BIO: James F. THOMPSON, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 236.
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  JAMES F. THOMPSON, Mooresville (P. O. Neffs Mills), Huntingdon 
county, Pa., was born in West township, February 28, 1833, son of John 
and Hester (Foster) Thompson. The Thompson family is of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry; but Thomas Thompson, grandfather of James F., was a native of 
this country. He was a blacksmith of Barree township, and removed to 
Venango county, Pa., where he died. His wife died in West township. 
John Thompson, his son, was born in Barree township, and learned his 
trade from his father. He was a blacksmith, residing first near Neffs 
Mills, and afterwards building himself a dwelling and a smithy at 
Mooresville, where he spent the remainder of his life, the last few 
years of which were passed in repose, and enjoyment of the fruits of a 
life of honorable industry. For three years, he was a steward of the 
county almshouse. He was justice of the peace from 1842 to 1867, and 
during those fifteen years solemnized no less than fifty-four 
marriages. Mr. Thompson was a Whig, and later a Republican; he took an 
active part in politics. He married Hester, daughter of Arthur Foster, 
farmer of West township, where she was born. The children of this 
marriage are: Elizabeth (Mrs. Lewis Hutchinson); Jemina (Mrs. Charles 
Wolverton), of Indiana; Adolphus, died in Indiana; Amanda, keeps house 
for her brother, James F.; Wesley, blacksmith and J. P. in Jackson 
township; James F.; Mary (Mrs. Henry Kocher); Stewart, in Altoona; 
Peninnah (Mrs. Edward Myers) of Shirleysburg; Hester (Mrs. James 
Johnson), of Altoona; Asbury, of Cambria county, Pa.; and two who died 
in infancy. John Thompson was a faithful and consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and was much esteemed for his many 
excellent qualities. He died in Mooresville in 1867, having survived 
his wife for two years.
  James F. Thompson attended the public schools of his township, but is 
largely self-educated. Until he reached his majority, he worked in the 
smithy with his father. At twenty-one years of age, he went west, and 
found steady and profitable employment as a journeyman for two years. 
Returning to his home, James F. Thompson and his brother Wesley bought 
out their father's interest, and carried on the business in partnership 
for two years; then James F. purchased his brother's interest, and 
continued the business alone, working at wagon-making and repairing 
besides the other work of the shop. Mr. Thompson was a director of the 
poor for three years. Since 1868, he has been justice of the peace, and 
in all that time has had but two of his judgments reversed by the 
higher courts. His record shows forty-one marriages solemnized before 
him. He was for some years tax collector; is a Republican, interested 
and active in public affairs. Mr. Thompson is a substantial and useful 
citizen, duly appreciated by his fellow citizens.
  In 1856, in West township, James F. Thompson was married to 
Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis Snyder, farmer, of Huntingdon county, who 
was of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have nine children: Esther 
S. (Mrs. F. Stewart), of Petersburg, Pa.; Seward H., of Huntingdon, 
Pa.; William, of Saxton, Pa.; Sydney A., artist, Petersburg, Pa.; Mary 
O. (Mrs. Clayton Montgomery), of Barree township; Amanda E.; Edgar J., 
painter, Petersburg, Pa.; Jennie, deceased, and an infant who died 
unnamed. Mr. Thompson is a member and an officer of the Methodist 
Episcopal church; he is a trustee of his congregation. He is also a 
Sunday-school teacher.