^ M. L. 929.2 T370t 1192443 GENEALOGY COLLECTION ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01394 0280 0-2 Rev. S. F. Thompson. Thompson and Given Families With their Ancestral Lines and. Present Branches. Rev. Samuel F. Thompson, Ellen Kerr Given BY Rev. Samuel Findley Thompson. HAMILTON, OHIO : Brown & Whitaker, Printers. 1192443 PREFACE. 'HIS book is in the true sense of the word a Family History. X It goes back along Ancestral lines as far as it is possible * to trace them. All the Relations of the two leading families, Rev. S. F. Thompson and wife, Ellen K. Given, so far as ' could be ascertained, receive suitable mention. Cousins, and I often, too, second cousins, have been included in the history. That there should be some mistakes, and some omissions of names, is just what might have been expected and could j scarcely be avoided. Great care has been taken, however, to have things correct and reliable. It has well been said, "They who care not to know their ancestors, are wanting in natural affection, and regardless of filial duty." How easy a thing it is to lose sight of our ancestors. We find in some cases that those with whom we should be I even jh quite familiar have almost passed out of the reach of memory. \ In fact, too often, very little is known about some with whom we are closely related. A lady closely connected with this history being asked for information respecting one of her own uncles, replied, "I never heard of such an uncle before." A mother of a large family in Ireland could not give the date of the birth of one of her children. The laudable practice of keeping a short family record in the "old family Bible" seems to have been too often discontinued. Hence it would be with many a source of great pleasure to have a carefully prepared family history to refer to, where all such information could be obtained at a glance. Such a work the author has endeavored to prepare. It has received close at- tention, with intervals, for several years. No pains have been spared to have it full, complete and correct. Items of interest PREFACE. have been gathered, previously known to but few. To this end correspondence has been carried on, on a large scale. Where the history in a few instances may seem defective, it is because, after repeated efforts, there has been a failure to obtain needed information. It was kindly and repeatedly asked, but not. received. Only a comparatively few copies of such a work will be demanded, even under the most favorable circumstances. There should be a copy in the home of each family of the rela- tions included in the history. In the course of fifty or one hundred years from this time, a copy of such a book will be considered a valuable document in the possession of our descen- dants. The author hopes, in its publication, not to sustain a pecuniary loss. He does not anticipate much profit, although its preparation has required a great deal of time, much labor, and close attention. The work has been an honest effort to afford some pleasure, and be of some benefit to others in the family connection. As such, its preparation has afforded a great deal of pleasure and enjoyment to the writer, at a period in his history when he has been largely shut out from social life and its endearments, by the loss to a great extent of the sense of hearing. The work as now completed is hopefully and respectfully committed to a long list of respected and—may we not trust?—sympathetic relatives. Keep the History with special care. In the distant future it will become especially valuable as a book of reference in tracing Ancestral lines. "Note thou this, the providence of God hath bound up families together, To mutual aid and patient trial ; yea, those ties are strong, Friends are ever dearer in thy wealth, but relatives to be trusted in thy need, For these are God's appointed way, and those the choice of man." S. F. Thompson. Oxford, O., January i, i8g8. GENERAL REMARKS. THE families represented in this history have very generally formerly been in quite moderate financial circumstances. They have been, to some extent, in the condition so earnestly desired by Agur, having "neither poverty nor riches." Our ancestors had all the inconveniences and hardships to endure, so common in new settlements, in the early history of our country. The most of them were farmers, lived in rude log cabins, often of but a single room, and well knew what it was to almost constantly wield the ax in felling the heavy primeval forests. They lived mostly from the products of the soil ; on what they raised and manufactured themselves. Money was a scarce article; but little could be secured and but little was used. While there was almost constant heavy toil, yet life was not without its pleasures and enjoyments. From year to year their condition was growing better. A brighter future, and full of cheer, loomed up in the distance. They had their pleasant homes and were often surrounded with large families of healthy, happy children. The relatives abroad, mostly in County Antrim, Ireland, were in the milling business, the mercantile business, the manufacture and sale of linen, a few in professional life, and some were farmers. Our ancestors were not noted for political aspirations. They seem to have had no marked inclinations in that direc- tion, and hence but few sought official favors. Some were elected as Justices of the Peace, a very few became active members of State Legislatures, and one, a distant relative, reached the highest office in the gift of the people—President of the United States. This was Chester A. Arthur. The same GENERAL REMARKS. trait seems to have prevailed on the part of the family connec- tion across the waters in the Emerald Isle; they were quiet, peaceable citizens, but not anxious for political preferment. The education of our ancestors was usually such as could be obtained in the public or private schools of the day, and often not including more than the notorious three Rs—reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic. There may have been some exceptions, in early times, but certainly not many. Entire neglect, how- ever, was not common; in fact, it was a thing of rare occur- rence. Within the past fifty years more attention has been given to higher education, and so professional life has become more common. In some cases whole families are college graduates, and many of them occupy prominent positions in educational lines of work and in other professions. There is a commendable effort put forth by some to rise higher in the pursuits of life, and occupy positions of greater prominence and usefulness. The ancestral lines on both sides were very generally a straightforward, industrious, upright, God-fearing people. Their church connections were largely of the Calvinistic, Psalm-singing Presbyterian order. They were firm believers in Bible truth, and salvation by grace. Comparatively few have fallen into habits of drunkenness. There is no large family connection entirely free from this terrible evil. It should in all cases be carefully guarded against. As far as my knowledge extends, there have been but few cases of extreme poverty on the one hand, and the instances of great wealth much less on the other. Sanctified ambition to rise in the world is commendable, worthy of constant effort, and should receive due commenda- tion. There is nothing condemnatory of aspiration to become leaders in thought, in morals and in religion. To become great and Christ-like, for the purpose of honoring our Creator and ; GENERAL REMARKS. attracting others to him, is certainly a worthy object in life. The best possible use of time and talents in the circumstances in which one is placed, together with environments with which one may be surrounded, would seem to indicate what should be done with the view of a noble and worthy existence. Accord- ingly, it is hoped that our descendants to the end of time will ever have high aims and in every way worthy objects of life ; life in its truest and best sense here, and life in its higher and more perfect state hereafter. It is most earnestly desired that no one will forget personal accountability to God, or neglect the personal acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as a complete Saviour. Of a lost soul at the end of life, whatever else may be true, it may be well said, "It had been good for that man if he had not been born." There must of necessity be a failure in life, if it fails to have distinct reference to the obligations due the great Author of existence. That life must have been aim- less, if it can still be said of it, when drawn to a close, "Hav- ing no hope and without God in the world." "Look to thy soul, O man, for none can be surety for his brother Behold, for heaven—or for hell — thou canst not escape immortality." Note—In numbering, the Roman numbers I. V. etc., are used for near relatives ; the plain figures, 1, 3, 7, etc., relatives not so near ; and figures in parenthesis, (I), (3), (7), only remote relatives. Grandfather Thompson. Had this history been undertaken thirty years ago, much could have been learned that would have greatly added to its interest. A friend has well said, "I realize the mistake we make in not looking- these matters up while we have those with us who could give the information." Past neglect cannot be remedied now, and so I will endeavor to do the best I can with such material as, after special effort, I have been able to collect.