THOMPSON, William Henry

THOMPSON, LEE, MILLER

Posted By: Debbie (email)
Date: 9/7/2006 at 22:46:37

Biograpical Review, Des Moines County, Iowa 1905 coyright, pages 799-800

William H. Thompson, a farmer and auctioneer, residing on section 26, Yellow Spring Township, is a native of Fayette Co., Ind., born Sept 8, 1834, and is the son of Thomas M. and Mary N. (Garrell) Thompson, the former a native of Indiana, the latter of Allegheny County, Pa. The family is of Irish descent, the paternal grandfather, John Thompson, being a native of Ireland. Thomas was reared upon a farm, and followed the occupation of a farmer in his earlier years, but later became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and continued to preach the Gospel until his death, which occured in December, 1855, at the age of forty-seven years. His wife, who was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 1884, aged 64 years. They reared a family of eleven children, five of whom are living: Elizabeth, wife of William Loper, of Huron Twp, Des Moines Co; our subject; Caroline, residing in Decatur County, Ia, is the widow of Warren T. Hand; Milton , a resident of Osceola, Ia; and Sarah, wife of Thomas R. Cogswell, of Yellow Spring Twp.
In 1844 Mr. and Mrs. Thompson came to Des Moines County, settling near Dodgeville, Franklin Twp, but in 1849 removed to Keokuk County, Ia, making that their home for the succeeding two years. Their next place of residence was in Jefferson County, Ia. where the father died at the age of forty-seven.

Our subject first came to Des Moines County in 1844, and here resided for five years at the end of which time he removed with his parents, but in 1852 he returned, engaging as a farm hand until Aug. 10, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. K. 14th Iowa Infantry. He served three years and forty-one days as a Corporal, and participated in the following battles: Ft. Donalson, Tupelo, The Red River Expedition, Pleasant Hill, Old Oakes and Chufallo Bayou. The Regiment next went to Vicksburg, where they participated in the second Jackson campaign. Mr. Thompson took part in and was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh (or Pittsburgh Landing), and confined at Mobile, Ala. later at Montgomery, then at Macon, Ga, and next in the Libby Prison, at Richmond, Va, where he was paroled, and when exchanged again entered active service. He was mustered out in November, 1864, at Davenport, Ia.

Returning to Des Moines Co., Ia. Mr. Thompson again engaged as a farm hand for one year, and on the 3rd of January, 1867, was united in marriage with Delanah A. Miller, a native of Des Moines Co., Ia, and by that union two children were born - Olive and Franklin, both of whom died in childhood. The death of the mother occurred Aug 15, 1870, at the age of thirty years, and Mr. Thompson was again married, June 29, 1871, to Martha E. Lee, a native of this county and a daughter of Robert W. Lee, whose sketch appears elsewhere. By this second marriage there are also two children - Talitha R. and Minnie A.
Since his marriage Mr. Thompson has resided on section 26 of Yellow Spring Twp., where he owns forty acres of land. He held the office of Constable for six years in his township; is a member of the GAR and politically, is a Democrat. For the past nine years Mr. Thompson has followed the occupation of an auctioneer and as such is well known throughout Des Moine, Louisa and Henry Counties.