THOMPSON, James 1793-1883

THOMPSON, KOOKEN, TEMPLE, SHAFFER, WILSON, COOP, PIERCE

Posted By: Richard K Thompson (email)
Date: 4/5/2010 at 20:50:40

Fairfield Ledger
April 10, 1883
Pg. 3 Col. 6

Death of Colonel THOMPSON

Nearly every person who has ever resided in Jefferson County knows Col. James THOMPSON. He has been a familiar figure on our streets for nearly 40 years and he was one of the best known men in the county. Old age and its infirmities have been telling on the Colonel for several years and in December of last year he received a fall which compelled him to take to his room where he has been confined nearly ever since. Sunday last he had reached a very enfeebled condition and at 2 AM Tuesday morning he breathed his last at the home of his son-in-law Mr. Geo D TEMPLE where he has been during his illness.

Col. THOMPSON was born in Plattsburg New York April 9, 1793, dying at the ripe old age of 90 years and within a few hours of his birthday. When about 12 years of age he removed with his father's family to Washington PA where he lived until about 17. He then removed to Harrison County Ohio and at New Rumley in Sept 1824 was married to Mary KOOKEN whom he lived (sic. lived with ?) more than 50 years, Mrs THOMPSON dying in this city Dec. 12, 1881. A short time later he moved to Carrollton where he lived several years, engaged in school teaching and as a contractor and builder. Next he made his home in Indiana and thence removed to Iowa in 1844, locating at Fairfield which has since been his home. To Mr and Mrs THOMPSON 8 children were born, 7 of whom reached years of manhood; four are yet living, 2 sons in Montana and 2 daughters Mrs. George TEMPLE and Mrs. John R. Shaffer of this city.

Col. THOMPSON was a democrat of the old school and gloried in his democracy. While in Ohio he was actively engaged in politics and represented Carroll County two terms in the state senate beginning in 1836. He was also a colonel in the militia for several years whence came the title by which he was more generally known than by his baptismal name. After his removal to Iowa he was registrar of the land office under the PIERCE administration, when the land office was located at this place. He was also a justice of the peace for several years in this city and was at different times a candidate for the legislature last in 1859 when U.S. Senator WILSON and Colonel COOP made the race for the state senate. That year he stumped the county and did the heavier work of the campaign and has since, until recent years been one of the leading stumpers and politicians of his party only last fall presiding over the democratic convention. For several years during his earlier residence here he pursued his calling of contractor and builder and had the contract for the erection of the courthouse. He also worked on the Old Zion Church and the old Presbyterian Church. Of later years he was engaged in mail contract doing service in this line almost to the time of his death. He was well read man of considerable education and thoroughly posted in the political history of the day. His reminiscences of pioneer days were well worth listening. He was a man who formed many warm and lasting friendships in those early days and his political and personal friends will regret to learn of his death. His funeral occurs from the residence of Mrs. George D. TEMPLE this afternoon at 3:30.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to this particular THOMPSON family although we share the same surname.

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Note: Col. James THOMPSON was buried in Old.P.285 of Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, Iowa. A daughter, Sarah Jane THOMPSON married a George Denton TEMPLE and these THOMPSON and TEMPLE families share Old.P.285 with a double-sided monument listing the family members of both families that are interred there. There are individual headstone for each person with only their initials used in place of their full names spelled out.