Among the retired farmers of Stanwood is numbered William M. Thomson, who was formerly actively and successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits in Fremont township, where for some years he cultivated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He is not only a representative citizen in his loyalty to local interests but also gave substantial evidence of his devotion to his country’s welfare in the dark days of the Civil war, when he responded to the call for troops and went to the front as a Union soldier.
Mr. Thomson dates his residence in Iowa from 1866 and after two years spent in Madison county came to Cedar county in1868. He was then a young man of twenty-two years, his birth having occurred in Warren county, Illinois, November 9, 1846. His youthful days were there passed and at the age of eighteen years he responded to his country’s call and in 1864 enlisted as a member of Company B, Eighty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. With that command he went to the south, serving with the company for seven months, after which he was transferred to Company E of the Sixty-first Illinois Infantry, continuing with that regiment until the close of the war. He participated in numerous skirmishes and was also on detail duty at times and when the war was over he was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky. He then returned to Illinois and was honorably discharged at Springfield in October, 1865.
Mr. Thomson then went to Monmouth, Illinois, and took up his abode on the old home farm. His mother died when he was but two and one-half years of age, after which he lived with and was reared by his grandparents. He was a young man of about twenty years when he came to Iowa, settling in Madison county, where he spent one and one-half years, there opening up a new farm. At the end of that time he came to Cedar county and resided upon one farm for fourteen years, but sold that property in 1895. Then he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Red Oak township, constituting one of the good properties of the community. After living upon that place for about three years he sold it and in September, 1909 bought four acres in Stanwood. Upon that tract he built a neat home and is now practically living retired.
Mr. Thomson was married in Fremont township, February 24, 1876, to Miss Catherine Strauser, a native of Indiana, who was reared, however, in Iowa. She is a daughter of Elias Strauser, who came to this state at a comparatively early day. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have been born five sons and four daughters, namely: Elizabeth, now the wife of Samuel Striby of Stanwood; William F., of whom mention is made elsewhere; Arthur E., a resident of Tripp county, South Dakota; Francis M., a farmer of Fremont township; John E., who is living with his brother William on a farm; Clara A., the wife of J. C. Tenly; Agnes, who was educated in Stanwood high school; Ella Ruth and Lawrence, both at home.
Mr. Thomson votes with the republican party because he believes that its principles contain the best elements of good government. He served as assessor for fourteen or fifteen years and for a number of years was a member of the school board. He has likewise been a delegate to various county and state conventions and has served on the petit jury. He believes in law and order, in progress and improvement, and his influence is always on the side of advancement. He and his wife belong to the United Presbyterian church of Stanwood and he is now serving as clerk of the official board. He has also been a church trustee for a number of years and whatever tends to promote the moral development of the community receives his endorsements. His life has ever been honorable and upright, and the rules which govern his conduct are based upon principles that neither seek nor require disguise.
