Biography of John Marion Thompson, Sebastian Co, AR

**********************************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgenwebarchives.org
**********************************************************

----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

John Marion Thompson was born in Perry County, Tenn., in 1834, and is a son of
William G. and Elizabeth C.  (Hagan) Thompson. The father was of Irish and
Scotch descent, and was born in Mecklenburgh County, N. C.,  in 1804, and at
the age of nine years was taken by his father, John Thompson, to Bedford
County, Tenn., where  he received the education and rearing of the average
farmer's boy of that period, and was married in 1825. In  1852 he located in
Henry County, Tenn., and in January, 1880, became a resident of Sebastian
County, and on  the 23d of the same month died at the home of his son, John M.,
having contracted a cold on his way here. His  wife was born in Middle
Tennessee in 1804, and died October 10, 1874, having borne a family of ten
children,  five of whom are living: Margaret, wife of W. L. Cole; Rebecca J.,
wife of Thomas Ary; John Marion, Martha  K., and Amanda, wife of W. W. Holden.
John Marion resided under the paternal roof until twenty-two years of  age, and
during the late war was one of the boys in gray. May 20, 1861, he enlisted in
Company D, Fifth  Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States
Army, and was a participant in the battles of  Shiloh, Perryville, Murfeesboro,
Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, Jonesboro and many severe  skirmishes.
He was neither wounded nor captured during the war, and was only sick when he
had the measles.  He was paroled at Johnsonville, Tenn., May 23, 1865, but
surrendered at Greensboro, N. C. His service  extended over a period of four
years and three days. After the war he returned to Henry County, Tenn., and
February 22, 1866, was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Cole, a daughter of
Joseph and Polly Cole. She  was born in 1834 or 1835, and died in Sebastian
County, Ark., April 24, 1885, having borne a family of five  children: Emma B.,
wife of Harvey Oliver; Joseph E.; Lulu D., who is keeping house for her father;
Albert S.  and Mary M. In 1870 Mr. Thompson moved to Calloway County, Ky., and
seven years later came to Sebastian  County, Ark., and the following year
purchased eighty-seven acres of some of the most fertile land in the  county.
He has since increased his land until he now owns 105 acres, and throughout the
county is considered  one of its foremost farmers. His farm is about six miles
from the county seat, and he has a pleasant and  comfortable residence. He is a
Democrat in his political views.