BIOGRAPHY: Moses R. THOMPSON, Mifflin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr Copyright. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/ _______________________________________________ The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 426-427. DR. MOSES R. THOMPSON, Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born at Milroy, Mifflin county, December 24, 1827. He is a son of Robert M. and Sarah (McManigal) Thompson. The family is of the good Scotch-Irish stock, which makes up so large and so valuable a part of this Commonwealth. The Doctor's grandson was Moses Thompson, who married Miss Adams, of Juniata county. They had the following children: William, married Miss McFarlane, who died, after which he was again married; James, married Jane Reed; Robert M.; Samuel, married Nancy Cooper, of Hollidaysburg, Pa.; and Nancy (Mrs. John Mitchell), of Centre county, Pa. The maternal grandparents of Dr. Thompson were William and Fanny (Kenny) McManigal. Their children were: Robert, married Elizabeth Bell, was elected sheriff of Mifflin county, and served one term; Thompson, married Rachel Martin; Elizabeth, married James M. Brown, her sister-in-law's brother; and Sarah (Mrs. Robert M. Thompson). The children of Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Thompson are: Isabella, died very young; William, died from an accident in early childhood; Dr. Sidney, married to Louisa K. Isett, resided in Huntingdon county, died, leaving his wife and five children; William John, killed by an accident on the Pennsylvania railroad, left a widow, a daughter of Rev. Samuel Lawrence, from Plainfield, N. J., with two children; Dr. Moses R.; Ira, married Sarah M. Brown, has five children; Ner, married Elizabeth Highland, has one child; and Sarah E., wife of John Culbertson, of Logan, O., has three children. Moses R. Thompson was educated in the common schools of Milroy. When he was eighteen years old, his father died. For several years after, he cultivated his father's farm; then he taught at the Laurel Run school-house for four winter terms, and at the Milroy Academy for two terms. He then began the study of dentistry, which he pursued under Dr. Locke, at Lewistown, for one year before entering the White Dental College at Philadelphia. He studied there for a year; then returned home, and in 1857 began practise in Milroy. In 1865, Dr. Thompson removed to Lewistown, where he has ever since practised with great success, enjoying the confidence of a large circle of patients. The Doctor is a member in good standing of Lodge No. 255, K. of P., at Lewistown. He is a Republican. Dr. Moses R. Thompson was married January 8, 1850, to Martha Cooper, born November 30, 1827, sister of Rev. Samuel Cooper. Their children are: Robert H., born May 5, 1851, died September 29, 1855; Elizabeth W., born May 3, 1854, married Harry Van Zandt, has one child; Millard, born July 25, 1856, died February 4, 1859; Malvern Milroy, born March 3, 1863, married Christiana McAnsh, has two children; Edwin and Mary, twins, born October 3, 1865, the former died January 29, 1867. Mrs. Martha Thompson died November 21, 1871, universally regretted as a woman affectionate and faithful in every relation of life, in the family, in the church, and in society. Dr. Thompson was again married, August 3, 1876, to Willa Jane McClenahan, whose parents are both deceased; her father died in 1866, and her mother died December 24, 1894. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McClenahan were five in number: Emma Elizabeth (Mrs. James Dorman), has one child; Mary Ellen (Mrs. Samuel Roland), has one child; Willa Jane (Mrs. Thompson); Sarah Margaret Bell (Mrs. William T. McCafferty); and Andrew Clark, died aged seven. The first marriage of Mr. McClenahan was with Sarah Harper, who died, leaving him four children: John; Robert G.; James L.; and Elmira. Mrs. Thompson's father, Mr. McClenahan, was one of four children. Her maternal grandparents were Robert and Margaret (Bell) Dorman. Their children are: Elizabeth; Mary; James; Catherine, who was the mother of Mrs. Thompson. Dr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Presbyterian church.