BIOGRAPHIES: William B. THOMPSON, Sr., Preston Township, Trempealeau Co., WI ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by Sherry Martin on 10 March 2004 ************************************************************************ Biographical sketch of William B. Thompson, Sr., as published in the 1917 History of Trempealeau County, 1917 and containing some editorial comments by transcriber, Sherry Martin. William THOMPSON, Sr., a retired farmer residing in section 31, Preston township, was born in Broome County, new York, Feb. 17, 1840, son of Robert and Elizabeth A. (SCOTT) THOMPSON. The father [Robert], also a native of New York State, came to Wisconsin in 1847, locating in Milwaukee, where he resided two years. The next six years of his life were spent in Columbia County, Wisconsin, after which, coming to Trempealeau County, he bought 360 acres of land a mile and a half east of Blair, and farmed there until 1865. He then bought a farm in Little Tamarack Valley and resided there two years. Selling that place, he bought a farm near Mankato, Minn., where he lived three years. The next two years of his life were spent at the home of his son William. He then retired to Blue Earth County and there died at the age of 74 years. His wife died at the home of her son William, Jan 8, 1892. They had a family of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth. William THOMPSON, Sr., was brought up on his parents’ farm and early acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture. He was in his twenty-first year when the Civil War broke out and in the following year, Aug. 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, at Reynolds’ Coolie school house, Preston Township. After a military service of three years he returned home and for the first year worked in the woods. Then in partnership with Cyrus H. HINE he built Pigeon Falls mill. In 1867 he traded his interest in the mill for Mr. HINE’s farm in section 6, Preston Township, where he resided for some years engaged in farming. Again he traded, this time for a one- half interest in Coral City mill, residing in Coral City for several years or until 1885, at which time he bought the farm on which he now lives, which is a good piece of agricultural property, with very fine improvements. During his active career as a farmer Mr. THOMPSON was an extensive cattle raiser, specializing in Durham cattle and doing a considerable business. At an early date he hauled for Ole KNUTSON the first load of lumber ever carried to old Whitehall. Since 1914 he has been practically retired from active work, the farm being operated by his son, Ira THOMPSON. Mr. THOMPSON was first married Dec. 14, 1866, to Laure HINE, daughter of Cyrus H. and Catherine (BARBER) HINE, of Pigeon Falls. Of this union there were six children born: Dewey, who died in infancy; William C. and Ira, who are both farmers in Preston Township; Catherine E. who was born after William and before Ira, Nov. 15, 1871, and who died Oct. 15, 1877, and Bert and Selon, both of whom are farmers in Preston Township. On Friday, June 18, 1882, Mrs. Laure THOMPSON met an instant and tragic death. The family were at that time occupying J. W. SNOW’s house, and his farm half way between Blair and Whitehall. It was 11 o’clock at night, and she and her husband and youngest child were asleep in bed, three elder children being asleep upstairs. A terrible storm was passing over the neighborhood, when suddenly a bolt of lightening passing down to the bedroom, killed Mrs. THOMPSON instantly and shocked Mr. THOMPSON and his child and threw them both out of bed. For several minutes he was unconscious, but neither he nor the child was seriously injured. Two of the other children upstairs were thrown out of bed onto the floor, but not seriously injured. The house was splintered more or less all through and several trees and posts standing near were split open. Mrs. THOMPSON was born at Lenox, Ill., July 4, 1849. She was a very popular lady in this vicinity, and her funeral was attended by a large number of friends and neighbors. Mr. THOMPSON subsequently married Mrs. Emma [Emily ELLISON, widow of Henry J. ELLISON] ELLISON, (April 30, 1884) by whom he had two children [actually three children, this account does not acknowledge the son, Roland Thompson born July 3, 1889]: Grace E., now the wife of Alvah VAN SICKLE, a farmer of Pigeon Township, and Alice M., wife of Oscar CUMMINGS, a carpenter living in Whitehall, Wis. [THOMPSON and Emily divorced some time after July 3, 1889 and Oct. 6, 1892 when she married Alerick L. WHITEAKER] Dec. 28, 1898, Mr. THOMPSON contracted a third marriage, with Agnes WRIGHT, who was born at Staffordsville, Ontario, Oct. 4, 1864. Her father, Joseph WRIGHT, a native of Canada, came to Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, by team, accompanied by his wife and family, and was subsequently a resident of Pigeon Township until his death in 1901 at the age of 71 years. His wife, Mrs. [Agnes] THOMPSON’s mother, whose maiden name was Georgiana Douglas, is now residing at the age of 84 years on the farm in Pigeon Township, operated by her son, James Wright. The family attended the Presbyterian Church. Mr. THOMPSON is a Republican in politics. He is a man who takes an intelligent interest in all measures calculated to advance the interests of the community in which he lives, but has never sought public office. -Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," pages 620-622. © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm