CHARLES C. THOMPSON.

CHARLES C. THOMPSON has passed his thirty-two years in Allen County. He settled in Marmaton township, before it was estalished,[sic] and he has grown old in the citizen service in a State that has been both a surprise and a disappointment. He came to the county March 3, 1869, and found three dead claims which he proceeded to contest the title for. He re-entered them and some years after it was thought his title was surely coming to him he was notified that the Government had cancelled his claim, with other lands, in favor of the Gulf Railway Company. It was

some years before he got this matter reversed and the land again subject to homestead entry and it was done through an act of Congress. The Kansas delegation in Congress at that time was of so little importance that it could not even get the attention of that body long enough to present a grievance of this character and matters looked desperate for a time. Finally Congressman Dick Yates, of Illinois, introduced a bill explaining the situation and asking for the reinstatement of the claims of actual settlers and it was done without delay. This action confirmed the belief that Mr. Thompson would receive patents for his land and he did without much further delay.

Mr. Thompson left Marion County, Ohio, December 8, 1868, for Kansas. He ran into Pleasant Hill, Missouri, by rail and remained, there till spring. He purchased an ox team for $150.00 and started out in February, through the mud, for Allen County, and reached here as above stated after many trying and vivid circumstances. He had a supply of funds to sustain him through the first season and, as it happened, he got a crop. His faith in Kansas became more and more firmly established as each succeeding year yielded its abundance and there was little to mar the family happiness and comfort till the "bug year" of 1874. With this exception there has been a constant era of material improvement in our subject's condition since his advent to the State. He owns one of the good farms in Marmaton township, containing 160 acres and situated in section 10, town 23, range 21, and an 80 acres in section 4.

Mr. Thompson was born in Marion County, Ohio, November 2, 1840. His father, Edward Thompson, was born in Virginia in 1802 and, in 1812, went into Kentucky with his parents. The family came north into Ohio some years afterward and six miles east of Springfield, that State, Thos. Thompson, our subject's grandfather, is buried. The latter's children were; John, Edward, Madison, who died near Lodi, Illinois; Thomas; Nancy, who married James Nephews; and Sarah, wife of Josiah Olcott.

Edward Thompson married Ellen Foose and both are buried in Ohio. Seven of their nine children grew up, viz.: Jane, wife of S. H. King, resides in Marion County, Ohio; Isabel, who died in 1899, was the wife of Benjamin Sharpless; Thomas, died in 1899; Sarah E., married Paul Sharpless, of Huron County, Ohio; Edward, in Arappahoe County, Colorado; Ann, wife of John Duffy, of Kenton, Ohio, and Charles C. of this sketch.

Charles C. Thompson was reared amid rural surroundings and acquired very little school training. He was married in Marion County, Ohio, March 14, 1865, to Matilda Messenger, a daughter of Orrin Messenger. The children of this union are: Minnie, who died in 1880, Edith, wife of Dan Hoadley, has a son, Harry Hoadley; Homer; Evaline, Edwin and Orrin all died of diphtheria in 1880; Charles, Wayne, Edna and Sarah. Homer Thompson lives in Marmaton township, Allen County, and has two children, Bertha and Percy Thompson.

In April, 1861, Mr. Thompson enlisted in Company H, 4th Ohio infantry, three months service. He was discharged for disability but was

again under arms as a member of the State militia and was called out in the defense of Cincinnati from Confederate invasion.

In politics the old line of Thompsons were Clay Whigs. Chas. C. Thompson was a Republican till the Peoples Party movement came along. He had discovered a line of proceedure in the practices of the old party which did not seem to him just and proper toward the masses of the people and he cast his political fortunes with the new party.

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