In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916)
TACOB THOMPSON.
Although the immediate subject of this sketch has passed from the land of the living, he is still remembered by friends and neighbors near his home in Tordenskjold township, where his widow still resides. He was a man of kindly nature, who easily made friends, and was possessed of such integrity and industry as won for him the respect of all who knew him. By his labors he made for his family a comfortable home, practically hewing it out of the wilderness
Jacob Thompson was born in Larwick, Norway, and when a boy of sixteen years, ran away to sea. He was on the sea during the years of the nil War of this country and was on a vessel captured by the Confederates and held a prisoner for some time. Upon his release, after the close of the war. he came to Minnesota and settled in Otter Tail county, homesteading a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Tordenskjold township. He later purchased twelve additional acres and was possessed of one hundred and seventy-two acres at the time of his death, which occurred on June 3, 1800. His land was all covered with forest when he obtained it and he cleared it all and made other great improvements, the house which he originally built still standing.
On August 6, 1871, Jacob Thompson was united in marriage with Martha Torstenson, who was born in Norway, June 24, [847, a daughter of Torsten and Mallena Torstenson. The family came to America in [869 and located in < )tter Tail county, where they lived for a great many years. To Jacob Thompson and wife were born five children. Thorn, the eldest, lives in Underwood, where he is a drayman; Matilda is the wife of William Mags of Sauk Center, this state; Annetta married Andrew Olson and lives in Fergus Falls; Theo is Mr>. John Lindeblo, of Raymon, Montana, and Julius, the youngest of the family, follows the trade of blacksmith and makes his home with his mother. Both Jacob Thompson and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and were active in the early yearof that faith in this vicinity, as she-till is. lie was an excellent man and left to his children that richest of all heritages-— a good name.
As printed in History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1916. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.