My Genealogy Hound

JAMES THOMPSON was born in Canada, January 21, 1853. and is the son of James and Mary (Tarney) Thompson, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. He was one of a family of fifteen children, and left his home and kindred in Canada when only thirteen years old to fight his own battles through life. He crossed over into the States in the fall of 1866, and wended his way as far West as Winnebago county, Ill., where he hired out to work for a farmer. He soon gained an established reputation as an industrious young man, and he always found a demand for his services during the seven and one-half years he remained in that locality. In March, 1874, he came to Kearney county, Nebr., with a view of securing for himself a farm. After prospecting about for a short time, he located a homestead and tree claim in Grant township, and constructed a dugout, which served as his place of abode for some years. There was scarcely any settlement in all that section at that time, and it was not an uncommon thing to see a herd of antelope, and occasionally a few buffalo. He worked in the Gibbon settlement north of the Platte most of the time during the first season, and in this way managed to secure money with which to provide himself with the necessary food for the winter. He passed through the famous grasshopper raids of 1874 and 1876, and witnessed considerable suffering among his less fortunate neighbors. He was young and unmarried, and refused to accept aid that was sent to alleviate the wants of the sufferers, seeing about him men with families, who stood in greater need of assistance than he.

Mr. Thompson lived the quiet life of a bachelor until February 13, 1890, when he was married to Miss Kate M. Doal, who is a native of Denmark, born July 29, 1864. and came to America with her parents when about six yeare old.

Mr. Thompson has two hundred and forty acres of as fine land as can be found in the county, and it would be difficult to find as many acres as pleasantly situated.

On his timber claim are fully twenty thousand large, thrifty trees, planted and nurtured by his own hands.

Being a son of poor parents, young Thompson was denied the excellent advantages enjoyed by the youth of to-day for obtaining an education, but, since thrown upon his own resources, he has improved his spare time and collected a generous fund of useful information. He is well posted upon the topics of the day, and is a ready conversationalist upon almost any subject. He has filled the office of justice of the peace acceptably, and has held various other local offices. Although formerly an enthusiastic republican, he has changed his political views and become an ardent advocate of the union labor party. He is one of the recognized leaders of his party in Kearney county, and a man who is highly respected by all who know him.