Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 615 - 616 

REV. JOHN M. THOMPSON, a minister of the Primitive Baptist Church, and also engaged in farming pursuits, owns and occupies a quarter-section of some of the best land in Valley Center Township, of which he took possession in 1870. He is fond of rural pursuits, and while taking delight in tilling the soil, finds equal pleasure in the cultivation of his mind. He has officiated as pastor of the church of Valley Center about one year, his labors being marked by efficiency, and when not engaged in his library, superintends the operations of his farm, 120 acres of which are under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Thompson has a beautiful residence in which he resides in Valley Center, and which he is engaging his leisure time in improving and ornamenting.

            Mr. Thompson was born in Fayette County, Ind., Sept. 1, 1844, and comes of an excellent old family of English descent. His parents, James and Elizabeth (McCarty) Thompson, were natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana, and his paternal grandfather, Wilson Thompson, was a native of Virginia. The latter was a man of much force of character, and prominent in the affairs of his State, representing worthily its intelligence and enterprise. Upon his removal to Indiana about 1833, there, as in the Old Dominion, his talents were speedily recognized and he was called upon to represent Fayette County in the Indiana Legislature, of which body he was a member several years. He continued a resident there until his decease, which occurred in 1866. Mr. Thompson was a very able minister of the Gospel for about sixty years, highly respected and dearly loved by all who knew him.

            The children of James and Elizabeth Thompson, the parents of our subject, consisted of five sons and three daughters. Of these one babe died unnamed, and another only recently. The names given to the seven are: Robert W., John M., Amanda, Theresa, William, Charles L. and Albert. The two last named are now deceased. The survivors are residents mostly of Indiana, and William in Colorado. James Thompson upon leaving his native State located in Marion County, Ind., where he is still living and holding the office of County Commissioner, to which he was elected in the fall of 1886. He, like his father before him, is also prominent in public affairs, and in 1882 was elected a member of the Legislature, serving one term. He officiated as Trustee of Franklin Township ten or twelve years, and politically, is an uncompromising Democrat.

            James Thompson upon starting out for himself in life chose farming as his main occupation, which he has followed now for a period of forty years. He and his excellent wife early in life united with what was then termed the Primitive Baptist Church, in the faith of which the mother continued until her death, nearly thirty years ago, and to which the father still adheres.

            The subject of this history lived with his father first in Fayette, and then in Howard County, Ind., until twenty-two years of age, pursuing the uneventful life of the farmer's boy. He was an apt scholar in the district school, and upon leaving home determined to make a more extended acquaintance with books. For this purpose he entered the college at Hartsville, where he took up some of the higher branches and improved every hour of the six months in which he was numbered among the students of that institution. He was now well fitted for teaching, which he pursued in Marion County for a time and until his arrival in this State. He subsequently taught near Valley Center three months, in the meantime having in view the selection of a permanent home, and shortly afterward secured possession of his present farm.  

            Mr. Thompson while a resident of Howard County, Ind., first officiated as a minister, in 1874, and after four years of pastoral work went east as far as Warren County, Ohio, and was pastor of the Tapscott Church near the town of Franklin eight years. While a resident of Indiana he was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Fry, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride on the 3d of September. 1873. Mrs. Thompson was born in that county, April 5, 1852, and is the daughter of Luke and Phebe (Abrams) Fry, who are still residents of Howard County, where the father successfully operated a good farm. Mrs. Thompson had six brothers, five of whom are living, and one dead, named as follows: James H., who died in 1874; John L., Woodson W., Samuel M., Norman B. and Arthur W., and also has two sisters, Lorissa J. and Anarena B. They reside in Indiana and Iowa respectively. Two bright young girls now constitute the light of the Thompson household: Gracie Rena, born Oct. 6, 1881, and Stella Marie, Feb. 17, 1886.

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