Reuben Mather Thompson, one of the most extensive and successful farmers in the township of Fenton, as he is in Whiteside County, was born in the township of Salem, Meigs Co., Ohio, Dec. 27, 1825. His paternal grandsire was a native of Vermont and was a soldier in the Colonial military service during the War of the Revolution. After the declaration of peace he emigrated to the (then) frontier which was in the State of New York, and became pioneer settler of Steuben County, purchasing timberland of the Holland Company, included within the celebrated Holland Purchase. He improved a farm and was its occupant for many years. In his old age he went to Ohio and resided with his son Reuben some two years, returning to New York where he spent the remainder of his days.
Reuben Thompson, his son, and father of Mr. Thompson of this sketch, was born in Steuben Co., N: Y., and removed to Ohio about 1815. He was a resident of Meigs County (where he was married Philinda Kent, Oct. 20, 1816, until 1839, when he accompanied by his sons,
Elisha K. and Reuben M., he improved his descent and inheritance as a pioneer by striking westward to found a home.
He came to Whiteside County, and proceeded, after a stay of a few weeks, to Iowa, where he made a claim on Mill Creek in Cedar County. He built a log domicile, and began the improvements on his property. He returned to Illinois, where he expected to meet his brother Harvey, who was to take supplies to Iowa. He was disappointed at finding that his brother had gone to Chicago with his teams to engage in hauling flour from Chicago to Prairie du Chien, Wis. This compelled him to abandon his trip to Ohio for his family, and he returned to Iowa to look after his son, who had been left in charge of a drove of hogs, which they took with them on their first trip to Iowa.
In the spring of 1841 he returned to Ohio, got his family, and brought them to Whiteside Co., Ill. He secured a claim on section 35 of what was then township 20, range 4, now Fenton. He prosecuted the improvement of his property with vigor, and among other things set out 250 fruit trees. He died in 1850. His first wife died in 1827, and had been the mother of five children. Three of them are now living, as far as known. Elisha K. lives in Charles, Mix Co., D. T.; Samuel A. and Reuben M. are the other survivors; James I., fourth son, settled in Whiteside County in 1841. In 1850 he went to California, and has not been since heard from.
The father was a second time married. to the widow of Fain Robinson, Esther McMillan before her first marriage. From the second marriage the children who survive are Lucinda, wife of Leonard Barker, of Erie, Sarah, widow of Clinton Pratt. lives in McPherson Co., D. T.; (Mrs. Barker and Mrs. Pratt are twins); Fain H. lives in Fenton Township; Joseph is a resident of Shelby Co., Iowa; Eliza, now the wife of Geo. Wood, resides in Los Angeles, Cal.; Virginia, wife of B. F. Hubbard, resides at Eureka Springs, Ark.; Geo. W. lives in Dunlap, Iowa; Mary A., deceased; Hellen, now the wife of Lafayette Pace, lives in Calhoun Co., Iowa. The mother is now deceased.
Mr. Thompson was 14 years of age when his father took him to Iowa, where he was assistant in improving the property which his father secured. In the winter of 1839-40 he was left alone on the Iowa property to care for the stock during his father's absence and to look after the family welfare. He was three miles from other habitations, with nothing to eat but corn. He hulled the grain to make it palatable.
In 1841 he came to the county of Whiteside and put in a crop with Charles Clark on section 35, Fenton, to raise feed for stock for the winter of 1841-2, whither the remaining members of the family came in December. He was connected with the parental household until he came of age, when he entered into a contract with J. M. Pratt, one of the first of the permanent settlers in the township, by which he was to have 40 acres of land in exchange for his labor in splitting rails. In the spring of 1842 he went for a brief time to Black Hawk Co., Iowa. In addition to the claim alluded to, be earned money by working in the neighborhood, wherewith he bought additional land.
Dec. 25, 1849, Mr. Thompson was married to Matilda S. Dodge. Her father, John B. Dodge, was a prominent factor in the work of developing Whiteside County, where he was a settler of 1837, locating in Mt. Pleasant Township. He was a man of decided character, and although he died in the still early days of the county, in 1843, at the early age of 35, he is still remembered with earnest consideration. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. His wife was Lydia B. Smith before marriage, and they had several children.
Mr. Thompson located on the farm on which he now resides immediately after his marriage, and with his bride commenced housekeeping in the same log dwelling first occupied by his father's family. Later his family removed to a new frame house located on the northeast quarter of section 35.
Mr. Thompson has been one of the heaviest land holders in Whiteside County, and owned at one period about 2,000 acres of improved land in Fenton Township. He now has 1,300 acres. He is largely interested in raising fine stock. His dairy herd includes 38 cows, and he conducts a creamery on his own responsibility, the products of which are so fine as to be in demand in the St. Louis, Mo., market. Mr. Thompson has been prominent in the general affairs of his township, in which he has officiated as Constable and Collector. He was the first incunibent of the latter office in Fenton Township. He has been Supervisor several terms, and held that position during the progress of the Civil War.
To him and his wife ten children were born, of whom there are eight living: Philinda is the wife of Lewis Ewing; John L., Albert L., Clara (Mrs. Marven Fadden), Vora, Leona, M. Ray and Henry Clay were born in the order named. James A. and Frank E. are deceased. The mother died April ao, 1878. Mr. Thompson was again married, to Ainauida, daughter of William and Nancy (Butler) McMillan, and widow of H. P. White, of New Hampshire.
The portrait of Mr. Thompson, will be welcomed by the patrons of The Whiteside County Album as much satisfaction as the publishers experience in its addition to the unexceptionable collection presented in this work.
Portraits and Biographical
Reuben M Thompson was born in the town of Salem, Meigs county, Ohio, December 27, 1825, and came to Whiteside county in the fall of 1839, stopping first at Union Grove mill. During the same fall he went to Iowa and prospected for a year, and then returned to Whiteside and settled in what is now the township of Fenton, where he has since resided. On the 25th of December 1844, Mr. Thompson married Miss Matilda S. Dodge, a native of Stark county, Illinois. Their children have been:
Esther Philinda, born January 16, 1851;
John L., born March 26, 1852;
James Amasa, March 13,1854;
Albert Levi, July 13,1857;
Clara Lydia, December 8, 1860;
Francis Eli, July 23, 1863;
Rhoda M., March 8, 1866;
Eva Leona, July 5, 1868;
Martin Ray, September 19, 1871, and
Henry Clay, September 20, 1875. Of these, James Amasa died August 17, 1859, and Francis Eli, December 28, 1866. Esther Philinda married H. L. Ewing, and resides in Fenton. Mr. Thompson owns 1,863 acres of land, all of which is situate! d in Fenton township, constituting him the largest land holder in the township, and without doubt in the county. A large portion of this land he has brought under a good state of cultivation. He is also an extensive stock raiser and dealer, owns the grain elevator at Fenton Center, and is one of the go-ahead, intelligent, and successful business men of Fenton township. Mr. Thompson has held the position of Supervisor for Fenton for a number of terms, and has also been Constable, and Collector of the township.
Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 203
