Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Thompson, John A. January 1, 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carlene Still jesco@oregontrail.com January 4, 2007, 10:38 am Author: Colonel William Parsons Page 505, 506 John A. Thompson The career of the estimable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph is one of marked interest and activity from start to the present time, having been filled with all those scenes and stirring events incident to the typical frontiersman and pioneer since he followed that life, together with mining, during the greater portion of his days. John A. Thompson was born on January 1, 1835, being the son of John W. and Polly F. Thompson, and a native of Franklin county, Missouri. When three years of age he was removed to Polk county in the same state, where he received the education to be obtained from the old subscription schools that were held in the log school houses, his fund of knowledge being largely augmented, however, in later years by careful and studious reading. He continued with his parents until 1853, when the entire family came across the plains with ox teams, consuming four months in the trip, and then settled near Eugene, taking up a donation claim in the Siuslaw valley, where they farmed and raised stock, our subject turning his attention to mining in the Rogue river valley, where he continued for one year and then returned to the home of his parents. During 1855 and 1856 he was in the second Rogue river Indian war in Captain Kelsey's company, this man being later elected colonel of the regiment, and Captain Robinson chosen to take the place he vacated. Among the battles in which Mr. Thompson participated was one on Cow creek, where they fought all day long, losing but one man; later at the Meadows in seven skirmishes, following which was a fight continuing uninterruptedly for three days and resulting in the route of the savages; after the whites were reinforced they followed the Indians down the river, driving them ahead and finally running them into Captain Smith's body of regulars, where the Indians wanted to treat; the whites refusing, were badly whipped and would have been massacred, but for the timely arrival of General Buchanan and the volunteers. This fight virtually closed the war, although the treaty was not completed until fifteen days later. Following the war, our subject was occupied with farming and mining, and in the fall of 1857 drove a bunch of cattle down to California in company with his brother, remaining there for one year, and then returned and packed to Oro Fino from Walla Walla, made shingles in the Blue mountains, and in the spring following the hard winter of 1862 went to prospect at the head of the John Day river, cleaning up twelve hundred dollars in three months. Then he went to the Grande Ronde valley and took a ranch, embarking in the stock business, his brother attending to the ranch while he packed from the Umatilla Landing to Boise basin, continuing thus until 1866, then followed mining, having sold the ranch and stock, operating for two years in the Blackfoot district with good success, and then returned to the valley and went to buying and selling stock until 1871, at which time he purchased a ranch on Coyote creek of three hundred and thirty-five acres, where he farmed until 1877, then rented the property and came to Umatilla county, settling ten miles east on Hinton creek, using his timber culture and pre-emption rights and also holding a quarter of railroad land. Here he raised and dealt in stock until 1885, then sold the property and bought on Butter creek a ranch of three hundred acres, continuing the sheep raising and constantly adding to the land until he owned the magnificent estate of over one thousand acres. In 1900, however, he sold his property and retired from active business to enjoy the fruits of his industry and toil. He still owns some interests in different firms, being a stockholder and director of the Heppner Flouring Mill Company, and the Land & Trust Company, of Heppner. He was married to Miss Mary B. Infield, a native of Ohio, on November 23, 1871, at Eugene, this state. To them have been born the following children: Ralph I., in school at Heppner; Bertie L., Eugene and Alma, who are deceased. Mrs. Thompson's mother was an early pioneer to the coast, crossing the plains with mule teams, her father having died in the war in 1861. Mr. Thompson affiliates with the I.O.R.M., Tribe No. 54, of Heppner. He owns some real estate in Lexington and also in Pendleton. He was chosen county commissioner of the county for four years, serving with efficiency and faithfulness and has ever demeaned himself to command the respect and win the confidence of all who may have the pleasure of his acquaintance. Additional Comments: An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the State of Oregon. W. H. Lever, Publisher 1902. Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/umatilla/bios/thompson271gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb