ANDY THOMPSON

THOMPSON, ANDERSON, SHEPHARD

Posted By: Nancee Seifert <iggy29@grm.net>
Date: 10/30/2009 at 15:02:49

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, May 1, 1913

'Highly Respected Colored Man of Decatur County Goes to His Reward'.

The following obituary, which did not reach us in time for publication in
the Journal last week, is clipped from the Iowa State Bystander, which is
published by JOHN L. THOMPSON, son of ANDY THOMPSON, here mentioned. Mr.
THOMPSON is also a lawyer. He is well known in Decatur County, having been
reared to manhood on the farm of his father northeast of Decatur, and is a
graduate of the Leon High School:

~~ ANDY THOMPSON ~~

Mr. ANDY THOMPSON, of Decatur, Iowa, Decatur County, died Tuesday, April 15,
at 4 o'clock of dropsy and heart trouble, after a lingering illness of about
six months. He was one of the most highly esteemed and respected pioneer
citizens of this county, well known and loved by all. He was born in
Silviss, Fayette County, Ky., March 14, 1829. When but eleven years old he
was sold as a slave and brought to Caldwell County, Missouri, where he
remained until set free by Lincoln's proclamation. His master knowing it
would only be a short time until they would be free told all his slaves to
go free in August, 1862. Mr. THOMPSON, with three others, bid the old slave
plantation farewell forever and set out for Canada, guided by the North star
They traveled by night and slept in the prairie grass in the day time, to
avoid being caught by the bushwhackers and taken further south and sold.
They landed across the Missouri line and the good white people told them
that they were just as safe in Iowa as in Canada, so they settled in Decatur
City, only 12 miles north of the Missouri line. The other three, M. MATHEWS
JOE BLACKWELL and STEVE THOMPSON went further north. ANDY went four miles
west of Decatur City and homesteaded a farm and there has lived for the past
fifty years, raising four step children. He was married to Mrs. CATHERINE
SHEPHARD in November, 1866. To this union five children were born of which
three are living, JOHN L., of Des Moines, an editor and a lawyer, EDWARD W.,
of St. Joseph, Mo., a druggist, and ELDORA ANDERSON, of Clive. JOSEPH H.
And B.J. SHEPHARD are his step sons, of Clive, Iowa.

MR. THOMPSON was a most remarkable citizen, having spent thirty-four years
in slavery and fifty years a free man. Out of this experience he gave much
good advice, he struggled hard to give his children an education. Often
times he would mow the tall grass in the summer two miles to the school
house and in winter he would drag a log to make a path through the snow for
his children to walk in. Thus a long, helpful and useful life is gone. The
funeral services were held from the M.E. Church of Decatur, conducted by Rev
T.M. Brumfield, of Des Moines, assisted by Rev. McGilvrey, pastor in charge
The pall bearers were all his old neighbors, who knew him for more than a
quarter of a century; J.M. ELKER, M. CORINGTON, SID GRAYSON, C.R. RILEY,
JOHN GREETING, SYLVESTER MILLSAP. The regular church choir under the
direction of Mrs. C. TOWNSEND, furnished music. Many beautiful and
expensive floral offerings were placed upon the casket, together with many
of the business houses closed that hour out of respect for him. The Iowa
State Bystander office of Des Moines was closed, Dr. E.W. THOMPSON's drug
store of St. Joseph, Mo., was closed.

Thus he lived his full four score years, never sick in bed until about two
weeks ago. He had no pains or suffering, he simply passed peacefully and
quietly away and I can only say as the motto on his casket said, "Father at
Rest."
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
October 30, 2009
iggy29@grm.net

"This is outstanding!"

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