Wm. L. Thompson (1834-1905)

THOMPSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/14/2023 at 20:16:02

William Louis Thompson
(September 25, 1834 - June 2, 1905)

The life history of W. L. Thompson, if written in detail would form a story of more thrilling interest than any tale of fiction. His experiences have been varied, interesting and eventful. He has not only traveled widely in this country, but has visited many foreign ports, has encountered the horrors of war, and in business life has demonstrated the power of close application and unremitting
diligence. Such in brief is the history of one who is now numbered among the valued and representative men of Calhoun County. He was associated with legal interests in Manson for a number of years but is now living retired in this city. Mr. Thompson is a native of Livingston county, New York, born September 25, 1834. The family name originated in England and its first representative in America crossed
the Atlantic from Yorkshire, England, taking up his abode in Salem, Massachusetts, in June, 1630. In the French and Indian war Colonel Richard Thompson manifested marked bravery and in 1757 he was killed at the battle of Fort Edward on the Hudson river by Baron Disco and his followers. Twenty years later members of the family espoused the cause of the colonies and fought for the independence of the nation, while the Rev. Seymour Thompson, the father of our subject, was a valiant soldier of the war of 1812, being stationed on the Niagara frontier in 1813. Three brothers of our subject served with honor in the Civil war and thus the military record of the family is one of which they have every reason to be proud. With no taint of cowardice but with marked valor and loyalty, the Thompsons
have served their country in all the important wars in which the aid of loyal sons have been solicited. The Rev. Seymour Thompson was born in Oneida County, New York, September 7, 1798, and devoted much of his life to the work of the Presbyterian ministry. He was a graduate of the theological seminary of Auburn, New York, and while residing in the east served as pastor of the church in Springwater Valley, Livingston County, New York; in Livonia, Genesee County; and
in Utica, New York. He was married in Rochester, New York, February 12, 1831, to Miss Betsey McKee, a native of Jefferson County, New York, born November 4, 1802. He came to the west under the auspices of the Home Missionary Society, arriving in LaSalle County, Illinois, June 16, 1837. After a year there passed he removed to Beebee's Grove, south of Chicago, where he remained for three years. He then entered eighty acres of land from the government, twenty-five miles south of Chicago, and in connection with its improvement he carried on his ministerial work, residing on his farm, however, until May 1856. In that year he brought his family to Iowa, settling in Fayette County, near Waukoma, but on the 18th of October, of the same year, he was burned to death in a prairie fire, together
with his youngest son, Charles A. Thompson, then a lad of eight years. The family afterward returned to Ogle County, Illinois, settling on the Rock River, Mrs. Thompson having relatives in that locality. She had been a school teacher in her early days and was most successful in that branch of work, both she and her husband being people of superior intellectual attainments. Later Mrs. Thompson returned with her family to Fayette County, Iowa, but died at the home of her son. J. C. Thompson, in Forreston, Illinois, in March 1885, when eighty-three years of age. She was a very faithful and
consistent member of the Presbyterian church and took an active interest in its work. Rev. Thompson had been a Whig in his political views but refused to vote for General Taylor because he was opposed to an army officer occupying the executive chair. In ante bellum days his home was a station on the underground railroad, whereby many a slave made his way to Canada, there to enjoy liberty. Unto Rev. Thompson and his wife were born six children: James C, who was a business man at Forreston, Illinois, died in October, 1886. He wedded Mary E. Baker, of Ogle County, Illinois, who is now living with her married daughter, Mrs. M. M. Thygesen, whose husband is a leading attorney of St. Paul, Minnesota. W. L. is the next of the family. Francis E. married Lydia Andrews and engaged in the real estate business in Texas, Kansas and Nebraska, making his home in Kansas City, Missouri, where he died in November, 1892. He had been a soldier in the Civil war. His widow now resides in Independence, Iowa. Seymour D. married Lucy Ennison and they now reside at No. 66 Montague street, Brooklyn, New York. He is one of the distinguished lawyers of the country and is the author of sixteen different law books. For twelve years he was presiding judge in St. Louis courts, and is now engaged in writing his third work on contracts. Char1otte Jeanette, the fifth member of the family, became the wife of George H. Richardson and died at a sanitarium at Hudson, Wisconsin, in January, 1808, her remains being interred in Belmont, Iowa. Her husband is now living in Belmont, where he is president of the Iowa Valley Bank. Charles A., the youngest of the family, was burned in the prairie fire with his father.
We now take up the personal history W. L. Thompson, who is so widely known in this section of Iowa that he needs no special introduction to the readers of this volume. He attended school only ten months in his life but travel, experience, observation and reading have made him a well informed man of more than ordinary intelligence. In his early youth he worked at home and after his father had apprenticed him to a harness-maker, he ran away and shipped at New Bedford, Massachusetts, on the Silver Wave, a whaling vessel which was bound for Baffins bay and Davis strait, and along the northern whaling ground. Mr. Thompson was then only fourteen years of age. He served as ship's boy for eight months on that cruise and afterward went as an ordinary sailor on the Highland Mary, of Nanitucket, the vessel being bound for the Pacific coast. It proceeded as far as Behring straits and then returned, reaching California at the time of the great gold excitement there. Nearly all of the sailors deserted in order to go to the gold fields, but Mr. Thompson remained with the ship, of which he was second mate, and with her rounded Cape Horn. On reaching Boston he was discharged and returned to his family with nine hundred dollars in his pocket as his share of the whaling voyage. He visited many foreign ports and his tales of the people, the scenery in foreign countries, and of different experiences of his travels would make a very entertaining and attractive volume. In 1851 Mr. Thompson decided to seek his fortune on the Pacific coast and made an overland journey to California, crossing the alkali deserts in a prairie schooner and there traveled mile after mile through sage brush and at night heard the barking of the coyotes. The Indians stampeded their horses and they were compelled to burn their wagons. They then walked four hundred miles to Placerville, California, which was then in the heart of the mining region. It was a hazardous and perilous journey, but the indomitable pluck and energy of Mr. Thompson and his companions enabled them to reach their destination. In December 1853, Mr. Thompson left California. He had been meeting
with a desirable measure of success, but at that time Walker's filibustering expedition was started and on the 8th of January, 1854, at Virgin bay, Nicaragua, he enlisted with the filabusters, remaining with them for eleven months, or until they began interfering with the United States traffic, at which time there were only six hundred left out of six thousand. Some had deserted, others had died of the Nicaragua fever, and some had been killed by natives. The remaining six hundred were taken by Commander Sumner
on board the St. Mary sloop of war, carrying twenty guns, and were thus sent to New Orleans. In view of the fact that he had been a part of the filibustering expedition as first lieutenant, and being afraid of arrest, Mr. Thompson signed shipping papers on the vessel as a regular seaman of the sloop, St. Mary, and was then transferred to the Gulf squadron, being assigned to the United States frigate Savannah, which carried seventy-two guns and was a part of the South Atlantic squadron. Mr. Thompson was made master at arms on that vessel. Later he was transferred at Fort Fayal, Azore Islands, to the United States frigate Delaware, which carried sixty-four guns and was attached to the Mediterranean squadron. There he remained one year and when the war ship was ordered back to Baltimore, he was discharged. He afterward made several cruises in the West India merchant marine vessels and went on several voyages on boats engaged in the coffee trade. He remained for a year and a half in the merchant marine service, on the expiration of which period he
returned to Illinois. On the solicitation of his eldest brother, Mr. Thompson became a student in Rock River Seminary in 1858 and devoted his time to study and to teaching school until 1860. He afterward took care of his younger brother and sister, giving them excellent educational advantages, which they improved.
On the 20th of September, 1860, in Byron, Illinois, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Nighswander, who was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1837, and was a daughter of Abraham and Mary (Hufford) Nighswander, who were also natives of the Keystone state and were married in Franklin County. There the father engaged in the milling business, owning three large mills. He was a member of the Dunkard church and died in 1844, his wife surviving until 1855. They were the parents of five children: Emanuel, Cassander, Abraham, Mary and Elizabeth. After his marriage Mr. Thompson engaged in teaching, surveying and in civil engineering. He also learned the mason's trade and did contracting in that line until May 24, 1861, when aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he enlisted in Forreston, Illinois, becoming a member of Company H, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, under command of Captain Morton D. Swift of Polo, and Colonel Thomas J. Turner, of Freeport. Illinois. The regiment was assigned to the command of General Stephen A. Huriburt and did general scouting work and guard duty in Missouri. In February, 1862, the command was consolidated with other regiments and formed the second Brigade of the Fourth Division under General Hurlburt, proceeding down the Mississpppi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, but arming too late to take part in the battles of Fort Donelson and Fort Henry. However, Mr. Thompson, with his regiment, took part in the battle of Shiloh, reaching Pittsburg Landing March 26, 1862. The Second Battalion was there captured and his regiment lost over two hundred and fifty men in killed and wounded. He was then put on a hospital boat, having some knowledge in medicine and surgery, and there remained until the latter part of May, 1862, when he rejoined his command and took part in the evacuation of Corinth. Following the fortunes of his regiment he proceeded through Kentucky and Tennessee and on to Jackson, taking part in a number of small battles and skirmishes. At Hatches Bridge the regiment was badly cut up and later proceeded to Memphis, going into winter quarters there. The next spring the Fifteenth Illinois joined the operation upon Vicksburg, and on the 3d of May, 1863, was present at the opening of the engagement there and participated in the siege until the surrender of the city, July 4, 1863. The engagements were extremely sanguine between May and the date of surrender and in all Mr. Thompson participated. When the city had capitulated he took and passed an examination for promotion and was appointed captain of Company A, Seventh United States Regiment of colored troops. He was in the disastrous fight of Milliken's Bend, in Louisiana, entering the engagement with seventy-six men and leaving it with only sixteen besides himself. Thinking that the negro soldiers were not fairly treated, he resigned his office and came home. In the winter of 1863-4 Captain Thompson engaged in teaching school in Frog Hollow, on Mud creek, in Ogle County, where his wife and child were then living, but he could not crush out his patriotic spirit and on the 10th of May, 1804, he again enlisted, becoming a member of Company D, One Hundred and Forty-second Illinois Infantry under Colonel R. V. Ankling. He enlisted in Forreston, Illinois, and was ordered to Memphis, Tennessee, to perform guard duty, but inactive service did not suit him and on the 19th of June, 1864, at his own request, he was detached and passed an examination for lieutenant of engineers, but only received a commission as first duty sergeant in the United States regular army, as only West Point graduates could hold commissions. He was then assigned to Company B, Third United States Engineers and joined the forces operating around Atlanta. Subsequently he marched from Memphis, Tennessee, and took part in all of the Atlanta campaign. He was in the signal corps with the United States engineers with Lieutenant A. B. Allen, and at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was wounded in the right hip by a mini ball, July 24, 1864, in a heavy skirmish, which occurred six miles northwest of Atlanta. He dug the ball out with his knife and kept on in his position. He was mounted and rode with his command, entering the battle of Atlanta on the 28th of August, 1864, on which day he was again wounded, this time in the ankle, while wheeling into line preparatory to a cavalry charge. Shortly after the evacuation of Atlanta, the army was consolidated under General Sherman for the march to the sea and Mr. Thompson was ordered to join General Thomas, and marched back to Nashville. He was assigned to dispatch duty and was bearing a dispatch to General Wood when his horse fell and he received a bad rupture. He participated in the battle of Nashville on the 1 6th and 17th of December, 1864, and while there he received orders to report to the St. Louis arsenal to aid in balancing a set of ordnance books, which he had kept at the siege of Vicksburg. He reached the arsenal on the 23d of December, straightened out the books and remained in the arsenal as clerk and bookkeeper until February 18, 1865, when he demanded his discharge as his time of service had expired. Thus ended his military career.
Mr. Thompson then returned to his wife and family in Forreston, Illinois, and soon afterward began farming on his land near
Brookville, Ogle County, where he remained for two years, when he sold this property and removed to Lanark, Carroll County, Illinois, which was his place of residence until 1882. He was engaged in teaching school and also worked at the mason's trade. While residing in Lanark, his wife died on the 23d of March. 1876, and on the 31st of August, 1878, he was again married, his second union being with Frances M. Dunlap, the wedding being celebrated by the Rev. D. B. Schultz, the Lutheran minister. The lady was born in Chittenden County, Vermont, April 28, 1844, and was a daughter of Thaddeus E.
and Parmelia (Slater) Dunlap, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Connecticut. They were married in the Charter Oak state and the father engaged in farming there. Subsequently they removed to Chittenden County, Vermont, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and in handling dairy products, becoming quite wealthy as a result of his well directed efforts. He died in 1878 and his wife passed away in 1888. They were the parents of four children. Edgar resides on the old homestead farm in Vermont. Marcus was married at Plainfield, Bremer County, Iowa, to Mrs. Ellen (Pike) Cummings, who is now deceased. He resides at Ada, Norman
County, Minnesota, and is engaged in the Ranking business. Mrs. Thompson is the next younger. Loren married Jennie Slater and lives in Chittenden County, Vermont. By his first marriage Mr. Thompson has
five children. Addie E. married Frederick Pratt, and became the mother of three children, Lenora, Olive and Mary B. Both parents are now deceased. Mrs. Pratt passing away December 20, 1890, while her husband died at Nodaway Mission, in August, 1892. Frank and Monroe, the two next younger in the family, both died in childhood. William Sherman, the next member of the family, resides at Fort Dodge, and is an expert mining engineer with the Fort Dodge Stoneware Company, with which he has been connected for five years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias Lodge and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also holds membership with the Sons of Veterans. Estella W. is the wife of C. W. Bays, a resident of Persia, Harrison County, Iowa, where he is engaged in teaching school. He is also the editor of the Persia Globe. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bays, Leon, Elfie and Effle. Unto Mr. Thompson and his second wife was born one son, Earl G.. who was born on the 18th of August, 1880, and is now engaged in farming. Mr. Thompson remained a resident of Lanark, Illinois, until March 28, 1882, when he disposed of his property and business interests there and came to Calhoun County, locating in Manson. He was engaged in farming for one year and afterward worked at his trade for two years. He was then elected city clerk in 1885 and held the office for five years, after which he became prosecuting pension attorney. He was also in the employ of the Buena Vista Creamery Company. In 1887 he was elected surveyor of Calhoun County and in 1888 he was chosen township clerk of Lincoln Township, in which position he yet serves. In 1855 he had been a United States surveyor, running township lines in Clay and O'Brien counties, Iowa. Politically he is connected with the Republican party and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife belongs to the Universalist church, and though he is not a member of any denomination, he contributes liberally to all and has high regard for every movement and measure that tends to advance morality. Such in brief is the history of his eventful and interesting career. In the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons and gained knowledge that has made him a well informed man. He can relate many interesting incidents of his travels, his voyages and his military service and is an entertaining and companionable gentleman. All who know him delight in his friendship and he is a very popular and honored citizen of Calhoun County. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.510]