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JOHN THOMPSON, is a large land owner and one of the prominent farmers of Eldorado township. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, October 20, 1854, but in 1856 his parents, William and Nancy (Tarris) Thompson, left that state for the west, driving through to Benton county, Iowa, and locating in section 30, Eldorado township, where William Thompson bought eighty acres of the then raw prairie land. The family were among the earliest settlers of this part of Benton county, and in those early days their nearest markets were Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Mr. Thompson was a successful man in business, and before his death owned three hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land. He was known and honored for his splendid traits of character, and he gave freely to all good and religious purposes. In his early life he was a member of the Evangelical church, and later became a member of the United Evangelical church. He was born in Ohio on the 20th of September, 1821, and died in Benton county on December 2, 1902, while his wife, born in Tennessee May 30, 1823, died on the 8th of June, 1866. They became the parents of ten children, but only the following four are now living: John; I. N., residing in Vancouver, Washington; E. S., in Eldorado township, Benton county; and Mrs. Mary Mosher, of Marcus, Iowa.
John Thompson remained with his parents on the farm until his marriage, and he then farmed as a renter for two years. In 1881 he bought one hundred and forty acres in Eldorado township, which he improved and farmed until 1890, selling there then and buying one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm, to which he has since added until it now numbers three hundred and twenty acres, all splendidly improved and adorned with good farm buildings and a modern home. Mr. Thompson also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Pipestone county, Minnesota, and a similar tract in Nobles county of the same state, both farms being well improved and devoted to general agricultural pursuits. He is engaged quite extensively in feeding Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs. At the present time he is serving his first term as the trustee of Eldorado township, but he has filled the offices of justice of the peace and constable. His politics are Republican.
On the 6th of February, 1879, Mr. Thompson was married to Sarah M. Henney,fwho was born March 11, 1858, in Whitley county, Indiana, a daughter of Jacob and Susanna (Bentz) Henney, the father born in Ohio and the mother in Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa in 1856, locating in Jasper county, and they died respectively in the years of 1868 and 1875. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson: Jesse, living in Minnesota; Walter, farming in Eldorado township; Merle, Nettie, Ray, Orrin, Harry and Myrtle, at home with their parents; and Irma, deceased. The family are members of Olive Branch United Evangelical church.
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