Thompson, Mrs. George

THOMPSON, CHAMBERS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/29/2009 at 13:36:30

History of Poweshiek Co. Iowa (1880)
Lincoln Township. Page 760-61.

THOMPSON, MRS. GEORGE--Section 9, P.O. Brooklyn. Her ancestors, on her father's side, came from Denmark. Her grandfather, Thomas Chambers, was a personal associate of John Wesley, and was related to William Chambers, the publisher of Chambers' Encyclopedia and editor of Chambers' Journal. Her mother's ancestors were Scotch, and settled in Ireland many years ago, where both her parents were born, raised, married and died; her mother died during Mary's infancy, and her father about June, 1840. The subject of this sketch, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Chambers, was born in Ireland, April 26, 1830, and was married in New York City, July 4, 1853. Mr. Thompson's father, William, was of pure Irish descent; he married Catharine Buchannan, whose ancestors, remotely, were Scotch. They raised twelve children. Mr. Thompson was born in Ireland, September, 1828, where he worked for his father until twenty-five years of age, and crossed the ocean in April, 1853; the following October he leased a farm for five years in Bureau county, Illinois. In October, 1867, he immigrated to and settled upon the present family estate, having bought and commenced its improvement one year before. Mrs. Thompson's children were born as follows: John (born June 29, 1854; died July 1, 1854), Catharine J. (born February 5, 1857), George R. (born August 25, 1860) and William A. (born February 27, 1864). Mr. Thompson died May 10, 1879, from injuries received by being thrown from a wagon to which a pair of frightened horses were attached. His sudden death was a severe blow, not only to his family, but to the entire community, in which he was a man of great influence. He was a gentleman in every respect, kind hearted, profoundly sympathetic and generous to a fault. He was a leading member of the United Brethren Church. He was buried by the Orangemen, of which order he was an active member, and his great popularity among his neighbors was attested by the largest procession at his funeral ever know in Lincoln township. His entire estate, consisting of a farm of 120 acres, well stocked and in fine condition, and two acres of timber, was left unembarrassed to the disposition of his widow.