My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM S. THOMPSON. This name is familiar to a large portion of the leading residents of Clark County, as he who bears it is the well-known owner of “West View Farm,” and looked upon as one of its most useful and enterprising citizens. He has been successful in life, both as a farmer and business man, and makes his headquarters at an attractive homestead on section 31, Moorefield Township, where for the past few years he has given much attention to the breeding of fine stock. He is a native of Clark County, and was born September 25, 1832. His parents, Christopher and Mary (Wintersgill) Thompson, were natives of Yorkshire, England, and of English ancestry as far back as the records go. They emigrated to America in the summer of 1831, and came directly to Clark County, this State, where they were subsequently married.

The father of our subject located first in German Township, where he lived one year, then removed to what is now the flourishing city of Springfield, but which was then only a village. He occupied himself in various pursuits for a few years, and finally purchased a stone quarry on Buck Creek, which he operated profitably, furnishing large quantities of stone for the building up of the city. He also had lime kilns, and shipped burnt lime in every direction, although his principal market for this commodity was Cincinnati. In one year alone he put out one hundred and eighty thousand bushels. He ever maintained a warm interest in the growth and prosperity of the city, and is looked upon as having contributed largely to the promotion of its best interests. He became well-to do and assisted in the organization of the Lagonda National Bank, of which he was President at the time of his death. He departed this life at his home in Springfield, in February, 1880. Politically, Christopher Thompson was originally a Whig, and upon the abandonment of the old party became an ardent Republican. A man liberal and public-spirited, he was the encourager of every worthy enterprise, and his name is still held in kindly remembrance by those who knew him.

The father of our subject landed upon American soil with a capital of four English sovereigns, and from that small beginning he amassed a fortune of $150,000. His honesty was unimpeachable and he filled many positions of trust and responsibility. In religious matters his views conformed to the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a faithful and consistent member for many years. He assisted in the organization of the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and contributed liberally both to the support of the society and in the erection of the church building. The poor always found in Christopher Thompson an unfailing friend, he looking upon those less fortunate than himself as having a claim upon him which he was always conscientious in fulfilling.

To the parents of our subject there was born a family of seven children, six of whom are living, namely: William S., our subject; Dorothea A., the wife of Richard Johnson, of Springfield; Richard R., a resident of Story County, Iowa; Mary, Mrs. J. A. Hayward, of Springfield, this State; Emma, the wife of the Rev. Lucian Clark, D.D., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City, and assistant editor of the Christian Advocate; and Alice the wife of Lieut. F. S. Rice, of the United States Army. John P. died at the age of fourteen years.

The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in his native county, and remembers the time when the city of Springfield was in its infancy. Until about 1881 he occupied himself as a stone contractor, and at lime burning, and like his father before him was very successful. He acquired his education mostly in the schools of Springfield, conducted mainly under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and under the instruction of Prof. Solomon Howard, D.D., who was Principal a number of years. Prof. Howard subsequently became President of the Ohio University at Athens, and has gained a wide reputation among the educators of the Buckeye State.

Mr. Thompson contracted matrimonial ties April 24, 1860, with Miss Matilda C. Layton. There have been born to them three children — Ralph P., Mary B., who employs herself as a music teacher in San Diego, Cal.; and Earl W. Mr. Thompson purchased most of the land constituting his present farm in 1876, but did not locate upon it until 1881. He is now the owner of three hundred and fifty-six acres, the most of which is under a good state of cultivation. Besides Short-horn cattle, Mr. Thompson makes a specialty of Shetland ponies, which is proving a very profitable industry. Politically, he is a sound Republican, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity at Springfield. In January, 1890, he was elected Vice-President of the Lagonda National Bank at Springfield, in which he has for some time been a stockholder. To the various enterprises calculated for the growth and prosperity of the city, he has always, like his father before him, been a liberal contributor, and he is one whose name will be held in kindly remembrance long after he has departed hence.

A portrait* of Mr. Thompson is shown on another page of this volume.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.