Ole M. Thompson

THOMPSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 10/10/2006 at 17:11:59

Alert and energetic, Ole M. Thompson has made for himself a creditable position among the leading and representative farmers of Worth county. His home is on section 20, Kensett township, and from early boyhood he has lived in Iowa. He is a native, however, of the land of the midnight sun, his birth having occurred in Norway on the 6th of March, 1876, his parents being Martin and Bertha (Olson) Thompson, who came to the United States in September, 1877. They took up their abode in Dane county, Wisconsin, and after two years removed to Iowa, settling at Fort Dodge. There the mother passed away in 1882 and about 1884 the father removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota. In subsequent years he has lived at different places and is now residing in Eagle Grove, Iowa. He was married a second time, when Miss Julia Larson became his wife. To them were born eight children, while of the first marriage there were three children. Ten of his children are still living.

Ole M. Thompson, at the time of his father's removal to Minneapolis in 1884, went to live with an uncle in Humboldt county, Iowa, and there remained until his fourteenth year. His father then removed from Minneapolis to Humboldt county and Mr. Thompson of this review returned home. He continued with his father for a year and at the early age of fifteen started out in life to provide for his own support. For a few years he was employed in various ways. He worked upon farms, at railroading and for seven years was engaged in teaming in Eagle Grove. In 1890 he came to Worth county and the same year was united in marriage to Miss Christina Bergh, of Kensett. For a year thereafter he worked in the lumberyard in Kensett and for three years thereafter he engaged in hauling cream. He afterward turned his attention to teaming and draying in Kensett and was identified with that business for four or five years. He next engaged in farming as a renter and in 1910 he purchased his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which is a very rich and productive tract of land owing to the care and labor which he has bestowed upon it. His energy and efforts have brought excellent results and he is now numbered among the leading and prosperous farmers of Kensett township.

As the years have passed six children have been added to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, namely: Bertha Emylia, Melvin Irvin, Olaf Cornelius, Arthur Milton, Ernest Conrad and Grace Luella. The two eldest sons are members of the United States Army, having been called to the colors to aid in making the world safe for democracy. The other, children of the family are at home with the exception of Bertha E., who is employed in Des Moines.

Mr. Thompson and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has served for a number of years as school director but has never been active in politics, preferring to leave office holding to others. His efforts and attention have been concentrated upon his business affairs for the benefit of his family and as the years have passed he has won a substantial measure of success that enables him to provide his wife and children with all of the necessities and comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, Pages 499 & 500.