My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH PERCIVAL THOMPSON is a son of John and Mary (Snell) Thompson, who were born in North Carolina. The father came to Tennessee with his parents when Nashville was a mere village. He spent the greater share of his life in Bedford County, where he farmed and practiced medicine. He served as surveyor and magistrate and represented his county one term in the State Legislature. He was a Democrat up to 1835 and then became a Whig. He died in 1857 and the mother in 1861. Joseph P. was born in Bedford County January 16, 1812. At the age of sixteen he began working as salesman, and in 1833 wedded Prudence Allison, by whom he had five children. She died in 1844 and the following year he married Myra Wallis. To them were born four children, two of whom lived to be grown. In 1850 his second wife died and two years later Margaret E. Fowler became his third wife. Since his first marriage Mr. Thompson has farmed. He is conservative in politics. Robert C. Thompson, his son, was born to his first marriage. He was born June 30, 1836, in Bedford County, and there lived until sixteen years of age and then came to Marshall County. He taught school for some time, although farming has been his chief calling through life. In 1858 he wedded Frances S. Wilson, by whom he had three children: Flora A., Thomas L. (who graduated with the class of 1886 from Vanderbilt University), and Minnie B. In 1861 Robert C. volunteered in Company H, Forty-first Tennessee Infantry. He was captured at Fort Donelson and imprisoned at Camp Morton, but re-entered service after being exchanged, but was so severely wounded at Atlanta that he was disabled from further service. He attained the rank of second lieutenant. Since the war he has farmed. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a man who takes deep interest in enterprises for the public weal.