Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 3 Oct 2003

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989

J. M. THOMPSON, farmer; P. O. Socialville. The gentleman whose name we present at the head of this sketch is one of the well-known and prominent citizens of Warren County. He was born in Deerfield Township July 7, 1831, and is a son of J. L. Thompson, a pioneer, whose sketch appears in this work. The rudiments of his education were obtained in the district schools, which were afterward developed in the Farmers’ College of Hamilton Co., Ohio, in which he took a year’s course, and during that time, by close application to stud, he fitted himself to successfully cope with the business relations of life. Upon attaining his majority, he engaged in a mercantile enterprise in Socialville, where he conducted a general store for five years, and was very successful. At the termination of the above time, he disposed of his stock and returned to his farm, which is the best-kept place in the township; his surroundings improvements are far above average, and everything indicates the thrift and enterprise of the owner. April 29, 1858, he was married to Lottie, daughter of Henry Voorhis, of Butler Co., Ohio, who has borne him two children, viz., Charles M. and Dora E.; the former is a promising young attorney in Lebanon, and the latter the wife of E. C. Morrison. Mr. Thompson has never craved political honors, yet he has represented his party ticket in nearly ever office of the county, which, though, is largely in the minority; he has settled forty-one estates, besides settling up the old Miami Valley Railroad Company’s business, which went into bankruptcy in 1879, and he was appointed Receiver in January, 1881. Be it said to his credit that in settling up so many estates he has never lost a dollar by a bad debt, nor failed to account for a cent that was charged to him; some of the estates were large, and, as all estates are more or less complicated, we consider this remarkable. Politically, he is of Democratic proclivities, and upon all questions of importance he clings tenaciously to the principles of true Democracy. In point of improvement, he stands at the head of every enterprise that has been successfully carried to a terminus. Through his instrumentality, the face of the country wears much different aspect than would otherwise have been the case, as he has done much to help change and establish roads that are now of real value and advantage to every