John F. Thompson was born at Kendal, Westmoreland county, England June 4, 1829, and died February 29th, 1908 at Blair, aged 78 years, eight months and twenty five days.

Mr. Thompson came to America in 1851, stopping first at Cleveland, Ohio, and going to Chicago a few years later, where he lived during the civil war. He was married to Susan Elizabeth Saunders on February 16, 1857, and in 1866 moved to Omaha with his family. He was one of the pioneer blacksmiths in the U.P. shops and remained in Omaha for a number of years.

About thirty five years ago Mr. Thompson moved on a 160 acre farm two miles south of Blair which time has been spent on the farm and in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were the parents of ten children, one, a girl, having died in infancy, the balance living in this state. J. F. lives in Blair; Dan E., Wm. E., Frank C. and Jas. S. live on farms near Blair; Mrs. A. W. Rose living at Rosalie; Mrs. H. S. Leach living west of Blair; Mrs. W. F. Brooks living in Blair; and Mrs. U. S. Cornwall living on a farm near Herman. These, with two brothers, one in Omaha and the other in England, besides his bereaved wife are all of the deceased’s near kin.

On the 16th of February, 1907 Mr. Thompson and his wife celebrated their golden wedding, and all the children and their families were present. His life was an eventful one. Robust in health, never knowing what sickness was, he had traveled a great deal in the early days, twice going back to England. He worked in Idaho and Texas; was a good provider for his family and never neglected his duties as a husband and father.

The immediate cause of Mr. Thompson’s death was bladder trouble and Saturday morning, with no one present except the family physician and his devoted wife, his spirit returned to the one who gave it.

Funeral services were held from the Episcopal church Monday afternoon at two o’clock, Rev. A. E. Marsh officiating. The funeral was largely attended by neighbors, friends and grief-stricken relatives to pay their last sad respects to a good neighbor, good father and a devoted husband.

The entire community sympathizes with the heartbroken wife who for over fifty years was the helpmate of the deceased.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #32461923