James D. Thompson
JAMES D. THOMPSON, one of the successful farmers of Woodstock township, is entitled to the space that has been accorded him in this history of Schuyler county, and following is a brief outline of his career. He is a native of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, born March 30, 1823, a son of William and Mary (Peterson) Thompson. The paternal grandfather, William Thompson, Sr., was horn in Ireland, and when a boy crossed the seas to try his fortunes in the New World. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed his vocation all his life; he and his wife attained the good old age of three-score and ten years. William Thompson, Jr., was a native of the Keystone State, and resided there until 1837, when he came to Illinois; he was a millwright by trade, and worked at that occupation several years. Two years after coming to this State he purchased land in Brown county, on which he settled the 14th day of May. In the fall of the same year his death occurred, at the age of fifty-four years and seven months; he left a wife and six children. The family then rented land for a period of eight years, and at the end of that time located on the tract purchased by the father. The mother died in Brown county, at the age of eighty-six years. Her parents, James and Elizabeth (Abbott) Peterson, were of English and German descent, and died in Pennsylvania, at the ages of ninety-one and ninety years respectively. James D. Thompson is one of a family of ten children, five of whom are living. He remained under his parents' roof until he was married; this event occurred April 3, 1856, when he was united to Miss Margaret E. Grosclaude, a native of France, born April 27, l830. Her parents, James F. and Catharine E. (Jonte) Grosclaude, emigrated to the United States in 1833, and located in Woodstock township, Schuyler county, Illinois; he died here September 30, 1878, at the age of seventy-four years, and she September 15, 1878., at seventy-two years; they reared a family of eleven children. Mrs. Thompson's paternal grandparents died in 1878, the grandfather September 30, and the grandmother September 16. Peter J. Jonte, the maternal grandfather, was born in February, 1776, and died October 2, 1846; his wife, Susan Landon, was born March 25, 1774, and died June 7, 1842.Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of six children: Mary E. is married, and the mother of three children; William J. is married, and has six children; Jefferson E. is married, and has three children; Emily L. is married, and the mother of a family of three; Charles W. is married; and Lorena M. is at home.
Mr. Thompson has been prominently connected with the agricultural interests of the county, and owns about 300 acres of choice land; he has been School Director for twenty-three years, and has held other local offices, always discharging his duties with a fidelity that won the entire confidence of his constituency. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 218-219.
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