My Genealogy Hound

Eugene Thompson. Among the farmers of Cole County who have been very successful, and are worthy representatives of their calling, may be mentioned Mr. Thompson, who was born in Jefferson City in 1858, and has been identified with the interests of the county from childhood. He is the only child of Charles and Molly (Gordon) Thompson, who were born in Massachusetts and Virginia, respectively. The father left home at an early day, and followed the stone cutter’s trade (which was his father’s calling) in New York. He was first married in Binghamton to Cordelia Treadwell, who died in Illinois February 22, 1854, leaving two children, Charles H. and James L. In 1853 Mr. Thompson came to St. Louis, and after working at marble cutting for about a year came to Jefferson City, where he formed a partnership with J. L. Flemming, and started an extensive marble yard, becoming in time well-known throughout the State. In 1861 this firm was dissolved, soon after which time Mr. Thompson purchased a fine farm of about 400 acres on Moreau Creek. While residing in Jefferson City he was married to Miss Gordon, whose parents were John T. and Elizabeth (Berry) Gordon, natives of Virginia. They immigrated to Ohio in 1836, thence three years later to Missouri, where they settled a fine river bottom farm of 600 acres in Cole County. Mr. Gordon was a very thrifty farmer, and became well known throughout the State. He died in 1866, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife died in 1870. After locating, Mr. Thompson at once proceeded to improve his farm, and also opened a marble yard, which rapidly increased in importance, his trade extending over many of the adjoining counties. He continued this business and farming until 1868, when he received a paralytic stroke, after which he practically retired from the active duties of life. July 27, 1874, this well-known and highly esteemed old citizen passed away, deeply regretted by many friends. His excellent wife still survives him, and makes her home with her son Eugene. The father, at the beginning of the war, organized a company of Enrolled Militia, but did not serve outside the State of Missouri, being principally on guard duty. He was a stanch Republican in politics. Eugene Thompson was actively engaged in assisting his father in his youth, and also attended the public schools near his home, entering, in 1871, a school in Pittsfield, Mass., which he attended one year, then returned home and remained until after his father’s death. In 1876 he again returned to Pittsfield, Mass., and after taking a two years’ course returned home and assumed management of the farm, and has made valuable additions on his already finely improved place, and besides repairing his old barn has built a new one, which is said to be the largest and the finest in the county. He has a large orchard of choice fruits, and has given much of his attention to stock raising, making a specialty of Durham and Hereford cattle, Chester-White and Poland-China hogs, and breeds Norman horses for draft. His average yield of oats is from fifty to seventy bushels, wheat, eighteen to twenty-five, and corn, forty to sixty bushels to the acre. He is an active politician, and votes with the grand old Republican party. In 1880 he was wedded to Miss Vanetta Rawson, a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Charles and Ellen (Adams) Rawson, who were natives of York State and Ohio, respectively. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church, and they are the parents of the following children: Mary Luceby, Malinda, Arthur Eugene, Clara Elizabeth and Nellie.