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BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
Genealogical & Biographical Record

of Miami Co., Ohio

Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
1900

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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  HENRY M. TELLER  

Source: Genealogical & Biographical Record of Miami Co., Ohio - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company - 1900 - Page


W. B. TEN EICK
WILLIAM B. TEN EICK

Source: Genealogical & Biographical Record of Miami Co., Ohio - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company - 1900 - Page 484

  WILLIAM M. THOMPSONWilliam M. Thompson follows farming in Newberry township, being connected with the pursuit that for many years has formed the means of livelihood of representatives of the Thompson family living in Miami county.  Sylvester Thompson, his great grandfather, was born in North Carolina, and about the year 1807, with his wife and five children, emigrated to Miami county, Ohio, taking up his abode in Newton township, where he entered a claim now known as the Landis farm.  He afterward entered the west half of section 32, Newberry township, removing to that property about 1817.  He also entered two quarter-sections on Greenville creek about the same time, his landed possessions thus becoming very extensive.  He conducted a still house on his farm and was one day found dead, lying in the spring branch.  It is supposed that he had lain flat on his stomach in order to get a drink, and died in that position.  This was in 1826, when he was about sixty years of age.  In politics he was a stanch Democrat.  His wife, Mrs. Polly Thompson, who was noted for her kindness of heart and sweet, gentle disposition, died in April, 1843, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Hill, near the town of Pleasant Hill.  After the death of her first husband she was again married, becoming the wife of a Mr. Freeman, of Newberry township.  The children of Sylvester and Polly Thompson were five in number: John, the eldest, married Catherine Rench, and resides in Covington.  In connection with his brother William he owned the site on which the east half of Covington was built, and conducted a tavern where Doctor Mover's house now stands.  He afterward sold that and later engaged in the hardware business on what was then called Water street, close to the river.  He died on his farm east of Covington, on the 8th of July, 1841.  James Thompson, the second member of the family, was born about 1800, married Elizabeth Bierly and located on Greenville creek, becoming an influential agriculturist of that community.  He died on his farm several years prior to the death of his wife.  Samuel, the third member of the family, was born in 1802, and was married in 1823 to Hannah Rench, daughter of Peter Rench.  He died in 1895, on the farm where his son Josephus now lives.  William, the fourth member of the family, wedded Nancy Rudy, and located on what is known as the Teague farm, which was part of the land entered by his father from the government.  He died at his pleasant home near Pleasant Hill in 1882.  Nancy, the only daughter and the eldest of the family, was the wife of John Hill and lived on a farm near Pleasant Hill, which is now owned by Nate Iddings, of Bradford.  There she spent her remaining days.
     It was William Thompson who became the grandfather of our subject.  He was born in North Carolina, in 1804, and was consequently three years of age when his parents came to Miami county.  His father entered land from the government and gave to him one hundred and sixty acres after his marriage.  He wedded Nancy, daughter of Samuel and Sally Rudy, and about 1834 he sold his farm and removed to Illinois, but as he could find no land to suit him in that state, he returned to Ohio and repurchased the old homestead from his brother John.  He then engaged in farming for a time, but afterward once more sold the property to his brother John and purchased what is now the Kilworth farm, which was entered from the government by Samuel Rudy.  On disposing of that property he purchased the Fox farm, near the Darke county line, remaining thereon for a few years, when he again sold and bought thirty acres in Newton township from Mr. Butterfield.  When he found a purchaser for that land he bought ten acres east of Pleasant Hill, and there practically lived retired until his death, which occurred May 18, 1882.  His wife, Nancy Thompson, passed away in 1847, and he afterward married Rachel Spillers, widow of William Kendall.  She survived him for a few years.  William Thompson was laid to rest in the Greenville creek cemetery.  The children by his first marriage were:  Mary, who married John Arnold and afterward married William Murphy, but is now a widow, and makes her home in Bradford; John, who married Catherine Coates, and resides in Newberry township; Samuel, who married Mary Ann Fachler and died near Red River, Darke county, as did his wife; James, the father of our subject; Sarah, widow of Emanuel J. Beard, of Newberry township; Martha, wife of Calvin Brant, both now deceased; Margaret, who became the wife of John Swisher, and died in Newberry township; Hannah, who became the wife of Isaac Hollopeter and died near Houston, Shelby county, Ohio, where her husband's death also occurred; William, who married Elizabeth Smith, and died in Covington; Nancy Ann, who became the wife of Henry Cassal, with whom she removed to Illinois, where her death occurred, her remains, however, being interred in Greenville creek cemetery; Henry, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Nathan, who married Amanda Muck, and is living in Ludlow Falls; and Sylvester, who married Miss Long, and resides in Pleasant Hill.  There were two children by the second marriage, Matilda, wife of Edward Carson, who resides near Sidney, Ohio, and Susan, wife of Samuel Burns, of Piqua.
     James Thompson, the father of our subject, was born in Newberry township, in 1826, and was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads of that period.  He had no educational privileges and after the children attended school they taught him to read and write.  He married Mary Moss, who was born in Newberry township in 1826, a daughter of William Moss.  They resided in Newberry township, where the father died in 1862.  In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in his country's service as a member of Company B. Seventy-first Ohio Infantry, under Captain McConnell.  In May of the following year he was sent home on account of illness, and died on the 21st of that month.  His wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1882, and both wore buried in the Greenville creek cemetery.  Their children were William M.; Charles, who married Salome Matthews and died in Newberry township in 1876; Peter, who married Catherine Sheffbaugh and is living in Covington; James, of Darke county, who married Catherine Rike, who is now deceased; and Rachel M., who died in infancy.
     William M. Thompson was born Jan. 25, 1846, on what is known as the James Teague farm, in Newberry township.  There he was reared to manhood and obtained his education in the district school near his home.  His privileges were somewhat limited, however, for his services were needed in clearing and developing the home farm.  On the 8th of February, 1864, at Covington, he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company A, Eighth Ohio Cavalry, for three years' service.  He went to Camp Dennison and after a short time to Camp Pratt, Virginia.  The troops thence proceeded on the Lynchburg raid, but were driven back to Camp Pratt and afterward sent to Martinsburg. in the Shenandoah valley, and thence through Maryland and Pennsylvania, being present at the burning of Chambersburg.  Mr. Thompson also participated in the heavy skirmish which was continued through thirteen days.  The troops were pursued to Beverly, Virginia, where Mr. Thompson and four hundred of his companions were taken prisoners, being taken to Staunton, where they were put on board trains bound for Richmond.  He was incarcerated in Libby prison from the 16th of June until the 26th of February, 1865, when he was paroled and returned home.  After visiting in Ohio for thirty days he started to rejoin his regiment, but learned of Lee's surrender and went to Columbus, where he reported for duty.  He was then sent to his regiment in Philippi, West Virginia, where the command was given the duty of gathering up United States property, being thus engaged for about four weeks.  Mr. Thompson was then discharged at Clarksburg, Virginia, July 13, 1865.  He saw hard service throughout his connection with the army, and spent the nineteenth anniversary of his birth in Libby prison.  While at Beverly he and his companion, Martin Van Kirk, had pictures taken together.  Mr. Thompson mailed one to his mother in Ohio, but the mails were robbed by the rebels and the picture did not reach its destination; but when Mr. Thompson was gathering up government property in Crab Bottom, Virginia, one of his comrades happened to visit the home of a Confederate and saw the picture there.  He then informed Mr. Thompson, who visited the place, and after considerable parley the photograph was returned to him.  At the time of the capture of Beverly the Union troops were surprised in their bunks by the rebels. He and his friend, Van Kirk, were together as usual, and the latter went out to see what was the matter, whereupon he was seized.  He then shouted to Mr. Thompson, who seized his gun with the intention of making a dash for liberty, but he found that the rebel force were too many for him, and after exchanging some lively words was forced to surrender.  By the side of his friend, Van Kirk, they started to march away shoulder to shoulder, but a volley was fired by some unknown scouts and Van Kirk fell, hit in the forehead by a bullet.  Such, in brief, are some of the experiences through which Mr. Thompson passed while loyally defending the Union during the civil war.
     After he returned home he resumed work on the home farm.  During his boyhood he had been employed as a farm hand for two dollars per month and his board.  After his marriage he received as high as three dollars per day for cradling wheat, being able to cut four acres per day.
     On the 10th of March, 1867, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Nancy J. Green, a daughter of Samuel Green, deceased, of Newberry township.  They remained on his mother's farm where they lived for one and a half years and then rented land in Concord township, where they made their home for eight years.  On the expiration of that period they returned to his mother's farm, and after her death Mr. Thompson purchased the property, to which he has since added twenty acres, and there he built a substantial and comfortable residence.  He raised tobacco and garden produce and attends the market at Piqua twice a week.  He purchased forty acres of land near Fort Recovery and removed there in 1882, but after remaining there a year and a half he returned to his present home.  He is enterprising and progressive in his business methods and receives a good income as the result of his energetic labors.
     Mr. and Mrs. Thompson now have six children: Charles, who died at the age of twenty years; Oscar, who married Emma Stauffer and lives in Covington; Walter E., who married Flora Reiber, and resides in Newberry township; Myrtie E., who married Asa Reck, a farmer in Darke county; and Hattie and George W. at home.  The parents hold membership in the Greenville Creek Christian church, of which Mr. Thompson has been a member for many years.  In politics Mr. Thompson is a stanch Republican and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, but has not sought office, desiring rather to give his time and energies entirely to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success.
Source: Genealogical & Biographical Record of Miami Co., Ohio - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company - 1900 - Page 722
  ELMER E. THOMSONElmer E. Thomson is a leading undertaker and embalmer of Miami county, and is a representative of a family that for many years has been prominently connected with the business interests of this section of the state.  In tracing the genealogy of our subject we find that he is descended from a long line of sturdy, intelligent and honorable ancestors, and that in both the lineal and collateral branches representatives have been prominent in the history of the nation.  His paternal grandfather was born in Virginia and served in the war of 1812.  When he went to the front he left his wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Tullis, and his two children, in Troy, Ohio, rejoining them at that place when his services were no longer needed in defense of American interests.  He was a prominent factor in public affairs in his section of the state and afterward entered the land upon which the town of Muncie, Indiana, now stands, becoming one of the pioneer settlers in that locality.  He served as keeper of the Miami county jail, and it was in that building, at the southeast corner of Main and Plumb streets, in Troy, that Joel T. Thomson, the father of our subject, was born.  Mr. Thomson often referred in a jocular manner to the fact that he was born in a jail.  In his native city he became an active and influential business man. In 1840 he established there a furniture store to which he gave his constant personal attention for fifty years, or until the time of his death, which occurred in 1890, when he had attained the age of seventy-three years.  He enjoyed exceptionally good health, was strong and vigorous and thus was well fitted to meet the arduous duties of business life.  He advocated abolition principles at a time when it required great personal bravery to announce oneself as a friend and protector of the colored people.  He made his home a station on the underground railroad, and thus assisted many a dusky fugitive on his way to freedom, beyond the reach of southern masters.  On the breaking out of the civil war he closed his furniture store and carried on only the undertaking department of his business in order to allow his three employes to enter the Union ranks.  All three served in many sanguinary battles, but returned unharmed at the close of the war and are yet living, being numbered among the valiant heroes to whom the Union owes her preservation.  However, many brave soldiers from Miami county gave up their lives on the battlefields of the south.  Eighty-two of the number were brought to their homes, and Mr. Thomson officiated as undertaker at eighty-one of these soldier funerals.  During the fifty years of his business career he acted as undertaker at over eleven thousand funerals in Miami county.  During all those years he enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his fellow men and was often honored with positions of trust in administering the affairs of the town of Troy.  In early manhood he was united in marriage to Miss Mahala Helen Gilkerson, who is still living in Troy, and who came to this state with her parents from West Virginia, then a part of Virginia.  She traces her ancestry back to the Virginia pioneer and explorer, the famous Captain John Smith, and on her mother's side she is related to the family of John Randolph, one of the colonial governors of Virginia and one of the leading spirits in the Revolutionary war, whose memory will ever be honored on account of his lofty patriotism, his unswerving devotion to his country and his noble character.  Other members of the family were equally loyal and prominent, and well may Mr. Thomson be proud to trace his lineage to such a source.  Four sons and three daughters were born to the parents of our subject, namely:  Wilbur, who was for many years a teacher in the county schools, and his death, at the age of thirty-five years, was a great loss to his family and the community.  Emma is now the wife of John H. Stafford, of Meridian, Mississippi, and the mother of Harry Stafford, — her only son,— who entered the Spanish-American war as first sergeant in Colonel Roosevelt's Rough Riders and took part in the arduous campaign of that now famous regiment in front of Santiago, resulting in the capture of the city.  Sergeant Stafford captured General Toral's pony and brought it as a trophy to New York.  On the disbandment of the Rough Riders he enlisted as sergeant in the company that was sent to the Philippines, and while bravely fighting in the front he was severely wounded in the breast, but finally recovered from the injury.  Mary, the third of the family, is now' deceased.  Charles is a leading undertaker at Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio.  Walter J. was a prominent physician in Union, Ohio, at the time of his death, which occurred July 12, 1896.  He was a surgeon on the pension board of Montgomery county for seven years, and occupied a position of prominence in professional circles.  In politics he was a Republican and a man of marked influence in the councils of his party.  His wife has also passed away, but two children survive them.  Our subject, Elmer E., is the sixth of the family, and Mrs. Etta Bizer, of Piqua, Ohio, who is now deceased, is the youngest.
    In early youth Elmer E. Thomson attended the public schools of Troy and was graduated in the high school at the age of eighteen years.  From early youth he was more or less connected with his father in business and very naturally was his successor.  He became thoroughly proficient in his chosen vocation, and after spending two years in the study of medicine with Dr. J. H. Green, an eminent physician of Troy, he took two courses of lectures in the college at Columbus, Ohio, making a specialty of surgery.  He introduced arterial embalming in this section of the country, and has practiced the embalming art with great skill and success, having received professional calls not only to all parts of Miami county but to distant parts of the state as well.  For the last five years he has been a member of the Undertakers" Association of the United States.  In 1887 he entered into partnership with his father, at Troy, and since tht latter's death, in 1890, he has carried on the business alone.  On April 16, 1900, his place of business and its contents were destroyed by fire, since which time he has had quarters a few doors north on Market street, and with the assistance of new and improved inventions is better able than before to carry on the undertaking profession.
     On the 11th of July, 1889, Mr. Thomson was united in marriage to Miss Carrie J. Riley, who is a graduate of the Troy schools and of Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, and a lady of superior culture and refinement.  For about seven years prior to her marriage she was a popular teacher in the public schools of Troy, and she still takes great interest in educational matters and in the intellectual advancement and progress of the town.  She is especially active in promoting higher education and the advancement of women and is a member of the executive committee of the Standard Club, an association of ladies formed for mutual improvement.  Clifford, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, is an extremely bright little lad of six summers, who has just entered school and gives promise of special aptitude and al)ility in matters of education.  The parents are consistent and active members of the Presbyterian church, and their labors are effective in promoting that denominational organization of Troy.
     Mr. Thomson is a stalwart Republican in politics, and is a member of the local committee.  He was elected county infirmary director for Miami county, serving from 1891 until 1894, and during that time was clerk of the board.  He is justly proud of the fact that no deserving person was denied the necessaries of life during that time, owing to his unremitting interest in this great work, established for the relief of the worthy but unfortunate people of the county.  Mr. Thomson is a member of the Odd Fellows Society, the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Knights of Honor, and has served as noble chief of the second order.  He is a perfect specimen of physical manhood, well developed and vigorous, with a strong, pleasant face and clear-cut features and a cordial manner that enables him not only to win but to retain his friends as the years pass by.  Such in brief is the life history of Mr. Thomson.  His character has been shadowed forth between the lines of this review, and in the summary of his career we note only a few of the salient points,— his activity and sound judgment in business affairs and his conformity to the ethics of commercial life, together with his faithfulness to public office, his genuine friendship and his regard for true worth of character.  These are the qualities which make Elmer E. Thomson a valued citizen in whatever community he has made his home.
Source: Genealogical & Biographical Record of Miami Co., Ohio - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company - 1900 - Page 670

S. J. TILDEN
 

Source: Genealogical & Biographical Record of Miami Co., Ohio - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company - 1900 - Page

NOTES:

 

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