“The Identity of Mrs. Thompson”
By Barbara Dickey Johnson
The following information is about Mrs. Nancy Ann Thompson who starved to death March 8, 1867 just outside of Johnsonville, Wayne County Illinois.
Ever since, I ran across the news item about Mrs. Thompson… I’ve been curious about whom she may have been. Especially since she had been part of the same refugee party from Walker County Georgia, as my Dickey ancestors.
The Dickeys left Georgia due to their Union sympathies… so it would be assumed that this was true for the Thompson family as well.
The Dickey and Thompson families were neighbors in Walker County Georgia. David Ballard Dickey founded the Lookout Baptist Church in Walker County and this may be an additional connection between the two families.
The Walker County refugees arrived in Wayne County Illinois on July 10 of 1864. William Thompson would have been about 46, Nancy Ann Thompson would have been 28… the children; Martha 10, Mary Ann 8, and John 6 years of age.
No records of William Thompson or his oldest daughter, Martha, have been discovered after the 1860 Walker County Georgia Census… so their destiny is unknown. It isn’t even known if William & his daughter made the trip to Illinois.
What is known is that Mrs. Thompson dies of starvation on March 8, 1867… close to the James Warner farm and that her children, Mary and John Thompson do survive.
The 1870 Wayne County Illinois Census, shows John Thompson living with the John Wade family and Mary Thompson living with the John Keith family.
What became of Mary Thompson is unknown… However, the
Wayne County Genealogy Website reports: “A John Thompson, born abt.1856, dies at the Wayne County Poor House
Wayne County Press
March 21, 1867
“DEATH FROM STARVATION.” Mrs. Thompson, a wife and mother actually died of starvation near the residence of Mr. James Warner 2 ½ miles East of the town (Johnsonville) on Friday (8th inst.) Mrs. Thompson was a native of Walker County Georgia, and came to this County in company with Rev. David Dickey, Wm R. Dickey and other Southern Refugees of Arrington Prairie, in 1864.
1860 Census, Walker County Georgia:
Lafayette Post Office
William Thompson
Age 42, Born abt 1818 in Tennessee
Nancy Ann Thompson
Age 24, born abt 1836 in Georgia
Martha C. Thompson
Age 6, Born abt 1854 in Georgia
Mary Ann Thompson
Age 4, Born abt 1856 in Georgia
John Thompson
Age 2, Born abt.1858 in Georgia
1870 Census, Wayne County Illinois:
Indian Prairie
John Wade
Age 55, Born abt 1815 in Virginia
Susan Wade
Age 46, Born abt 1824 in Virginia
Charles Wade
Age 24, Born abt 1846 in Virginia
Henry Wade
Age 22, Born abt.1848 in Virginia
John Thompson
Age 12, Born abt 1858 in Georgia
**(Note John Thompson, probably taken in by the Wade family, after being orphaned**)
1870 Census, Wayne County Illinois:
Indian Prairie
John Keith
Age 28, Born abt 1842 in Ohio
Mary Keith
Age 28, Born abt 1842 in Ohio
Mary Thompson
Age 14, Born abt 1856 in Georgia
**(Note Mary Thompson, probably taken in by the Keith family, after being orphaned**)
Wayne County Press June 8, 1876
John Thompson, crazy youth about 20 years old.
John Thompson an insane inmate of County Poorhouse died of congestive chill, Saturday.
Picture donated by Jim Powell, Compiled and Transcribed by Laurie Selpien
Memorial Reads:
In Memory of
Those buried at the Wayne County Poor Farm Cemetery
Established 1879 - sold 1948
The country cemetery of approximately 200
graves was destroyed in the early 1950's.
It was located in Lamard township section 24
2 miles north and 3/4 mile west of Fairfield
They had nothing but their names and
Now those too have been lost forever
Only God knows for sure
May they rest in Peace
(Courtesy of the Wayne County Genealogy website)
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