HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, VOL. II, 1918, page 352

Sam O. Thompson, proprietor of the Buick Garage at Northwood, was born in Barton township, Worth county, April 5, 1885 , a son of Halvor and Maggie (Synstigaard) Thompson. The father was born in Stephenson county, Illinois , near Freeport , in 1852, acquired his education there and afterward gave his attention to farming in connection with his father until lie attained his majority. In 1873, when twenty-one years of age, he removed westward to Mitchell county, Iowa, and secured a tract of land near St. Ansgar, devoting his attention to its cultivation and improvement until 1874, when he took up his abode in Barton township Worth county. There he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and continued to reside thereon until his death, which occurred in 1900, when he was forty-eight years of age. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. He was married in Orfordville , Wisconsin , and his wife is still living in Carpenter, Mitchell county, Iowa , at the age of sixty-seven years. In tracing the ancestry still farther back it is learned that the Thompson family is of Nor­wegian lineage. The grandfather, Andrew A. Thompson, was born in Norway and came to the United States in the late '40s, crossing the Atlantic on a sailing vessel which was eight weeks in completing the voyage to Quebec . He then pro­ceeded westward by way of the Great Lakes to Wisconsin , where he followed farming and the nursery business, while later he removed with his family Mitchell county, Iowa , and took up his abode upon the farm on which his remaining days were passed.

Sam O. Thompson, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood upon the old homestead farm in Barton township and during that period was a pupil in the district schools. He remained with his father until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he started out in business on his own account by renting a farm, which he continued to cultivate for two years. He then rented the old homestead, which he occupied through the succeeding five years, carefully and systematically cultivating the fields. Later he rented a farm near Grafton , Iowa , and in February, 1912, he put aside the work of the fields and removed to North­wood, where he rented a garage. Prospering in this business, he built his present garage in 1913 and has since enjoyed a liberal and well deserved patronage. He does excellent work, is thorough and systematic and has much ability along mechan­ical lines.

In 1910, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Larson, a daughter of Henry Larson, a native of Norway . Mrs. Thompson passed away upon the home farm in Barton township in 1911 . Mr. Thompson has since been married again, his second union being with Miss Marie Allanson, a daughter of Lars and Thorburg (Eddie) Allanson and a native of Barton township, while her parents are natives of Norway, whence they came to the United States in early life, their marriage being celebrated in Barton township, Mitchell county. Mr. Allanson is now living retired in St. Ansgar. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have become parents of two children, Wilma Ruth and Fern Eilene.

Politically Mr. Thompson is a stalwart republican and fraternally he is con­nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Modern Wood­men of America. he has held the office of road supervisor in Barton township, occupying that position for three years. His religious faith is that of the Nor­wegian Lutheran church, which has guided him in all of life's relations. His has been an active and useful career and in his entire life there have been few idle hours. He has worked diligently and persistently to gain a start and win success, and he has now reached a creditable position among the substantial businessmen of his city and native country.

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Transcribed by Gordon Felland - July 16, 2005