My Genealogy Hound

DR. JAMES T. S. THOMPSON was born in this county February 6, 1836, and is one of six children born to the union of Capt. Absalom and Mary B. (Sanford) Thompson, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Tennessee. The father was from the family of John Thompson, one of the pioneer settlers of Williamson County, who was born in 1800. Capt. Thompson has filled a large space in the history of the community for the last half century. He has taken a lively interest in developing the resources of the country and in promoting the cause of education. He was one of the projectors and liberal supporters of Jackson College, and after its removal to Columbia he was an active participant in the establishment of both the Female and Male Academies of Spring Hill, and was a trustee of both schools for many years. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1833, and was ordained one of its ruling elders in May, 1844. His death occurred February 17, 1881. The subject of this sketch passed his youth on the farm with his parents. At the age of twenty-two he began reading medicine with Dr. S. T. McMurray with a view of making it a profession. He attended two courses of lectures at the Nashville Medical College, and graduated from that institution at the sessions of 1857-58. He then returned to Maury County and began the practice of medicine. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company E, Third Tennessee Regiment Infantry, serving as lieutenant until the fall of Fort Donelson, after which he served as assistant surgeon of Robertson’s battery, and at the exchange of his regiment was made surgeon of the Third Tennessee Regiment, and remained as such for three years; after which time the regiments consolidated, and he then joined Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s staff, and remained with him until Gen. Hood took charge of the army, and served in the same capacity under the latter General until the close of the war. He then returned home and resumed the practice of medicine. At the end of a year he removed to Corinth, Mississippi, and engaged in farming and milling. He remained in this State until 1876, when he returned to this county, locating on the old homestead, where he has been engaged in farming and stock raising ever since. November 30, 1870, he was united in marriage to Mary L. Cheairs, a native of this county and the daughter of John W. Cheairs, whose sketch appears elsewhere in these pages. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born nine children, eight of whom are living, viz.: Mary P., John C. (deceased), James M., Thomas St. C., Leo Duloney, Hattie C., Myra R., Susie P. and an infant not named. The Doctor is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Methodist Church.