THOMPSON, Col. James G. - 1890 Bio (1793-1883)

THOMPSON, HORKEN, KOOKEN, TEMPLE, SHAFFER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/2/2007 at 20:08:19

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 649-650

Col. James THOMPSON, deceased, one of the pioneer settlers of Jefferson County, who for many years was a prominent citizen of Fairfield, deserves special mention in this work. He was born in Plattsburg, N. Y., on the 9th of April, 1793, and in his youth removed with his father's family to Washington County, Pa., where he lived until his seventeenth year, when he settled in Harrison County, Ohio. There he made his home some twelve or fifteen years, during which time, in September, 1824, he wedded Mary HORKEN (sic - Ann M. KOOKEN), the marriage being celebrated at New Rumley. His wife was his faithful companion for near sixty years, and they were separated by the hand of death in Fairfield, in 1882 (sic - December, 1881).

Soon after his marriage, Mr. THOMPSON removed to Carrollton, Ohio, where he spent a number of years, when, in deference to the wishes of his wife, and himself anxious to break loose from a life of politics, to which he had become attached, he joined the westward march of emigration and came with his family to assist in the settling up of the great Valley of the Mississippi. He rested for a short time in Indiana and then came on to Iowa, reaching Fairfield in 1844. In this city he lived until his death, which occurred on the 10th of April, 1883, at the advanced age of ninety years. He reared a family of seven children and lost one in childhood. Of these four are still living, two sons in Montana and two daughters, Mrs. George D. TEMPLE, of Burlington, and Mrs. John R. SHAFFER, of Des Moines. Col. THOMPSON was in many respects a remarkable man. Possessed of a singularly vigorous intellect, a positive character and a mind stored with political and historical information, added to a liberal education, he was a man widely known and universally respected. There was hardly a man in the county who was not acquainted with him, and in the early days he was known to almost every settler in this part of the State. His convictions were very strong, and he held his opinions with such force and vigor that no man who ever came in contact with him could ever forget him. He was a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, and though after his arrival here he largely eschewed politics, he was by nature so positive in his convictions that from time to time he lent his aid to forward the cause of the party to which he was a life-long adherent. During his residence in Ohio he was a Justice of the Peace for several years, and for two terms represented Carroll County in the State Senate, where he made a good record. Afterward he came within one vote of securing the nomination for Congress. For a number of years he had command of a Militia company and thereby won the title of Colonel. During his residence in Fairfield he served as Justice of the Peace for some years, and was several times the Democratic candidate in this county for the Legislature.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.