John A. Thompson

As printed in 1895

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Mr. Thompson was the sixth in order of birth of the parental family, and was born on the old homestead, April 26, 1838. He was reared on thispl.ice and has continued to make it his home ever since. William Thompson, our subject's father, w.as a n.ative of Ireland, having been born in County Tyrone, February 5, 1791. His parents emigrated to the United States when he was a child of two years, and at once settled in Fayette County, Pa., where William was reared on their farm. On the outbreak of the War of 1812. he served in its ranks as a brave soldier, and throughout his entire life was interested and took an active part in the welfare of his country.

In the year 1825 William Thompson made the journey to Ohio, and purchasing land in Monroe Township, made improvements on the same, and lived thereon in a single state for some time, when he returned to Penns3'vania and was united in marriage with.Sarah Ansley. In 1826 he came with his bride to their new home, and there lived in a quiet way until his decease, when advanced in years.

The mother of our subject was born in Beaver County, Pa., April 25, 1799, and was the daughter of Scotch parents. Her death occurred July 14, 1878, while her husband survived her two years, dying Marcii 9, 1880. Their family included seven children. Of these, James, born January 5, 1828, died December 27, 1862; Mary J., born October 29, 1829, married John Cherry, and departed this life June 12, 1891; Nancy was born December 13, 1831, and became the wife of Hamilton Pollock, dying in February, 1858; Margaret, born January 9, 1834, died November 5, 1855; Elizabeth, born February 26. 1836, died October 16, 1857; John A. is our subject; and William H., born June 24, 1841, is now living on a farm in Muskingum County. The latter enlisted asa member of Company H, Sixty-fifth Oiiio Infantry, during the late war, and participated in many of the hard-fought engagements of that period. He married Mary J. Lec on his return from the army. She died July 7, 1878, and he was afterward united in marriage with Margaret 'Moore.

The original of this sketch obtained a good education in the schools taught in the district, and remained with his parents for two years after reaching his majority. He was n)arrived, September 19, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Neel, their union resulting in the birth of the following-named children: Leona, who died aged twenty-six years; Ansley N., who married Ida M. George; U. D., married to Coloma Campbell; Sallie K., who died when three years old; John M., living with his father; and Mattie M., deceased. The mother of these children departed this life March 6, 1886, and the lady to whom Mr. Thompson was married June 12, 1890, was Martha A. Boyd.

Our subject is one of the wide-awake, progressive agriculturists of Monroe Township and uses the latest improvements in the way of machinerjin the cultivation of his land. He has been veiy successful in his chosen occupation, and derives a handsome income from the raising of grain and stock. He has at all times taken a very active part in politics, on numerous occasions representing the Republican party at county conventions. In 1888 he was elected County Commissioner and on the expiration of his term, so well did he discharge the duties of the office, he was reelected by a large majority. He is a prominent member of the United Presbyterian Church, having been connected with this denomination for many years. By his honorable and upright career Mr. Thompson has won many friends and has the high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

OLOMON H. SlIROYER, a well known ag- riculturist and successful business man of Guernsey County, became the owner of the farm where hois now living in 1894. It is located one and a-half miles southwest of Cambridge, in Cambridge Township. For many years Mr. Slnoyer's time has been divided mainly between farming and milling. During the war he was in the service for a short time, as First Iieutenant of Company E, One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered out with the same rank. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Muskingum County, June 22, 1835.

The grandfather of Solomon H., Abraham Sliroyer, a native of Pennsylvania, was one of the sturdy pioneers of Muskingum County, where he entered land about 1805, when not a stick of timber had yet been cut in the township. The farm which he cleared.and culti.ated has never passed out of the family, and is now owned by a grandson. The parents of our subject were John and Elizabeth (Werts) Shroyer, the former born in Pennsylvania about 1794, while the mother was a native of Loudoun County, Va. They came with their families to Ohio when ten years of age. The marriage of Abraham Sliroyer and wife was blessed with eleven cliiUlren, namely: Adam, Jacob, Abraham, ' Elizabeth (Mrs. Adam Baker), Catherine

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Solomon H. Sliroyer left home when only eight years old, and lived with one of his elder brothers and a brother-in-law for the next six years. At the end of that time he was hired out by his guardian, working for Christian Shroyer for a year, next for G. W. Shirer for a year, and a similar time for Samuel Shrigley. For some time he then worked at whatever he could find to do, and during.one winter split rails and cut cordwood at an almost nominal price. When nineteen years of age he had enough money laid aside to buy a threshing-machine, which he operated one season and then sold. The amount realized therefrom he invested in a portable sawmill, which ho. r:in for six months and also sold. For the next five years he engaged in buying and shipping stock, and made a good living in this way.

On New Year's Day, 1863, Mr. Sliroyer married Eliza J. Biannon. At that time he was engaged in merchandising at Adamsville, and ran the store until the following year, when he sold his interest and bought a farm, though he was employed as a clerk for about two months. In May, 1864, he enlisted as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Infantry, and went to Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg. He marched with Generals Hunter and Sigel and participated in an engagement near Newtown, though he never was in a regular battle. On being mustered out in 1864, at Zanesville, jMuskingum County, he at once returned to his young wife and infant child, and until 1868 was engaged in farming. In the latter year he removed to Zanesville and opened a grocery. Later he operated a feud and grain business for about two years.

In 1872 Mr. Shroyer bought a f.'Uiii about nine miles below Zanesville. For the liuiiiestend, which comprised four hundred and fifty-live acres, he paid

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Guernsey County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies and portraits of all the p (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.