Alexander C. Thompson

As printed in 1910

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 Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.