Bio: Thompson, Thomas (1856 - )

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

----Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

Surname: THOMPSON, OLSON, HOV, HAGEN

Thomas Thompson, 1856

THOMAS THOMPSON, a well known representative of the agricultural and dairying interests of Mayville Township, was born in Norway, April 13, 1856. His mother died in her native land and the father, Ole, came to the United States with his children. In the spring of 1872 he came to Clark County from Waukesha County, Wis., where he had first located, and bought the homestead of eighty acres now owned by his son Thomas in Section 36, Mayville Township. Starting to clear the land, he built a log house, in which he lived for twelve years, and then replaced it with a frame dwelling. During the early years he used oxen on his farm, as most, or nearly all of the early settlers did, they being more hardy than horses and better adapted to pioneer farming. He was one of those who helped in the construction of the railroad through this section. A Republican in politics, he cast his first Presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1872. He died Jan. 26, 1918.

The children born to him and his wife were: Thomas, of Mayville Township; Jennie, wife of Nels Laveen, of Mayville Township; and Helen, who is the widow of Henry Anderson, and resides at Abbotsford. Thomas Thompson has resided on the home farm since his father came here in 1873, and has largely assisted in its improvement. Some years of his early manhood, however, were spent in railroad work, as he was employed for two years in the building department of the. Wisconsin Central Railroad, and then went with J. A. Olson, of Abbotsford, to Missouri, where he worked on the Santa Fe extension from Lexington Junction to St. Joseph. In the winter of 1891-92 he was employed in the lumber camps in Louisiana. He bought his present farm from his father in 1910, and has since built a seventy-ton silo. Mr. Thompson breeds full-blooded Chester-White hogs, and Grade Guernsey cattle, milking about twelve cows. He is also a stockholder in the Abbotsford Co-operative Butter and Cheese Company, and was its secretary for some four years. In official position he has served as a director of School District No. 1.

Mr. Thompson was married Jan. 2, 1892, to Mary Thompson, who was born in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 16, 1869, daughter of John and Martha (Hov) Thompson, both deceased, one of a family of live children, the other three living being Edward, of Stonebank, Waukesha County, this state; Theodore, of Tacoma, Wash,; and Minnie, now Mrs. Ole Hagen, of Wittenberg, Shwano County,,this state. Mr. and Mrs, Thompson have five children: Morris, born June 11, 1895; Olin, Dec. 13, 1898; Minnette, Aug. 20, 1900; Lloyd, April 16, 1909; and John V., July 23, 1915. Morris and Olin are in the United States service, Morris, at this writing (April 15, 1918), being at the Great Lakes Training Station, and Olin being in France, having
made the trip on the ill-fated Tuseania.