Husband John Jamieson Ypsilanti Thompson 1
Born: 1805 - near Lewisville, Indiana Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died: 19 Aug 1865 - Portsmouth, Scioto Co, OH 2
Buried: - Portsmouth, Scioto Co, OH
Father: William Thompson ( -1817) 1 3 4
Mother: Agnes Jamieson ( -Bef 1880) 1
Marriage: 25 Jul 1833 5
Wife Agnes Susan Kennedy 5
Born: 1813 - near Lewistown, Mifflin Co, PA 5
Christened:
Died: 27 Jun 1877 - ? Brookville, Jefferson Co, PA 5
Buried:
Father: Rev. William Kennedy ( - ) 6
Mother: Mary McClure ( - ) 6
Children
1 M James Thompson 5
Born:
Christened:
Died: when about one year old
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
2 M William Kennedy Thompson 5
Born: 25 Jun 1834 - Dowlingville, Jefferson Co, PA 5
Christened:
Died: Bef 1917
Buried:
Spouse: Jane C. Porterfield ( - ) 5
Marr: 14 Jan 1858 - Allegheny City, Allegheny Co, PA 5
3 M John Jamieson Thompson 7 8
Born: 16 Jun 1836 - Bellport, Knox Twp, Jefferson Co, PA 9
Christened:
Died: 10 Sep 1906 9
Buried:
Spouse: Mary E. Darr ( -1871) 7 10
Marr: 25 Jun 1863 9
4 F Annie M. Thompson 5
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1917
Buried:
Spouse: John N. Garrison ( - ) 5
Marr: 7 Jul 1860 5
5 M Albert Clifton Thompson 5
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1917
Buried:
6 M Clarence Russell Thompson 5
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1917
Buried:
7 F Ella Agnes Thompson 5
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1917
Buried:
Spouse: John L. McNeil ( - ) 5
8 F Laura Edith Thompson 5
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1917
Buried:
Spouse: George T. Rodgers ( - ) 5
9 F Blanche Thompson 5
Born: Abt 1846
Christened:
Died: 2 Mar 1849 - Corsica, Jefferson Co, PA 5
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
10 M Col. Robert Means Thompson 5
Born: 1849 - Corsica, Jefferson Co, PA
Christened:
Died: Aft 1917
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - John Jamieson Ypsilanti Thompson
He was born on a farm near Lewisville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where his parents had settled. This farm was deeded by Rev. John Jamieson and Agnes, his wife, to William Thompson and Agnes (Jamieson) Thompson, his wife, the deed being dated March 26, 1817, and was afterwards known as the "John Gallagher Farm."
He grew up on the home place, receiving his entire education in a little cabin schoolhouse on an adjoining farm owned by Adam Elliott. For seven years he went to Master Adam Elliott, who was the teacher. Master Elliott's school was a subscription one, and was conducted under the law of 1809. Mr. Elliott was a great mathematician and a fine penman, and taught young Thompson practical surveying. Of the Judge's early boyhood days we have little knowledge, save that he was an acknowledged leader among his schoolmates, beloved by his associates and esteemed by his master. He excelled in civil engineering and surveying, and when such work was to be done was invariably selected as assistant. His father dying in 1817 of smallpox, at Altman's Run, he was thrown upon his own resources, and at an early age left the home roof and became a clerk in the store of Nathaniel Nesbitt, at Blairsville, Pennsylvania. In a short time after this he embarked in business for himself, but his venture not proving successful he abandoned it, and in 1831 removed to the wilderness of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
In the year 1832 Mr. Thompson established in Brookville, Jefferson County, and issued the first number of the Brookville Gazette, in a little house on a lot, corner of Pickering and Jefferson streets. Terms of the Gazette were as follows:
"To be published every Monday, at two dollars per annum, exclusive of postage; and two dollars and fifty cents, including postage, payable half yearly in advance.
"No subscription taken for a shorter period than six months, and no withdrawal whilst in arrears.
"A failure to notify an intention to discontinue at the end of six months is considered a new engagement.
"Advertisements will be inserted at the rate of One Dollar per square inch for the three first insertions, and Twenty-five cents for every continuance; those of greater length in proportion.
"All orders directed to the Editor must be post paid or they cannot receive attention.
"Grain, rags, beeswax, tallow, furs or pelts, will be taken in payment of subscription, if paid within the current year."
This was the pioneer newspaper within the confines of the county. It was printed on coarse paper, thirteen inches wide and twenty inches long. In politics it was Democratic. In 1833 Thomas Reid purchased a half interest in it. The paper then became independent in politics, and was called The Gazette. Thompson and Reid not agreeing, Reid retired, and Thompson and James P. Blair continued the publication. In 1833 Thompson disposed of his interest to Dr. R. K. Scott, and the firm became Blair & Scott.
In the fall of 1834 John Jamieson Thompson added Ypsilanti to his name and moved to Dowlingville, Jefferson County, where he remained until the summer of 1837, when he returned to Brookville, and, in the ensuing
November, built a sawmill on Sandy Lick at the present site of Bell's Mills. Here he remained until the summer of 1840, when he sold his mill to Alpheus Shaw and returned to Brookville. He remained in Brookville three months, and then removed to Heathville, Jefferson County, returning to Brookville in 1841. He then moved to the farm in Union township later owned by Arthur Morrison, where he lived one year. In 1843 Mr. Thompson purchased a tract of land from Daniel Stannard, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, known as Warrant No. 681, where he erected a hotel and engaged in the hotel business and in merchandising. He secured a post office for the place, which he named Corsica, and was appointed postmaster in 1844. In 1847 he surveyed and laid out the town of Corsica. While living here his youngest son, Robert Means (now of New York City), was born in 1849.
J. J. Y. Thompson served as justice of the peace, was elected a number of times county surveyor, and was prothonotary, register, etc., from 1845 to 1848, when he again removed to Brookville, having the "Arcade" and "American" buildings, at the price of twenty thousand dollars. These were then the largest and finest business blocks in the place. He occupied the "American," and continued in the hotel business until the two buildings, with all their contents, were destroyed by fire May 24, 1856. Having no insurance, this fire left Mr. Thompson without a dollar and financially embarrassed. Possessing a good name, and nothing daunted, the third day after the fire he and his boys commenced to clear away the debris and began preparation for rebuilding. Owing to his well-known business integrity and great energy, he surmounted every obstacle and completed and occupied what is now known as the "American." In 1865 he sold it and removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, and was engaged in the lumber business until he was suddenly removed by death, Aug. 19, 1865, in the sixtieth year of his age. He was buried in Portsmouth, Ohio, where he sleeps the dreamless sleep.
Judge Thompson was a man of fine presence, pleasing address and popular manners. His name and face became familiar in every cabin, and the hand of friendship was universally extended to him alike by young and old. For many years his services as surveyor were in requisition in all this region of the country. He was associate judge from 1861 to 1865. He was foremost in aiding and advancing every public enterprise of his day. He was of a genial, social disposition, inspiring all with whom he came in contact with the spirit of sociability. Kind and sympathetic by nature, he was ever ready to aid the poor and distressed, who were never turned away from his door. A strong Republican, he was an uncompromising Union man during the war, and took the deepest interest in all that pertained to those times that tried men's souls. Outspoken and bold in his utterances, he was nearly always found engaged in defending the principles for which three of his own boys were fighting. He was, during the war, the devoted friend of the soldier, and the families of those who were absent fighting in the battles for freedom. He kept "open house" for the "boys," on their way to and from the front. One of the most vivid recollections of the writer's (Dr. W. J. McKnight) departure for the army is the close handshake, and the fervent "God bless you," of Judge Thompson, as, bareheaded, and with tears running down his cheeks, he bade us good-bye. Judge Thompson ever adhered to the faith of his fathers, and lived and died a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
Judge Thompson was a man of rare intelligence, charitable, kind, and bold, with a Scotch temper that would at times break out, when due provocation was given, with "I'll be dod Banged to Harry," and "I'll be dod danged to dangnation." But with this explosion over, everything with him was just as tender and serene as if no thunderclap had jarred the atmosphere. [HJC 1917 II, 7]
General Notes: Wife - Agnes Susan Kennedy
She spent the greater part of her life in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, with the exception of five years' residence in Portsmouth, Ohio, whence she returned to Brookville in 1870, and where she resided until her decease.