JamesD. Thompson
JAMES D. THOMPSON, one of the successfulfarmers of Woodstock township, is entitled to the space that has been accordedhim in this history of Schuyler county, and following is a brief outlineof his career. He is a native of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, born March30, 1823, a son of William and Mary (Peterson) Thompson. The paternal grandfather,William Thompson, Sr., was horn in Ireland, and when a boy crossed theseas 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 goodold age of three-score and ten years. William Thompson, Jr., was a nativeof 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 hisdeath occurred, at the age of fifty-four years and seven months; he lefta wife and six children. The family then rented land for a period of eightyears, and at the end of that time located on the tract purchased by thefather. The mother died in Brown county, at the age of eighty-six years.Her parents, James and Elizabeth (Abbott) Peterson, were of English andGerman descent, and died in Pennsylvania, at the ages of ninety-one andninety years respectively. James D. Thompson is one of a family of tenchildren, five of whom are living. He remained under his parents’ roofuntil he was married; this event occurred April 3, 1856, when he was unitedto Miss Margaret E. Grosclaude, a native of France, born April 27, l830.Her parents, James F. and Catharine E. (Jonte) Grosclaude, emigrated tothe United States in 1833, and located in Woodstock township, Schuylercounty, Illinois; he died here September 30, 1878, at the age of seventy-fouryears, and she September 15, 1878., at seventy-two years; they reared afamily of eleven children. Mrs. Thompson’s paternal grandparents died in1878, the grandfather September 30, and the grandmother September 16. PeterJ. Jonte, the maternal grandfather, was born in February, 1776, and diedOctober 2, 1846; his wife, Susan Landon, was born March 25, 1774, and diedJune 7, 1842.Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents ofsix children: Mary E. is married, and the mother of three children; WilliamJ. is married, and has six children; Jefferson E. is married, and has threechildren; Emily L. is married, and the mother of a family of three; CharlesW. is married; and Lorena M. is at home.
Mr. Thompson has been prominently connectedwith the agricultural interests of the county, and owns about 300 acresof choice land; he has been School Director for twenty-three years, andhas held other local offices, always discharging his duties with a fidelitythat won the entire confidence of his constituency. Politically he affiliateswith the Democratic party.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 218-219.
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