BALIS E. THOMPSON.

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          Balis E. Thompson, who has been superintendent of the county poor house and farm for the past year, is a native of Louisa county, his natal day being the 18th of August, 1862. His parents, Henry and Sinah (Hurley) Thompson, were natives of Ohio and Delaware respectively. They were married in . . .

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. . . Louisa county and began their domestic life on a farm in Grand View township, in the cultivation of which Mr. Thompson engaged until his demise on the 4th of March, 1869. His widow continued to reside there until 1878, at which time she removed to Wapello and kept the Iowa House for one year and then moved to Morning Sun, where she resided with her daughter until 1900, when she went to Wapello to live with her son, William A. She still survives, although she has long passed the Psalmist’s allotment of years, her age being eighty-three. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born thirteen children, six of whom survive: William A., who is the eldest of those living, a resident of Wapello; Minerva, who married James Billings, a button manufacturer of Muscatine, Iowa; Laura E., the wife of William H. Melrose, of Colfax, Washington; Balis E., our subject; Frances, who is unmarried and lives in Chicago; and Henry W., a resident of Van Buren county, Iowa. Those deceased are: Martha A.; Maria B.; Mary A., the wife of J. F. Cornelius, also deceased; John E.; Harry; and the twelfth and Altha, the twin sister of Frances, who died in infancy. Mrs. Cornelius left four children: James, who is living in Chicago; Roy E., deceased; Lulu, the wife of Lorinza R. McKinney, of Morning Sun; and Howard, of Louisa county.

          Balis E. Thompson remained at home until he had attained the age of fifteen years, acquiring his education in the common schools. For ten years after leaving the parental roof he worked as a farm hand, during which time he saved sufficient money to enable him to a farm as a renter. He had been cultivating leased land for twenty-one years when he was appointed in 1910 to take care of the county poor house and farm, which position he still retains.

          On the 5th of July, 1888, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Frances L. Presbury, of Wapello township, a daughter of John C. and Victoria (Mason) Presbury who were natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Presbury were married in Louisa county, following which they settled upon a farm, in the cultivation of which Mr. Presbury was engaged until he passed away in May, 1900. He had survived his wife for three years, her demise occurring in April, 1897. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted as a private in Company F, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served for seven months, being discharged on account of disability. Nine children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Presbury: Virginia G. and Charles, who died in infancy; Frances L., now Mrs. Thompson; William A., a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Emma, the widow of Harry Kitner, of Kansas City; Susan, who married Joseph Halcroft, of Wapello; Cora, the wife of Charles Martin, of Kansas City; Maud the wife of Burton Redfern, of Bronson, Kansas; and Katie, who married Joseph Ankers, of Kansas City. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have five children: Lulu E., born on the 14th of April, 1889, who attended Grinnell College for one year, and is now the wife of Homer Mannefee, of Mount Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa; Mary McKinley, born on the 27th of August, 1894, who has a commercial school education; Rodney K., who was born on the 5th of Mary, 1897; John M. F., who was born on the 4th of December, 1900; and Jean Audrey, born on the 16th of December, 1904.

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          The religious faith of the family is manifested through their membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Thompson is a member of Columbus Junction Lodge, No. 365, I.O.O.F. Ever since granted the full rights of citizenship he has given his political support to the men and measures of the republican party. Although he has never been an office seeker he has served as township trustee and he was also a member of the school board for eight years. During the year he has been in his present position Mr. Thompson has given every indication of being capable of discharging the duties of the place.