JOHN L. THOMPSON - HEADS COLORED MASONS

THOMPSON

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 10/28/2009 at 10:24:15

From: Nancee Seifert
Date: 10/26/2009 8:56:28 AM
To: IADECATU@rootsweb.com
Subject: JOHN L. THOMPSON -- HEADS COLORED MASONS.

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, July 18, 1912

JOHN L. THOMPSON, of Des Moines, formerly of Decatur County, is the new
Grand Master of the colored Masons of Iowa. The Davenport Times in the
issue of last Saturday had the following to say of him:

JOHN L. THOMPSON, of Des Moines, the new Grand Master of the colored Masons
of Iowa, is the youngest man ever honored by his lodge with that position.
He is a lawyer and editor of the Bystander, a colored newspaper, having a
large circulation throughout the west. He was born on a farm in Decatur
County, Iowa. His father was born in slavery, and lived in that condition
37 years. In 1862 his master, fearing that his slaves might be captured by
confederate forces and sent to the far south, where they would be mistreated
set them all free. The elder THOMPSON started north with funds raised in
playing a fiddle at dances, and with only $37 in his pocket reached Decatur
County, Iowa. There entered on 40 acres of government land, and which he
still owns, together with over 200 acres of other fine farm land adjoining.
He worked hard, saved his money, raised a large family, educated them all at
college, and remains on his old farm, still alive at 87 years.

The son, JOHN L. THOMPSON, graduated from business college, and later from
the law department of Drake University. He has served as deputy country
treasurer in Polk County and deputy clerk of the Iowa Historical building.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
October 26, 2009
iggy29@grm.net
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From: Nancee Seifert
Date: 10/26/2009 9:03:50 AM
To: IADECATU@rootsweb.com
Subject: The Iowa Bystander « Iowa Pathways -- JOHN THOMPSON

http://www.iptv.org/IowaPathways/mypath.cfm?ounid=ob_000289
The Iowa Bystander « Iowa Pathways
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Some very interesting reading about JOHN THOMPSON and the Iowa Bystander
Newspaper... Enjoy... Nancee at iggy29@grm.net
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From: Nancee Seifert
Date: 10/26/2009 11:06:33 AM
To: IADECATU@rootsweb.com
Subject: [IADECATU] JOHN L. THOMPSON

Hi All: I sent an article this morning about JOHN L. THOMPSON - and - added
the web page where you could read about the 'Bystander' Newspaper..

I was curious about who his father was in Decatur County and found him in
the 1880 Grand River Twp. Census:

Andy Thompson, black, age 50, b. KY
Catherine Thompson, age 44, mulatto, b. MO
John Thompson, black, age 11, b. IA
Eldora Thompson, black, age 7, b. IA
Eddie Thompson, black, age 5, b. IA
Benjamin Sheppard, black, age 13; stepson, b. MO

I didn't find him in the 1900 Census - perhaps his wife died then and he
went to live with one of the children. Eldora, age 23, Polk Co., Walnut Twp
Benjamin Shepard, age 45.

1910 Grand River Twp. Census:

Andrew Thompson, black, age 81, widowed