Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 3 Oct 2003

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990

JOHN L. THOMPSON, retired farmer; P. O. Socialville. To the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, we are pleased to accord a place in the ranks of the early pioneers of Warren Count; he was born at Red Stone, Pennsylvania, Sept. 8, 1804, and is a son of Aaron and Jane (Lee) Thompson, who were born in the same State. In 1806, they emigrated by way of the Ohio River to Ohio, and took up their residence in Butler County close to Chester. There they cleared up a farm and made a permanent home. To them were born eighteen children, of whom only two live in Warren County. The others who are living are scattered throughout the West. Mrs. Thompson died in 1827. Mr. Thompson was again married to Julia Baird, who bore him three children; he died in 1841 or 1842. Our subject was reared on the farm, and in the subscription schools he learned to read and write. He labored on the farm for his father until his marriage, which was celebrated Nov. 4, 1828, with Eleanor, daughter of David Conover of New Jersey, and at that time of Butler County; after the celebration of his nuptials he located in Deerfield Township, where he has resided to the present, and in all human probability will reside to the end. His children who are living are seven in number, and all reside in good homes within sight of their parents, their names are as follows: James M., Finley, Willson, George D., Jonathan L., Lucinda L., and Mary A. The deceased are – Abel S., Thomas J., David M., and Eva J. Mr. Thompson when married had comparatively speaking nothing, and his father being a poor man, he did much toward assisting him, which considerably retarded his own progress, yet he struggled along gaining little by little, and soon purchased thirty odd acres of land. Their first home was on what is now the Abner Ross farm, it being then nearly all timbered land; then there was scarcely a wagon road, and everything was carried in and out of the country on horseback. By the most unrelenting labor and strictest economy this pioneer gradually overcame the obstacles which are akin to poverty, and became one of the wealthy men of his township, possessing at one time about 700 acres of land. In politics Mr. Thompson is a Democrat; he has served the people of the township in capacity of Trustee for nine years; his children are greatly esteemed and are among the most respected in the county, being moral and strictly honest men and women; they are well calculated to perpetuate the record of their father, which is without a spot or blemish. He is an old member of the Company of Mason Horse Rangers. To his children he has given good homes; he was engaged for some time as a partner with his son J. M. Thompson, in a store at Socialville. The grandfather of Mrs. Thompson served as Light Horseman in the struggle of the colonists for Liberty.