JOSEPH THOMPSON, a prominent farmer of Layton Township, was born January 21, 1824, in a log house in Pike County, Ohio, the son of Wheeler Thompson, a Virginian by birth, and of English descent. The father moved to Ohio in an early day, settling in Ross County, where he was marŽried to Frances Hibbs, and they were the parents of eleven children: Samuel, Mary, Sarah, Rebecca, Delia, Nancy, Francis, Joseph, William, Wheeler and John. The father remained several years in Ross County, and then removed to Pike County, where he lived until his death, at the age of forty-seven years. He was struck by lightning, and died the next day. He was driving along the road with a flour wagon, when a bolt of lightning from an almost cloudless sky struck him senseless. He was a soldier in one of Indian wars, and was an industrious and honest man, and was much respected by his townsmen. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace for six years in succession, and also held other township offices.

His son, Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of his native State. His father died when he was thirteen years old, and he was obliged to work hard on the farm and assist in the support of the family. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he moved to Iowa, settling on a farm in Louisa County, where he remained seven years. He went to Holt County Missouri, in 1857, where he purchased a farm and remained seventeen years.

During the war Mr. Thompson was a stanch Union man, and reŽmained true to the old flag. He was enrolled in the State militia, and was called out many times, but saw no fighting. In 1873, wishing to educate his children, he moved to Louisa County, Iowa, and bought a farm, remaining until 1882, when he carne to Pottawattamie County, and bought the farm where he now lives. Mr. Thompson has enjoyed the respect of the people where he has lived, and in Ohio held several township offices, and in Holt County, Missouri, was Township Register during the close of the war.

In 1846 he was married to Miss Nancy Thorp, daughter of John and Mary (Givens) Thorp, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Irish descent. The father was a farmer all his life, and died at the age of sixty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have had thirteen children, nine of whom lived to maturity: John, David, Thomas, James, Eliza, Elmira, Martha, Diana and Dorothy A. John T. married Delila E. Garrrett, and they have five children: Effie, Olive, Alice, Jeremiah and John T.; he is a farmer of. South Dakota. David R., a farmer in Cherokee County, married Hattie Hawkins, and they have two children: Stephen J. and Clarence. Almira married Daniel H. Horton, a farmer of Kansas; Thomas, a farmer of Kansas, married Maggie Battie, and they have two children: Earl E. and Zelle; Martha married Charles Morgeson, a carpenter in Macus; Eliza, Dorothy and James are at home.