This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: pwestman1 Surnames: Thompson Shedd Havens Turner Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.thompson/16939.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: ROY THOMPSON Roy Thompson, a farmer and highly respected citizen of Matteson township, was born March 28, 1874, on the place where he yet resides, his parents being Charles M. and Mary J. (Shedd) Thompson. The father was a native of New York and became a pioneer resident of Branch county, taking up his abode within its borders when fourteen years of age. He afterward attended school for one winter and was also a student in Peoria, Illinois. When the work of improvement and progress was still in its primitive condition here he purchased the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Roy, becoming owner of eighty acres of land, which at that time was unimproved. With characteristic energy, however, he began to till the fields and in due course of time was gathering good harvests where before was seen raw land. He was married in this county to Miss Mary J. Shedd, a daughter of Joseph and Louisa (Havens) Shedd, and a native of New York, born December 9, 1846. She was reared and educated in the ! Empire state, and in 1866, when a young lady of twenty years, came to Michigan with her parents, settling first in Washtenaw county and then coming to Branch county. In their family were two children. The mother died in 1848, and the father afterward married again, his second union being with Polly Turner. By that marriage there were four children. Mrs. Thompson was married one year after she came to Michigan. Mr. Thompson was living at that time upon the farm which is now his home, and he brought his bride to this place. His entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he has won the financial reward which always comes in return for indefatigable effort, careful management and diligence. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom Roy is the third child and second son. All were born and reared on the old family homestead. The father was a Republican in his political views, active and influential in party ranks in this country, his labors proving effective in promoting party successes. He acted as supervisor of the township and was also township clerk. He served in the Civil war as a faithful and loyal defender of the Union cause, and was thus entitled to membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He enjoyed pleasant associations with his old army comrades through his membership in the post, and he was held in high esteem by his brethren of that order. He passed away in 1902, and the community thus lost one of its valued and representative citizens, a man whom to know was to respect and honor. Roy Thompson was reared to farm life, was educated in the public schools and has always carried on general agricultural pursuits. He is a young man, of strong purpose, of excellent principles and upright life, and in the county where he has always lived has a very wide and favorable acquaintance. from "A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan" pages 607 and 608. http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/BookView.aspx?dbid=16859&iid=dvm_LocHist004591-00428-1&sid=&gskw=&cr=0 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.