In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1914) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1833
From History of Boone County, Iowa (1914), A Biographical record of Boone County, Iowa (1902)
J. W. THOMPSON.
J. W. Thompson, who is the editor and publisher of the Boone County Messenger of Ogden, Iowa, has resided in this county since May, 1866. He was born in Westmoreland unity, Pennsylvania, September 1833, his parents being James and Jane (Park) Thompson. The father was born in Maryland and by occupation was a farmer. The mother's birth occurred in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, and in the year 1852 the family came to Iowa, settling in Linn county. The parents have both passed away, the mother having died in that count)' in l86o3 while the father's death occurred in Jefferson. Greene county, Iowa, in 1871. In his political views he was a Whig in early life and later became a Republican, but he never sought or desired political preferment. In the family were twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, of whom one brother 1- in < Iregon, another in Washington, the third in Bayard, Iowa, while the fourth brother of our subject is deceased. The sisters are living, one in ( tiden. one in Lenox, one in Amaqua township, Boone county, one in Marquette, Michigan, and one in Oklahoma, while the other two are deceased. Two of the brothers served throughout the Civil war as members of Company A. Thirteenth [1 w.i Infantry and were mustered out at the Cli ise 1 if hostilities.
The subject of this review spent his early youth in the county of his nativity, acquiring his education in the public schools and when about nineteen years of age he came with his parents to Iowa, settling in Linn county. He was married in that county in 1854 to Miss Mary Rogers,. whose birth occurred in Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 1 6th of August, 1832. She was a daughter of Henry and Fannie (Wertz) Rogers, both of whom have nowpassed away. They, too, were farming people. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born seven children of whom a son and a daughter died in childhood.. Five daughters are now living and three of the number are married. Mrs..Martha Elliott makes her home in Beaver, Iowa. Mrs. Etta Weaver resides in Boone, [owa, while Mrs. Anna Kellogg, a widow, is a resident of Chicago. The daughters at home are both successful educators in the public schools of < >gden. tiara being a principal, while Mae is a teacher in the grammar grade.
Mr. Thompson has resided upon a farm for many years yet spent much, of his time aa teacher and his educational work ranked him among the successful members of the profession in this part of the state. In January. 1890, however, he turned his attention to journalistic work ami founded the Boone County Messenger in company with Cyrus F. Weaver under the lain name of Thompson & Weaver. In the fall of 1892, however, he purchased Mr. Weaver's interest and since that time has been --le owner and publisher of the paper, which he has made one of the leading country journals in this part of the state. The political complexion of the paper is that hi an independent Democratic journal. It is largely devoted to the dissemination of local and general news and to affairs in behalf iif the welfare, progress and improvement 'it the community.
As printed in A Biographical record of Boone County, Iowa (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN W". THOMPSON.
John W. Thompson is a business veteran of Ogden, Iowa, where he was for many years connected with the publishing business as editor and owner of the Boone County Messenger. Since 191 1 he has lived retired in the enjoyment of a well earned competency. He was born in Pennsylvania, September 9, 1833, and is a son of James and Jane (Park) Thompson, the father a native of Maryland and the mother of Pennsylvania. James Thompson followed agricultural pursuits and also was active in mercantile life. At an early day in the history of Iowa he came to Greene county, where he bought land, but he passed away shortly after his arrival there. The mother died in Cedar Rapids, whence the family subsequently came to Boone county.
John W. Thompson was reared and educated in Pennsylvania, finishing his course at a private school in that state. In 1852 he went with the family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the trip being made by boat from Pittsburgh to Muscatine. They then drove to Cedar Rapids, where the father made entry for land, and our subject well remembers when he plowed corn on the tract where West Cedar Rapids now stands. Mr. Thompson of this review fanned there for about two years but in 1866 came to Boone county, Iowa, where he purchased land to the extent of eighty-nine acres. This tract he improved and operated until 1881, acting during the winter months as principal of the schools of Moingona for some time. As a school teacher as well as a farmer he was successful and earned the respect and esteem of his friends and neighbors. Upon coming to Ogden Mr. Thompson engaged in the newspaper business, organizing the Boone County Messenger. This paper he conducted for about twenty years. Its editorial policy was always clean-cut, while particular attention was given to the setting forth of local happenings. Mr. Thompson not only proved himself an able editor but he was a successful business manager. His circulation list increased year by year, and his advertising patronage gained in volume and quality. When he retired from the newspaper business in 191I he had built up a valuable organ in the country press of the state. Mr. Thompson has now passed his eightieth year, yet he is very active and interested in the growth and development of his city and section, to which he contributed so much in his newspaper career.
On September 12, 1854, John W. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rogers, a daughter of Henry and Frances (Bixby) Rogers, natives of Pennsylvania, who went to Linn county, Iowa, during pioneer days. There the father engaged in farming, operating land in that section for the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson became the parents of seven children: Mattie E., who jnarried S. J. Elliott and they reside in Beaver, Boone county; Clara, who is teaching school in St. Paul, Minnesota, and for fourteen years was principal of the Ogden schools; May, the wife of Edward Freeman, a passenger conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad; Anna, who married Dr. Bradshaw, a dentist of Ogden; Etta, the wife of C. F. Weaver, a newspaper man of Ames, iy whom she has nine children; Wiley J., who passed away in 1865, at the age of two years; and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Thompson's death occurred in 1872 and on January 20, 1906, Mr. Thompson married Mrs. Euretta S. Brooks, daughter of Joel and Betsy (Hill) Clark and the widow of Harvey Brooks. The latter was a veteran of the Civil war and a pioneer of Boone county, where he passed away July 27, 1902.
Mr. Thompson has always given his support to the democratic party and stanchly believes in the principles and platform of that organization. He has ever interested himself in public affairs and for a number of years served as township clerk. His religion is that of the Methodist church. Much credit is due Mr. Thompson not only for his accomplishments in his own behalf, but for the service which he rendered his community in his semi-public position as editor and owner of the Boone County Messenger. He has ever given his influence toward promoting improvements and has taken his part in bringing to Ogden.and Boone county the conveniences and comforts of modern civilization.
As printed in History of Boone County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1914. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.