People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — ALFRED THOMPSON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALFRED THOMPSON.

Alfred Thompson was born in Stark county, .Ohio, Oct. 17, 1829. When four years old his parents' moved thence in an ox wagon to Orange township, Hancounty, and settled in the forest with the first pioneers. Alfred soon grew strong enough to help carve out a farm, and when about ten years old began] attending school in a log house,

walking about two miles for sixty days each winter. At eighteen he began teaching, “boarding round." In 1850 he went to New Lisbon. Ohio, as cashier in the bank of his uncle, Thomas McCoy. Four years later he and his cousin. Alfred McCoy, started a branch bank at Rensselaer. On June 12, 1853, he married Mary E. Travis at Prairiebird, Illinois. They began their married |life in Rensselaer, on Van Rensselaer street, soon removing to River street, family residence's now located. Their [married life has been ajiappy one. Their children are two daughters, Mrs. Florence Sears and Mrs. Ora Ross, and one son, DeLos. The firms of F. McCoy & Sons, F. McCoy & Co., and A. McCoy & Thompson, with which Mr. Thompson was associated, were successively the solid financial institutions of the county for thirty-two years. Mr. Thompson having acquired a compentence, retired and has since looked after his own private investments. He has never been other than a receptive candidate for public office. At the invitation of his neighbors, he has acted as a school examiner, supervisor and township trustee. He has ever been just and generous in his dealings, public spirited and progressive, and a consistent Christian. For over fifty years his daily walk and conversation has been known and observed by the residents of this county, and we need add no words more to acquaint our readers with his life work.

ALFRED THOMPSON.