John A. Thompson was born in
Toronto, Canada, Sept. 21, 1840, and was a son of Robert
and Martha Ann (Abraham) Thompson. His father is of
Scotch and his mother of English descent. They were
married in Canada, where six children were born, three of
whom died in infancy. In 1853 they left Canada and
emigrated to Clayton County, locating on what is now
known as Sodom and Gomorrah, three and one-half miles
west of Monona. Mr. Thompson bought 160 acres of prairie
and 120 acres of timber land, which he cultivated and
resided upon until 1877, when he moved to Monona. John A.
was reared on his father's farm and received a liberal
education. On Sept. 15, 1866, he married Mary E. Tubbs,
who was born in Wisconsin, March 10, 1850. Their union
has been blessed with two children, one living-- Blanche,
born Oct. 26, 1879. Mr. Thompson has been identified with
the county for nearly thirty years, and has lived to see
the wild prairies transformed into beautiful cultivated
farms and thriving villages. He is a member of the
A.O.U.W., Monona Lodge, No. 172. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1065 |