Springfield-Greene
County LibraryTHE THOMPSON FAMILY. In tracing the genealogy of the Thompson family we find that its members have been residents of America for many generations, and have ever been classed amongst the best citizens of any community. Edward Thompson, an honored representative of this old Eastern family, was born in Maryland, January 3, 1786, and there grew to mature years. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Elizabeth Dollison, a native of Logan County, Ky., born October 22, 1796, and in 1830 they made their way to Missouri, locating on the spot where the Springfield foundry now stands, and camped there for some time. This was before Springfield was thought of. Later they settled on a farm seven miles east of that place, took up Government land and he became one of the largest land owners in that section, owning farms in different parts of the county. He was a public spirited citizen and in politics affiliated with the Democratic party. Although left an orphan at an early age he was reared by his grandmother, whose maiden name was Miller, and was early taught the duties of farm life. He was self-made man in all that the words imply, and what he accumulated in the way of this world's goods was the result of energy and perseverance on the part of himself and his estimable wife. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary Dollison. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born a large family of children, as follows: Sarah W., born January 24, 1816, married William Darnell, reared a family, and resided in Greene County until her death in 1890; Alvira, born September 17, 1817, married Young A. Anderson, became the mother of four children, and died about 1888; Mary, born September 7, 1819, married T. J. Hodges, and became the mother of four children, her death occurring about 1883; Charles G. (deceased), was born May 9, 1821, and was a farmer by occupation; A. C., born January 26, 1824, a resident of this county for many years, was married and reared a family of children, and died soon after the way; James M., born February 23, 1826, was a wealthy and prosperous stock-trader and farmer, and was killed in 1864, during the war; John, born June 16, 1828, resided in Greene County, never married, and was accidentally killed by falling with a load of rails in the forties; Nancy J., born December 17, 1829, became the wife of Henry Moore, of Cole County, Mo., and the mother of a family of children, and died in 1865; Andrew J., born July 6, 1832, was a stock trader and prominent business man, never married, was a soldier in the Richard Campbell Company, being wounded at Hartsville, Mo., during Gen. Price's raid, was captured, taken to Johnson Island, and kept a prisoner for six months, and died in 1881 ; Edward, born May 22, 1833, was a soldier in the Rebellion, was in Campbell's Company, participated in the battles of Corinth and Pea Ridge, and died at Corinth, Miss., in 1862; Elizabeth L., born December 28, 1834, married F. M. Fullbright, of Greene County, Mo., and they now reside in Boone County, where he is engaged in farming; Jacob R., born July 12, 1836; Rebecca L., born October 5, 1838, died when a child of five years; and Marion M. C., born October 27, 1840, married George Lair, and died about 1873, leaving a family. The father of these children died in 1850, and he was followed to the grave by his widow in 1866. William Thompson, the oldest now living of the above mentioned children, is now probably the oldest citizen of Greene County, and fifth in order of birth of these children. He was about eight years of age when he came with his parents to this county, he being a native of Tennessee, and here he grew to sturdy manhood, assisting on the farm and receiving such educational advantages as were available. He married Miss E. P. Hogan, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of John Hogan, and five children were given to them, as follows: Manzy, whose birth occurred February 27, 1852, married William ___________and they have three children: Mary A., born May 3, 1854, married W. J. Larkins, and has two children; Raully E., a farmer of this county; George A., married William N. Anderson, of this county, and Willie D., married John Miller, and resides with her husband and one child in this county. Mr. Thompson has ever affiliated with the __________party, and held the office of justice of the peace for four years. He now finds a comfortable home with D. Thompson, and is one of the old landmarks of the county. Upright and honorable in every walk of life, may the sunset of his days be happy and free from care. Jacob R. D. Thompson, the youngest but one of the family reared by his parents, was born in Greene County, and was reared on the farm where he now lives. His educational training was received in the district schools and he assisted his father in tilling the soil until twenty-five years of age when he started out to fight his own way in life. He is now the owner of 220 acres of well-improved land located about six miles southeast of Springfield, and this is one of the oldest settled places in Greene County. It is well-improved with nice house and barn and attests by its neat, thrifty appearance that an experienced hand is at the helm. Mr. Thompson is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has made a success of his chosen occupations. Like most of his relatives he is a stanch Democrat and is a man deeply interested in all public affairs. He was married in 1866 to Miss Eliza C. Campbell, daughter of J. T. and Mary (Blackwill) Campbell and one of six children, as follows: Ophelia, John P., Eliza C., Hattie, Matilda J., and E. M. Mrs. Thompson was born in Greene County, September 30, 1839. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: M. J., born October 2, 1867, is the wife of H. A. Plank and has one child named Allen; James C., born January 23, 1869, is assisting on the home place, and Anna Elizabeth, born February 12, 1873, is still at home. Mr. Thompson and family hold a high place among the best people of Greene County and are universally respected. Mr. Thompson takes great pains in cultivating and improving his place and has one of the handsomest and pleasantest rural homes to be found. Abner D. Thompson, son of James .M. Thompson and grandson of Edward and Elizabeth (Dollison) Thompson, was born on the farm where he now lives, received his education in that neighborhood, and there grew to manhood. When a young man he engaged in general farming and stock raising and this he has continued up to the present time, meeting with unusual success in this occupation. He is now the owner of 310 acres, a large portion of which is under cultivation, and like his ancestors before him, thoroughly understands tilling the soil and raising stock, his broad acres being covered with fine cattle and hogs. When twenty-four years of age he married Miss Janie Galloway, daughter of Major Galloway, and they have six children who are named in the order of their births as follows: Jessie, born October 25, 1880; Susie E., born November 15, 1882; Charles E., born March 15, 1885; Catherine I., born February 14, 1887; Janie D., born June 1, 1889, and an infant, born June 18, 1893. Mr. Thompson has one of the best farms in the county, situated six and one-half miles from Springfield, and is one of the wide-awake, progressive young agriculturists. He is a public spirited and enterprising and is at all times a most emphatic Democrat in his political views. James M. Thompson, seventh child of Edward and Elizabeth (Dollison) Thompson, and for many years one of the most successful and influential citizens of Greene County, Mo., was originally from Tennessee but at an early date came to Greene County, Mo., where he met and married Miss Elizabeth Dobbs, a native also of Tennessee, and the daughter of Abner and Mary P. (Gunter) Dobbs, both of whom were natives of the old North State. The Dobbs family came to Greene County, in 1840, settled in Springfield, and were among the early pioneers of that region. (See sketch of William P. Dobbs.) Mrs. Thompson was killed by a cyclone in 1880, when about fifty years of age, her birth having occurred March 27, 1831. She was the mother of five children: Abner D., born July 28, 1855; William E., born February 3, 1858, and died August 13, 1861; James Price, born May 16, 1860, is now a merchant in the State of Washington; Mary L. born May 15, 1863, became the wife of R. E. Fullbright, and resides on a farm in this county, and Elizabeth C., born January 25, 1865, became the wife of W. F. Crocker, of Tulare County, California. The mother of these children was a worthy and consistent member of the Christian Church. In politics the father was a stanch Democrat. He was killed in 1864, during the war. For many years he had followed farming and was a substantial and well-to-do citizen, being also extensively engaged in the live stock business in which he excelled.
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