Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 873 - 874

WILLIAM THOMPSON, a retired farmer of ample means, occupies a pleasant home at No. 2217 North Arkansas avenue, in Wichita. A native of Fleming County, Ky., he was born April 21, 1840, and is the son of Taylor and Sarah (Graham) Thompson, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. The father was born in 1816, and removed from his native State to Kentucky, taking up his residence in Fleming County, where he occupied himself in farming, and where he still resides. He is a worthy and highly respected citizen, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

            The mother of our subject was born in 1822, and departed this life at her home in Fleming County, Ky., in 1879. She was a member of the same church as her husband, and the parental household consisted of eleven children. Of these James, Robert, John, Mary J., Edward and Allen are deceased, making six dead. Austin is a resident of Ray County, Mo.; William, of our sketch, is the sixth child; Amanda is the wife of Foster Days; they live in Hancock County, Ill. Alfred is a resident of Fleming County, Ky., and on the old homestead; Belle is the wife of William Emmons; they live in Springfield,  Ill.

            William Thompson spent his childhood and youth on the farm of his father in his native county, and when twenty-two years of age, was married there to Miss Mary J. Lytle, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, on the 2d of May, 1862, Rev. Barkesdale, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating. Mrs. Thompson is a native of the same county as her husband, and was born April 17, 1844. Her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Todd) Lytle, were also natives of the Blue Grass State. The father was born in 1805, and is still living, in the enjoyment of good health. He has always followed farming and is well-to-do. He is a man of prominence in his community, and with his excellent wife, who is also still spared to enjoy a pleasant old age, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother was born in 1813. Of their eleven children the eldest and the fifth died in infancy unnamed. The others were Louisa H., John T., Mary J., Parthenia, Sarah E., Allen T., Rebecca B., Martha K. and Robert A.

            To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson there were born eight children, seven now living and one deceased. Robert A. married Miss Ida L. Crane, and lives on a farm near Clearwater; Mary E. is the wife of Zach H. Tryon, and the mother of three children - Ollie M., Lora B. and Rosetta; Allen T., Samuel L.; William D. died at the age of eight years; Charles B., Louda B. and James N. are at home.

             Mr. Thompson in 1879 left his native State, and came to Kansas, first locating upon a tract of rented land in Wichita Township, where he farmed six years. In 1885 he purchased thirty acres, which is now within the city limits. During the activity in real estate in 1887, he sold at a fair figure. He has now fourteen and one-half acres adjacent to the city limits. He and his wife and most of his children belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, together with his son-in-law, Mr. Tryon. Mr. T. in 1868 identified himself with the Masonic fraternity at Hillsboro, Ky., and has held the office of Tyler in his lodge. Politically, he supports the principles of the Democratic party.

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