Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Thompson, William H. 1840 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 5, 2013, 10:01 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON.

When the tocsin of war was sounded, testing the spirit of patriotism in each
citizen of the republic, William H. Thompson of Ottumwa was among the number who
responded to the call, and for almost four years he was on active duty in
defense of the stars and stripes, being present at Appomattox, when General Lee
surrendered—the evidence of the fact that the war was over and the Union was
preserved. For a long period Mr. Thompson was identified with building
operations but is now living retired in Ottumwa, his home being at No. 424 North
Birch street. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, about ten miles from the
birthplace of President McKinley, on the 14th of October, 1840, and was a lad of
ten years when he was taken to Venango county, Pennsylvania, by his parents,
William and Marilla (Hart) Thompson. The father was born in Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, and died in Venango county in 1865, when sixty-five years of age.
He was of Scotch descent and made farming his life work. His wife was a
representative of an old Connecticut family, probably of English lineage. She
was born near Hartford, Connecticut, and passed away in Venango county,
Pennsylvania, in 1860, at the age of sixty years. In their family were seven
children, of whom William H. was the sixth in order of birth. These were: Mrs.
Lovisa Risher, now deceased; Ambrose, living in Mercer county, Pennsylvania;
Newell, who has passed away; Porter, who served for about a year in the Civil
war in the same company as his brother William and is now deceased; William H.,
of this review; Albert, who has departed this life; and one child who died in
infancy.

William H. Thompson was reared upon the home farm, with the usual experiences of
the boy who divides his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement
of a public-school education. On the twenty-first anniversary of his birth,
October 14, 1861, he enlisted at Franklin, Pennsylvania, for service in the
Civil war, joining Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which he served
for three years and ten months, or until the close of hostilities, having in the
meantime veteranized. He received a scalp wound, a minie ball grazing his head.
He took part in seventy-four engagements and was present when General Lee handed
his sword to General Grant at Appomattox, which was virtually the end of the
war. When discharged he was acting as orderly sergeant. He could have had a
commission but preferred remaining in the ranks, and on all occasions he proved
his valor and loyalty, never faltering in his allegiance to the old flag and the
cause it represented.

When the war was over Mr. Thompson returned to his old home in Pennsylvania and
began work as a carpenter and builder, which trade he followed until about
twelve years ago, when ill health forced his retirement. In 1876 he came to
Iowa, settling at Birmingham, and in the spring of 1879 removed to Ottumwa,
residing at No. 424 North Birch street since that time. He erected here the home
which he now occupies and which is an attractive and comfortable residence. He
has erected many buildings in the city and was closely identified with building
operations for a number of years.

On the 23d of December, 1867, Mr. Thompson was married, in West Middlesex,
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Elizabeth Farrell, who was born in the city
of Newry, County Down, Ireland, July 21, 1844. When two years of age she was
brought to America by her parents, Matthew and Elizabeth (Adams) Farrell, who
settled in Pennsylvania. Some years afterward they disposed of their property
and interests in that state and joined their children in Ottumwa, where both
passed away. The father was a blacksmith in his younger years. To Mr. and Mrs.
Thompson were born three children: Effie, the wife of W. P. Doty of Ottawa,
Illinois; Jennie, the wife of K. N. Eldridge of Tacoma, Washington; and William
Albert, who is living in Davenport and who married Mabel Myers, of Ottumwa. The
elder daughter, Mrs. Doty, was a teacher for eight years in the public schools
of Ottumwa before her marriage. She has two children, Helen and Albert. Mrs.
Eldridge was a teacher of music before her marriage. She has one daughter,
Elizabeth.

In politics Mr. Thompson has always been a stanch republican, unfaltering in his
allegiance to the party and its principles. for fifty-five years he has been a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been active in its work. For
forty-five years he has held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and he is a charter member of Cloutman Post, No. 69, G. A. R. He participated in
the engagement at Gettysburg and returned to the old battlefield for the
fiftieth anniversary of that sanguinary conflict. He arrived at that place on
the morning of the second day of the battle and took part in the fighting on
that and the succeeding day. His brother-in-law, David Farrell, served for three
years in the Tenth Regiment of Pennsylvania Reserves and was on active duty in
the three days' fight at Gettysburg. He, too, attended the fiftieth anniversary
celebration and met Mr. Thompson there. He was a first lieutenant of Company B,
Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves, and he died two weeks after the anniversary. The
semi-centennial celebration of that battle was made a national event, and it was
an occasion of great pleasure to Mr. Thompson and others who participated. He
greatly enjoyed meeting not only his old comrades but the Confederate troops who
were present on the occasion, when the bitterness and strife of war were over
and they clasped hands as American brothers. Mr. Thompson has ever been as loyal
to his country in days of peace as in times of war, a spirit of patriotism
actuating him in all life's relations.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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