JAMES A. THOMPSON. Among the self-made men of Washington county, none are better deserving of prominent mention in this Biographical Record than the above-named citizen. His parents were Allen and Martha (Lindsay) Thompson, early pioneers of Washington county. The father was born in 1794, and the mother in 1797. The following children were born to them: William, John L., Josiah, James A., Allen, Martha J., Mary Ann, Harvey H., Sarah, William, John A. (deceased), and Ebenezer (deceased). The mother passed away in 1870, followed hy the father in 1872. James A. Thompson was born December 10, 1822, on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township Washington Co., Penn. He assisted his father in the care of the farm and, receiving but little financial aid from home, began life with no capital but that of a willing heart, strong hands and cheerful spirit. On Christmas Day, 1845, he was united in marriage with Margaret Griffith, and soon after their wedding he rented his father's farm and continued to live there as a tenant for several years, finally purchasing the old place. His wife died April 3, 1857 leaving two small children: Allen and Samuel (deceased), and on March 9, 1858, he was joined in wedlock with Margaret, daughter of James and Mary (Geis) Kerr. To this union have been born four children: Mary Eva, William K., Martha E. and Sadie M. The name of Ella Steele, a little orphan girl, completes this family circle, for she is cherished as tenderly as their own by her foster-parents. Mr. Thompson has done all in his power to advance the educational interests of the community. He has served as supervisor, but though shirking no responsibility, he has no desire for political honors. He declares that "the Republican party is good enough for him," and votes accordingly. He is a wide-awake, progressive man. In 1858 he sold the old place, and bought 156 acres now known as the "Guthrie farm," in Chartiers township, and in 1875 bought the eighty-three acres which is now his home. To this he has added thirty-three acres of another tract, and is now living near Canonsburg.

Text taken from page 1214 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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