which are still living. The late Judge Thompson remembered the appearance of one apple that wa.' grown in 1813, and what a temptation it wa to the eager children who scarcely permitted it to reach perfection.

In early manhood Mr. Thompson was married to Cordelia M. Chamberlain, who was born in Hudson Township, north of Hudson, and is a daughter of Amos and Jerusha (Crane) Chamberlain. Her father came to Ohio from Winchester, Connecticut, before he had attained maturity. William Chamberlain, Mrs. Thompson's grandfather, emigrated from England to Connecticut, in 1780, and with his' wife came to Ohio in 1809. settling on a farm in Hudson Township, where he lived until the death of his wife, when he made his home with his son Amos. The hotter married Jerusha Crane, who was born at Saulsbury, Connecticut, and they had ten children as follows: Horace, residing in Northfield Township; Harris, residing on the old John Brown farm in Hudson; Schyler, also residing on the Brown farm; Mark, who died in infancy; Laura, who married Mr. Egbert, and resides in Bedford; Mrs. Jerusha Baldwin, a r&sident of Akron; Or\dlle, residing at Freedom; Catherine, who is unmarried, residing at Hudson; Cordelia M.. who married Sherman P. Thompson; and Henry, who married Mary Thompson. Amos Chamberlain had a farm of 288 acres, the larger part of which he cleared himself. The family settled in a log house there at a time when wolves and bears were very plentiful.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have had five children, namely: Charles Sylvester, born at Hudson, Ohio, February 18, 1S{y4, died February 6, 1879; Eddie S., born April 17, 1866, died young; Frederick Sherman, born January 4, 1868, was married to Lillian M. Terry, October 18, 1893, who died April 26, 1898, leaving two children: Carroll, born October 24, 1894, and Lynn M., born April 19, 1898; Caroline Estella, born August 28, 1870, died May 28, 1879; and Corda May, born May 8, 1876, who married Carl Case Scott, October 9, 1901, and has two children: Sherman and Dorothy. Their home is within one and one-half miles of Hudson.

Mr. Thompson is independent in politics. Formerly he was identified with the Republican party, but voted with the Democratic party during Mr. Bryan's first campaign, since which time he has been disconnected from both of the leading political organizations. He has never sought political preferment for himself.

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

STEPHEN THOMPSON, deceased: was born in Groshen, Conn.; he married Abigail Hutchinson. They, with three children, William, Hiram and Elijah, emigrated to this township in the fall of 1801. They reared a family of eleven children in all — William. Hiram, Elijah, Serena, Lucretia, Alonzo, ITriah, Premila, Amos, Alonzo 2d, and Abigail. The old folks (Stephen and his wife), died many years since, in the east of Hudson Village. Hiram was born in Goshen, Conn., Aug. 30, 1797. When he was about 17 years of age, he began to work for himself, and paid for 50 acres of land where he now lives. He married Sabrina Danforth, Jan. 23, 1823. She was the eldest daughter of Enoch Danfoi'th; she was born in New Hampshire, Jan. 26, 1806. They reared nine children, viz.: Lorenzo, now in Kent Co., Mich.; Amelia, wife of Dr. E. Meers, of Uniontown; Harriet, deceased, wife of Henry Sandford; Jeremiah, now in Le Mai's, Iowa; Laura L. is wife of William Bell; Mary, deceased, wife of Charles Case; Louisa, wife of Orrin Reynolds, of Chicago, Ill.; William was killed by the cars when thrown from the track, near Hudson, in 1864; Emma, wife of E. Cartwright. Mr. Hiram Thompson added to his first purchase until he owned 161 acres of good land. He never worked a team of horses on farm work, but used oxen instead all his time. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have retired from the active duties of the farm, and left the same to the care of their daughter and son-in-law, WMlliam C. Bell. He was born in Pennsylvania in March, 1841, and came here in 1859; he enlisted in the late rebellion, in August, 1861, Co. A, 0. V. C. lie got his discharge Dec. 31, 1863, and re-enlisted as veteran in same company and regiment, and served until the close of the war, and got his final discharge Sept. 11, 1865. He had two horses shot from under him, one of which fell on him and disabled him, in September, 1864, near Charlestown. On

1 his return, he married Laura L. Thompson. They have three children, viz., Willie L., Emma A. and Frederick W. At the time Stephen Thompson and his family came, they brought several cows and about eighteen sheep, which they drove all the way from Connecticut. They had hard work in protecting their sheep from the ravages of wolves in those daN's, as lambs and pigs were frequently carried off Wild turkeys were plentiful, and Hiram has shot several at their barn, substituting corn for shot when the latter could not be procured.

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

AMOS THOMPSON, farmer; P. 0. Hudson, is the son of Stephen Thompson, who came from Goshen, Conn., with his wife and three children, settling here in 1802. Amos was born in this township, Sept. 13, 1812. Throughout his whole life he has been a well-to-do farmer without any desire for notoriety in public life. He has been twice married; first in 1836, to Miss Laura Smith, of Randolph. By this union there were six children, three deceased and three living. Those surviving are Henry 0., Ada A. and Arthur N. Their mother was a native of the State of New York, and came here with her parents about two years previous to her marriage; she died Sept. 13, 1874. Mr. Thompson's second marriage was with Mrs. Lavina Sandford, widow of the late Peter Sandford, of Kent. The present Mrs. Thompson was twice married prior to her union with Mr. Thompson; she has one child, Emma Arrow, by her first husband, John Arrow.

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

HARRY C. THOMPSON, deceased. He was born in Berkshire Co., Conn., Nov. 24, 1801. He was the son of Isaac and Polly (Campbell) Thompson, who moved, with their family of eight children, from Connecticut to Ohio, in 1814, locating at Ravenna. Their children were Eliza, now widow of Dr. Swift, living at Ravenna; Harry C, deceased; Charles B., deceased; Orrin C. T., now a Presbyterian Minister in Detroit, Mich.; Robert W., deceased; he and Richard J., who resides on the old homestead at Ravenna, were twins; Mary, in Ravenna; Charlotte, deceased. When Harry C. was about 21 years of age, he discontinued farming, and apprenticed himself to a tailor in Ravenna. When his apprenticeship expired, he went to New York, and there worked at journeywork until he became perfectly acquainted with the business. In about two years, he returned to Ravenna, and opened a tailoring establishment — the only one of the kind in the place. His trade increased until he employed eight hands and conducted a very successful business. In 1836, his health failed, from too close application to his business, necessitating a withdrawal therefrom. He was married to Harriet A. Ellsworth, Jan. 7, 1830. She was the daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Oviatt) Ellsworth, who came here from Connecticut in 1811. Mrs. Thompson was then a child about 2 years of age. She was born in Connecticut Nov. 23, 1809. When Mr. Thompson closed out his tailoring establishment, they opened a boarding-house in Ravenna, which they conducted with success for many years; this he afterward sold out, and purchased a farm north of Hudson, where they resided twelve years. In 1 868, they moved into Hudson, where they anticipated a life of rest in their lives' evening-time, apart from the bustle and toil of the world. Mr. Thompson was elected Justice of the Peace after coming to Hudson, and served eight years. He has been appointed administrator of twenty-four different states. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were parents of two children, viz.: Robert W., who resides on the farm; and Elisha, who died at the age of 12. Mr. Thompson's worldly cares ceased in death Dec. 19, 1877. Mrs. Thompson is one of the few who came here in pioneer days, and, although well advanced in her 72d year, has a good memory and a vigorous constitution.

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

OTIS REED THOMPSON, proprietor of the Crystal Creek Celery Farm, a tract of 171 acres, situated in Stow Township, has been a prominent citizen of this section for a number of years. Mr. Thompson was born September 12', 1849, at Hartville, Lake Township, Stark County, Ohio, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Susanne (Werner) Thompson.

Benjamin F. Thompson, was born January 13, 1820, in the same house and on the same farm in which his son Otis R. was born, his father John Thompson, having been a very early settler in Stark County. All through his active life he has been engaged extensively in farming, has bought and sold cattle on a large scale and raised many sheep. In politics he is a Republican, but he has paid less attention to office-holding than many others whose business interests were not so large. He has been twice married and he and his first and second wife have been consistent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Benjamin F. Thompson was married (first) to Susanne Werner, who died in 1863. She was a daughter of John Werner, of Stark County, Ohio, and she became the mother of eight children, six of whom reached maturity, as follows: John L., residing at Cuyahoga Falls; Henry, residing in Cuyahoga Falls Township; Emily, who married Travella Wilcox, and resides in Cleveland; Mary, wife of Cyrus Yerrick, and residing in Akron; Otis Reed; and Loretta, who married William Lane. Emily and Loretta are deceased. Mr. Thompson was married (second) to Martha

Linn, of New Berlin, Ohio, and they have hud one son, Harvev, who resides at Cuvahoga Falls.

Oti.s Reed Thompson was reared in a home where all material comforts were abundant, but his educational advantages were very limited. He was only fifteen years of age when he enlisted as a drummer boy in Company A, 19th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Charles F. Manderson, and he remained in the service a little over two years. The first battle in which his settle was tried, was at Ringold Station, below Chattanooga. He later took part in the Atlanta campaign, was engaged in battle of Franklin, Tennessee, later on participated in the second battle of Nashville, after which he went with his regiment to Texas. After his honorable discharge from the army in which he had displayed the enthusiasm of youth and the bravery of manhood, Mr. Thompson returned to Lake Township and remained at home with his father whom he greatly assisted. Some two years later he accompanied his father and step-mother, the latter of whom was a kind, motherly woman, to Stow Township, where they settled on a farm on which the Test Station now stands. His parents subsequently moved to Cuyahoga Falls, but Otis Reed remained on that farm for fourteen years.

From the age of fourteen Mr. Thompson was trusted by his father with business affairs, having shown rare good judgment, even in childhood, concerning the handling of stock. During most of his subsequent life, Mr. Thompson has given special attention to this line of industry, for many years being a noted breeder of stock and fine horses; and even now, when his main attention is directed to another industry, he still breeds Shetland ponies and at the present writing (1907) has twenty-four head of these beautiful little animals. On the above farm, Mr. Thonij)Son also ran a dairy, raising many cows at that time and there started his horse-breeding industry which later assumed such large proportions. In 1888 he bought his present farm of 171 acres, naming it appropriately the Crystal Creek Stock Farm, for the breeding of trotting and draft horses from registered stock. Mr. Thompson improved hi.s farm with the idea of developing speed, along with other good qualities in the horses he bred, to this end building a half mile track, where matinee races were held as long a.s he devoted his attention to that industry. lie raised many notable horses, among them b;'- ing Fariny Wilki's, who ea.sily made a record of 2.26 1-4, and that wa.s not the limit of her speed. She was used mainly as a brood mare. Mr. Thompson also bred the noted horse Jessie Wilkes, who made a record of 28 1-4 and a trial mile of 2.11. Mr. Thompson was offered $7,000 for her, but she died on his hands. Mr. Thompson has since bred Cardinal Wilkes, and Noble Wilkes, who made a mark of 29 1-4.

Mr. Thompson continued in the horse business on his place until within the past twelve years, and he is still interested in the breeding of "draft horse.s, being president of the Springdale Horse Company, which imported the Belgian stallion, Toto to improve the breed of local draft horses. This noble animal was imported July 27, 1903, at a cost of $3,000. He was approved by the Belgian government to stand for public service in Belgium, and was also approved by the French government to stand for public service in France. It is generally conceded that the Belgian is the coming breed of draft horses. During all the time that Mr. Thompson was engaged in the horse business, he also ran a large dairy, having a milk route at Cuyahoga Falls and supplying milk to Fair Oaks 'ilia for many years.

About the time that Mr. Thompson retired from the breeding of horses, he turned his attention to another profitable industry, the growing of celery, his celery tract covering about twenty-five acres, on which he raises something like $5,000 worth of the succulent vegetable a year, with the work of eight employes. He raises also corn, wheat and oats, and, as mentioned above, gives attention to his Shetland ponies. It will be seen that Mr. Thompson is a man of great business capacity and occupies a very prominent place in the attention of his fellow citizens. He has had the foresight to enable him to see favorable business opportunities, and has had the courage to push forward and make every enterprise to which he has given direct attention, a success.

When nineteen years of age Mr-. Thomj).<on was married to Isabella Machmer, who is a daughter of John Machmer, of Lake Township, Stark County. They have three children, namely: Pinetta, who married Frederick Hibbard, residing in Stow Township; Lillian, who married C. Keenan, residing at Akron; and Roy Otis. In 1906, Mr. Thompson erected what is probably the finest rural residence in this county. It is modern in every particular, equipped with hot and cold water, with a sewerage system that carries the waste to a distant creek running through the farm. The house is placed on an eminence which gives a beautiful view of the surrounding country, with a handsomely shaded lawn sloping from the front to the highway. He luis three other dwellings on the farm which are occupied by his employes. Other substantial improvements made by Mr. Thompson, include the fine bank barn which was built in 1895, its dimensions being 40 by 60 feet, with 18-foot posts. Prior to this, in 1887, he built the horse barn which is 70 by 26 feet in dimensions, with 1 6-foot po.sts. For fourteen years he has been a director of the Summit County Agricultural Society and he has served as expert judge of homes and cattle at county fairs all over the State. In politics he is a Republican, but he has never sought political office. Since its organization, he has been a member of Eddy Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Cuyahoga Falls. He is termed the "celery king" on account of his success in growing celery and to the fact that he is the largest grower in this part of Ohio. Personally, Mr. Thompson is a man who impresses one with his vigor and enterprise.

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