My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW PURDY THOMPSON, Pittsburgh, was born in Hopewell township, York county, Pa., May 22, 1810, and first came to Pittsburgh in 1835. His grandfather, Archibald Thompson, a Scotch Covenanter, the ancestor of the Thompsons of York county, came from Scotland about the year 1735, and took up what was then known as the “Black run tract,” in Lancaster county, near the Maryland line, now in Hopewell township, York county, which tract or farm, after the lapse of one hundred and fifty years, is still the home and in the possession of his grandson, Archibald Thompson, at this writing eighty-six years of age.

Archibald Thompson (the first) married Margaret Wallace, the daughter of Alexander Wallace, another Scotch Covenanter, who came to this country about 1730, and in whose log house “Old Guinston Church,” one of the first Seceder congregations in America, was organized. Alexander, their first son, served in the revolutionary war in Capt. Maffit’s company. Joseph, their second son, married Mary Purdy, daughter of Archibald Purdy, another Covenanter, from the north of Ireland, and to this couple were born ten children, the youngest of whom is the subject of this sketch.

Andrew P. Thompson spent his youth on his father’s farm, with such slender opportunities of schooling as country districts afforded in the beginning of the present century. Books were not abundant, but the Bible, the Psalms (Rouse’s version), the Shorter Catechism gave ample exercise for memorizing, and Pilgrim’s Progress, Gospel Sonnets, Marrow of Modern Divinity and one or two others of like character in poetry and fiction comprised the library of that day.

The minister was always ready to help any boy who cared for his book, and before long we find our subject teaching school in his own county, and afterward in Newville, Cumberland county, whence, after teaching and preparing himself, he came to Western Pennsylvania, and entered Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, teaching during his vacations. After one or two years spent at college he came to Allegheny City, where he became the principal of the Fourth ward public school, which was then in the basement of a Seceder (now the Second U. P.) church. Here he began studying for the ministry, but lack of means to regularly prosecute his studies, and the necessities of his little family—he haying married in the meantime—compelled him to give over this cherished hope. In 1847 he was sent by the church as a missionary to the island of Trinidad, West Indies, where he and his wife were stationed nearly three years. On their return he became the agent of the Young Men’s Bible society of Allegheny county, a position he has filled almost without interruption ever since.

Originally a whig in politics, then an abolitionist, he was present in Lafayette hall at the birth of the republican party, from whose principles he never swerved except upon the candidacy of Horace Greeley for president. An United Presbyterian in faith, a prohibitionist from conviction, he has spent the last fifty years of his life in this community, respected by all men for his quiet, blameless integrity. In 1844 he married Elizabeth Donaldson, daughter of Andrew Donaldson and Jane McBurney, his wife, whose progenitors, Scotch and Scotch-Irish, first settled in Chester county, and coming west were among the early settlers of Washington county, Pa. Jane McBurney’s grandfather, John, the son of a justice of the peace in County Down, Ireland, came to this country when a young man, and, not finding employment quickly, enlisted in the British army and was present at Braddock’s defeat, July 9, 1755.

Of the eight children of Andrew P. and Elizabeth (Donaldson) Thompson, seven grew to maturity: William Reed, Andrew D. (a physician, who died in Philadelphia), Joseph Alexander; James R., M. D., practicing in Pittsburgh; Jennie E. and Ella N. are unmarried; Anna M. is the wife of Otto G. Schultz, of C. J. Schultz & Sons, bridge-builders. Mrs. Thompson having died in 1872, in 1879 Mr. Thompson married Miss Lydia W. McKee, of Allegheny City.

William Reed Thompson was born in Allegheny City, was taken when a child to the island of Trinidad, attended the public schools of Pittsburgh until twelve years old, was employed for five years in the U. P. board of publication under Rev. Dr. Rodgers. During this time he enlisted in the Union army, but was taken out by his father. In 1864 he entered the 100-days service in Knap’s Independent Battery, and on his return was employed by Hart, Caughey & Co., bankers, where he remained for four years, meanwhile pursuing his studies and reciting after hours to Prof. Lewis Bradley, formerly in charge of the observatory. Failing to get to college, he entered the Mechanics National Bank, where he served for fourteen years, beginning as bookkeeper and ending as president. Having bought the interest of John B. Jones, Esq., in the banking-house of Semple & Jones, which then took the name of Semple & Thompson, he resigned his position in the Mechanics’ National Bank, devoting his attention to his own business. He is still a director in the Mechanics’ National Bank, the treasurer of some of the most prominent charities of this city, a member of the Third Presbyterian Church, and a republican in politics. Mr. Thompson was married to Mary, daughter of William Thaw, a prominent and charitable citizen of Pittsburgh, and they have two children.