Biography of William A Thompson, Fulton Co, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Michael Brown <michael@grnco.net>
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

page 303

Dr. William A. Thompson, an eminent medical practitioner, who has recently
located in Mammoth Spring, is a native of Pope County, Ill., where he was born
December 22, 1852, being a son of Jacob A. and Polly (Shuffelbarger) Thompson,
who were born in West Virginia in 1819 and Pennsylvania in 1824, respectively.
The former, with his parents, was among the very earliest settlers of Pope
County, and there the latter couple died. Jacob Thompson inherits Scotch and
Irish blood from his parents, and has inherited many of the sterling qualities
of his Scottish ancestors. He has been a farmer throughout life, is still
residing in Pope County, and in his political views has always been a Democrat.
He was a faithful soldier for the Union cause throughout the Rebellion, and was
a participant in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and numerous other important
battles, and was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant. He was one of the
men who went through on the Gerrison raid. His wife died in Pope County the
first year of the war, having borne a family of eight children, only four of
whom are now living: One a merchant in Alton, Mo., another a stockman of
Kansas, one a minister of the gospel, and the Doctor. The latter was nine years
of age when his mother died, and shortly after his father went to the war, and
he was left to make his home with a neighbor. At the age of fourteen years he
went to Northern Illinois, and received excellent educational opportunities
(which he did not fail to improve) in McKendrie College, St. Clair County, Ill.
In the spring of 1883 he was graduated from the Medical University of
Louisville, Ky., and after practicing a very short time in Stoddard County,
Mo., he moved to Oregon County, where he became a well known and successful-
practitioner. Since the first of the year 1889 he has resided in Mammoth
Spring, where he is winning the confidence and respect of all who know him. In
March, 1876, he was married to Miss Amanda Miller, who was born in Stoddard
County, Mo., in 1856, and was there reared to womanhood. She died in 1882,
having borne two children: Birdie and Hattie. She was a daughter of George F.
and Sarah (Hardy) Miller, both of whom spent their lives in Stoddard County.
Mrs. Margaret George became Dr. Thompson's second wife in December, 1883. Her
birth occurred in Randolph County, Ark., in 1846, she being a daughter of Rev.
R. O. Tribble, a Missionary Baptist minister, and the first minister of Oregon
County. The Doctor and his wife have one child, William A. He owns 700 acres of
land in Oregon County, Mo., and his home lot in Mammoth Spring comprises three
acres. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Alton, Mo., and in his political
views has always been a stanch Republican, having cast his first presidential
vote for R. B. Hayes. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
His first wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.