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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Fulton County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Dr. William A. Thompson, an eminent medical practitioner, who has recently located in Mammoth Spring, is a native of Pope County, Ill., where he was born December 22, 1852, being a son of Jacob A. and Polly (Shuffelbarger) Thompson, who were born in West Virginia in 1819 and Pennsylvania in 1824, respectively. The former, with his parents, was among the very earliest settlers of Pope County, and there the latter couple died. Jacob Thompson inherits Scotch and Irish blood from his parents, and has inherited many of the sterling qualities of his Scottish ancestors. He has been a farmer throughout life, is still residing in Pope County, and in his political views has always been a Democrat. He was a faithful soldier for the Union cause throughout the Rebellion, and was a participant in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and numerous other important battles, and was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant. He was one of the men who went through on the Gerrison raid. His wife died in Pope County the first year of the war, having borne a family of eight children, only four of whom are now living: One a merchant in Alton, Mo., another a stockman of Kansas, one a minister of the gospel, and the Doctor. The latter was nine years of age when his mother died, and shortly after his father went to the war, and he was left to make his home with a neighbor. At the age of fourteen years he went to Northern Illinois, and received excellent educational opportunities (which he did not fail to improve) in McKendrie College, St. Clair County, Ill. In the spring of 1883 he was graduated from the Medical University of Louisville, Ky., and after practicing a very short time in Stoddard County, Mo., he moved to Oregon County, where he became a well-known and successful practitioner. Since the first of the year 1889 he has resided in Mammoth Spring, where he is winning the confidence and respect of all who know him. In March, 1876, he was married to Miss Amanda Miller, who was born in Stoddard County, Mo., in 1856, and was there reared to womanhood. She died in 1882, having borne two children: Birdie and Hattie. She was a daughter of George F. and Sarah (Hardy) Miller, both of whom spent their lives in Stoddard County. Mrs. Margaret George became Dr. Thompson’s second wife in December, 1883. Her birth occurred in Randolph County, Ark., in 1846, she being a daughter of Rev. R. O. Tribble, a Missionary Baptist minister, and the first minister of Oregon County. The Doctor and his wife have one child, William A. He owns 700 acres of land in Oregon County, Mo., and his home lot in Mammoth Spring comprises three acres. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Alton, Mo., and in his political views has always been a stanch Republican, having cast his first presidential vote for R. B. Hayes. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. His first wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 70 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Fulton County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Fulton County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Fulton County, Arkansas family biographies here: Fulton County, Arkansas Biographies

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