Virgil M. Thompson

As printed in 1898

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 A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.