This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: lindalaffey Surnames: Thompson, Degan, Smith, Lauvellette, Alexander, Mayhall Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.thompson/17539/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I'm looking for the family of an Andrew Thompson, possibly the son of Ephraim and Margaret Thompson who were early settlers in Daviess County, IN. In 1850 Andrew Thompson married Harriet Degan of Wabash County, IL; she was daughter of Henry and Jane Lauvellette Degan both of Vincennes, In. They had two children: Henry R. b 1852, and Laura Ann, b 1854. They both disappear by the 1860 census. In the 1860 census, Andrew Thompson's daughter, Laura, b 1854, is living in Wabash Co, IL with her mother's parents, Henry and Jane Degan. Her older brother Henry R. Thompson, b 1852,is not with her. There is however a Henry R. Thompson age 9, living with Samuel R. Alexander and his wife Dorcas Alexander, b 1811, in Knox County, IN. There is also a young Mayhall girl who may have been Susan Mayhall's sister? The connection here is with Gibson Co, IN, where a John R. Thompson is married to a Susan Mayhall. Dorcas Alexander's maiden name was Thompson, then she married Minard Smith,and after being widowed, married Samuel R. Alexander, widowed son in law of Rev Scott of the Presb. church. Samuel Alexander became the Pres Church minister after Scott in Knox Co, Vincennes. Dorcas was born in S.C. and then lived in Daviess Co with Minard Smith, then Knox Co with Samuel Alexander where we find her in 1860. In the 1850 census is a John Thompson, b 1801 also in SC; living with him is his mother Margaret, b Maryland, 1783. John has a son named Ephraim. This Ephraim as a young man,goes on to CA to work on gold mines and his letters have been preserved. He eventually returns to Daviess Co and marries Eliza someone, I think the girl he left behind, and they have one child, Martha (Mattie) before Eliza dies. By 1870 Ephraim is living with his parents John and Elizabeth, with his 11 year old daughter in Washington, Daviess Co, IN. Ephraim, b 1834, becomes a successful merchant in Washington. His daughter Mattie marries a J.C. Lavelle, deputy auditor of Daviess Co, eloping against her father's wishes, but she is 20 or so then, per the Daveiss Co Democrat newspaper. Now I think that Margaret, John's mother, Ephraim's grandmother, is the widow of an Ephraim Thompson who was an early settler in Daviess County, per Goodspeed's book. Ephraim Thompson is in the 1830 census, age 50-60. His youngest male then was 10-15, who could have been my Andrew. His wife was 40-50 (Margaret would have been 47). They also have a daughter of the right age to be Dorcas. The brother John Thompson is already out of the house since he was 29. This older Ephraim Thompson was an elder of the Presb. Church in 1814 in Daviess. He was also a Daviess Co commissioner for many years. He was in Commers Fort. So I'm seeing the link between these Ephraim Thompsons and Andrew Thompson based on Henry R. Thompson, boy same age as Andrew's son Henry R. Thompson, living with Dorcas Alexander who was a Thompson, and may have been Ephraim and Margaret Thompson's daughter, sister of John, and maybe sister of Andrew?? It's a stretch, but nothing else has worked so far... I would appreciate any assistance or info. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.