History of Lawrence County, Ohio

George and Martha Thompson

I have very little information on my great, great, grandfather, George Thompson. He was born somewhere in Kentucky about 1805-06. I think that he was from the northeastern part of Kentucky, as other families who ended up in Lawrence and Gallia County, Ohio were from this general area. He married a woman named Martha ?? about 1824-1826 in Kentucky. She was born around 1806-08. Some censuses show her as coming from Kentucky and some show her as coming from Ohio, but I am assuming Kentucky. I have not found out for sure yet when and where they died and where they are buried, but I think that they are buried in the Thompson Cemetery in Symmes Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. George and Martha had three children in Kentucky:

1. Nancy Thompson born on 22 Feb 1827 and died on 27 Aug 1854 in Lawrence County, Ohio and she married Andrew Jackson Caulley in Lawrence County, Ohio on 8 Jun 1846. Andrew was born on 4 Apr 1822 in Greenup County, Kentucky and died 9 Feb 1897 in Lawrence County, Ohio. He was the son of Allen Finley Caulley and Mary J. Siner. So far I have not found any children born to them, but they were married 8 years and could have had some children. Nancy is buried in the Thompson Cemetery. After Nancy died, Andrew married Rebecca Sanders on 19 Nov 1854 in Lawrence County, Ohio. Rebecca was born in 1834 in the state of Virginia, but I do not have her death date. They had several children. Andrew is buried in the Caulley Cemetery in Lawrence County, Ohio. I do not have any information on where Rebecca is buried.

2. James Harvey Thompson born on 11 Jan 1830 and died 5 Jul 1875 in Lawrence County, Ohio. He married Rachel Carpenter on 8 Dec 1851 in Lawrence County, Ohio. Rachel was born on 5 Dec 1828 in Olive Furnace, Lawrence County, Ohio and died 31 Oct 1907 in Peniel, Gallia County, Ohio. I have not as yet found her parents. They are both buried in the Thompson Cemetery. James and Rachel had sixteen children all born in Lawrence County, Ohio:

Martha J. born in 1852

Marietta born in 1855

Vemadell born in 1857

George W. born in Oct 1858 and died in 1927 in Lawrence County. He was buried in the Thompson Cemetery

Dora born in 1859

Charles W. born in 1860 and died in 1922. He was buried in the Thompson Cemetery

Marcus born in 1861

Jacob born in 1862

Lafayette born in 1865

Jasper Newton born in 1866, married a woman named Tina ?? and she was born in 1871. They have two sons that I know of, Elvie born in 1897 and Herschel born in 1902

James H. born in 1868

Wesley born in 1870

Margaret D. born 10 Dec 1871

Lucinda born 22 Aug 1875

Walford born in 1875 (he may have been Lucinda’s twin)

Burgess born in 1876.

3. Anna Thompson born in 1831 and died after 1850 as she is shown on the 1850 census, but not on the 1860 census. She may have married before the 1860 census so would have her husband’s last name.

George bought land from Caleb McDaniel in the early 1840s in Symmes Township, Lawrence County, Ohio and I believe he and Martha lived there until their deaths, but this has not been proven yet. It states in the deed that George was then living in Gallia County. They had five children in Waterloo, Symmes Township, Lawrence County, Ohio:

4. Samuel Thompson born in 1833 and died before 1863 in Lawrence County, Ohio. He married Elizabeth McDaniel on 16 Mar 1852 in Lawrence County, Ohio. She was born in 1837 in Lawrence County, Ohio and died 15 Oct 1912, I think in Gallia County, Ohio. She was the daughter of John McDaniel and Judy Celia Laffoon. Samuel and Elizabeth had three daughters:

Nancy born in 1853 in Lawrence County, Ohio and died in 1898 in Gallia County, Ohio. Nancy married George Lee on 29 Jan 1872 in Lawrence County, Ohio and they had 9 children.

Mary Elizabeth born 23 May 1857 in Walnut Township, Gallia County, Ohio and died 27 Jun 1902 in McDaniel, Gallia County, Ohio. She married Willis G. Davenport on 14 Oct 1881 in Gallia County, Ohio. Willis was born 9 Apr 1855 in Symmes Township, Lawrence County, Ohio and died 11 Mar 1931 in Stark Township, Madison County, Ohio. He was the son of Vince Winston Davenport and Mary Unknown. Willis and Mary are both buried in Sandfork Cemetery in Gallia County, Ohio. They had 5 children.

Martha born in 1859 and died between 1873 and 1876 in Lawrence County, Ohio. After Samuel died, Elizabeth married Peter Kingery about 1863 in either Lawrence or Gallia County, Ohio. Peter was born in 1833 in Ohio and died after 1880. They had three daughters:

Ella born in 1864 and married Monroe Ward. They had two children:

Alice born abt. 1866 and married Seth Thomas

Emma born 1870 who married Frank McClain.

5. Malinda Thompson born in 1835 and died 22 Nov 1878 in Lawrence County, Ohio. She married Alonzo J. Shelton on 31 Jul 1856 in Lawrence County, Ohio. Alonzo was born in 1835 in Ohio, the son of Austin/Osten Shelton and Margaret ??. Alonzo and Malinda had seven children:

Charles J. born Apr 1857 and died 15 Jul 1858

Martha born in 1859

Washington born in 1861

Albert born in 1863

Lloyd born in 1865

Norman born in 1869

Austin born in 1871

Alonzo, Malinda and Charles J. were buried in the Thompson Cemetery. I do not have Alonzo’s date of death, but it was after 1880.

6. Rhoda born in 1839 and died after 1860. She could have married before the 1860 census and so would have had her husband’s name.

7. Molly Permitta born in 1843 and died after 1860. She could have married before the 1860 census and would have had her husband’s name.

8. George Washington Thompson born 15 Oct 1844 and died 21 Dec 1891in Peniel, Gallia County, Ohio. (This is my great grandfather). He married Triphena F. Null on 3 Apr 1866 in Ironton, Lawrence County following his service in the Civil War. She was born 13 Aug 1842 in Gallia County, Ohio and died 9 Feb 1867 in Pike County, Ohio less than a year after their marriage. They did not have any children. She is buried in the Flagg Springs Cemetery, Walnut Township, Gallia County. She was the daughter of William T. Null, Jr. and Rebecca A. Neal. After her death, George married her younger sister, Mary W. Null on 17 Mar 1868 in Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio. Mary was born on 18 Nov 1849 in Gallia County, Ohio and died 14 Jul 1911 in Gallia County, Ohio. George and Mary are both buried in the Thompson Cemetery. They had ten children all born in Lawrence County, Ohio:

1 Malinda Ellen born 12 Dec 1868 and died 1 Oct 1893 in Lawrence County, Ohio. She never married as far as I know and is listed in the Thompson Cemetery records as a Thompson.

2. Boyd V. born 20 Jun 1870 and died 13 Jul 1936 in Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio. He married Elva Rose Bryant about 1895 in Lawrence County, Ohio. She was born about 1870 and died after 1936. As yet, I do not have any information on their children. Boyd is buried in the Thompson Cemetery.

3. Sadie R. born 4 Sep 1872 and died 23 Jun 1890in Lawrence County, Ohio. She is buried in the Thompson Cemetery.

4. Doshia born 11 May 1874 and died 3 Jul 1890 in Lawrence County, Ohio. She is buried in the Thompson Cemetery. There must have been an epidemic about that time as two of their daughters died within days of each other.

5. Samuel J. born 26 Dec 1876 and died 3 Nov 1951 in Scotch Ridge, Webster Township, Wood County, Ohio. He married Emma ?? after 1910. Emma was born in 1882 and died 13 Jan 1966 also in Scotch Ridge. They are both buried in the Webster Township Cemetery in Wood County, Ohio. They had two children: Orville and Armand.

6. Bertha Maude born 10 May 1879 and died 17 Mar 1999 in Lawrence County, Ohio and she is buried in the Thompson Cemetery.

7. Rhoda Almyrtle born 18 May 1881 and died 7 Mar 1968 in Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio. She married Wilbert Bush on 16 Sep 1904 in Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio. He was born 3 Jul 1880 in Chambersburg, Gallia County, Ohio and died 29 Sep 1959 in Lucas County, Ohio. He was the son of Francis Thomas Bush and Olevia Shaw. Rhoda and Wilbert are both buried in the Toledo Memorial Cemetery, Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio. They had four children:

1. Roy Curtis born 30 May 1908 in Lawrence County and died 7 Dec 1962 in Lucas County. He married Rachel Mavis Taylor 23 Jul 1938. She was born 17 Nov 1917 in Summit City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan and they had three children

2. Harley born 6 Oct 1919 in Webster Township, Wood County, Ohio and died 21 Dec 1971 in Lucas County, Ohio. He married Dorothy Barendt.

3. Bernice Pauline born 23 May 1923 in Webster Towship, Wood County, Ohio. She married Robert Sellers in 1942. He was born 11 Jun 1919 and died 21 May 1988 in Lucas County, Ohio. They had one son

4. Thomas Webster born 26 Feb 1926 in Dowling, Wood County, Ohio and died 19 Jul 1975 in Lucas County. He is buried in Toledo Memorial Cemetery, Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio. He married Donna James about 1948. She was born about 1926. They had four children.

8. Fletcher Alonzo (my grandfather) born 29 Oct 1884 and died 12 Feb 1953 in Walnut Twp, Gallia County, Ohio. He married Serena Pearl Rodgers on 1 May 1909 in Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio. She was born 24 Feb 1889 in Nicholas County, West Virginia and died 28 May 1964 in Pinellas Park, Pinellas County, Florida. She was the daughter of Norman Rodgers and Martha Caroline Davenport. Fletcher is buried in the Rehobeth Cemetery, Lawrence County, Ohio and Serena is buried in the Bellbrook Cemetery, Greene County, Ohio. They had Seven Children all born in Lawrence County:

1. Selma Marie b. 7 Oct 1909 and died 27 Sep 1992 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. She married Carl J. Wirtz in 1932. Carl was born 29 Oct 1900 in Haskins, Ohio and died 26 Aug 1971in Nevada, Wyandot County, Ohio. He was the son of John L. Wirtz and Sophia M. Faust. Selma and Carl are both buried in the Wakeman Cemetery, Waterville, Lucas County, Ohio. They had one son John (Jack) Carl born 6 Jul 1933 in Toldeo, Lucas County, Ohio.

2. Emery born 21 Aug 1911 and died 10 Jun 1936 in Waterloo, Lawrence County, Ohio and is buried in Woodland Cemetery, Lawrence County, Ohio. He married Carrie Myrtle Townsend between 1928 and 1924 in Ironton, Lawrence County. She was born 29 Oct 1910 and died 12 Apr 1981 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. She is buried in Trotwood, Montgomery County, Ohio. They had one daughter, Marriane born 30 Jan 1934 in Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio.

3. Roxie born 15 Nov 1913 and died Dec 1913.

4. Fred A.(my father) born 22 May 1915 and died 3 Sep 1949 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He is buried in Bellbrook Cemetery, Greene County, Ohio. He married Mary Agnes Yeager (my mother) on 7 Oct 1939 in Greenville, Darke County, Ohio. They eloped and Mary lied about her age on the marriage license. Mary was born 19 Jan 1921 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio and died 10 Nov 1999 in Ft. Myers, Lee County, Florida. She was cremated, so there is no burial spot. They had four children:

Sharon Louise b. 28 Sep 1940

Patricia Ann (me) born 29 Sep 1942

Betty Jo born 7 Nov 1945.

After Fred’s death, Mary married William R. Cable in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He was born 12 Nov 1916 in Dayton. They had one daughter, Glenna Kay born 19 Sep 1950.

After the children were born, Fletcher and Serena were divorced. Fletcher stayed in Gallia County, Ohio and kept half of the children. Serena moved to Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio and kept the other half of the children. Fletcher married Dora Hively and they lived until their deaths in Gallia County, Ohio. Serena married George Leonard Bailey. They lived in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio until their 50s and then moved to Pinellas Park, Pinellas County, Florida where they both died.

There is still much information on the Thompson family that I have yet to find. I am planning on taking a trip to Lawrence County and Gallia County, Ohio to do some research and get some copies of documents, etc. Anyone having any additional information is welcome to contact me. Most of the information I have given is accurate, but there may be a mistake or two along the way. A lot of it I have proof of.