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Allamakee County >> 1913 Index Past and Present of Allamakee County Iowa T Unless otherwise specified, these biographies are submitted by Dick Barton. Eric
Thompson, who owns eighty acres of valuable land in section 30,
Paint Creek township, and is numbered among the active and successful
farmers of his locality, was born in Norway on the 15th of February,
1855, and is a stepson of Thomas Guttornson, of whom extended mention is
made elsewhere in this work in connection with the life of George
Thompson.
His own father was A. Aslakson.
Eric Thompson was still a
child when his parents settled in Allamakee county, and here he was
reared on a farm in Paint Creek township, acquiring his education in the
district schools.
At the early age of sixteen he began his independent
career, working first as a farm laborer and later engaging in
agricultural pursuits upon rented land.
About the year 1903 he
purchased eighty acres on section 30, Paint Creek township.
This was
partially improved, being provided with a good residence but poor
outbuildings, and Mr. Thompson has steadily carried forward the work of
development.
He has improved the buildings and added to them, erecting
a new granary, and he contemplates the erection of a new barn within the
next twelve months.
He carries on general farming and stock-raising and
has met with a gratifying measure of success.
In
Allamakee county, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Ellen
Haas, a native of Norway and a daughter of Ole Haas, who died in that
country.
Mrs. Thompson came to the United States when she was twenty- five years
of age.
She and her husband have two children, Oscar and
Mamie, both of whom reside at home.
The
parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Thompson gives
his political allegiance to the republican party.
He is, however, not
active as an office-seeker, preferring to devote his entire time to his
business interests, which are all carefully conducted and therefore
profitable.
George
Thompson, the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and
ninety-two acres on section 18, Paint Creek township, is a wide-awake
and progressive young man who has won gratifying success in his labors
as an agriculturist.
During the past year, however, he has leased his
land and now devotes his attention to the care of the telephone line, of
which he was one of the promoters.
His birth occurred on the farm where
he resides, his natal day being April 25, 1868.
His
father, Thomas Guttornson, was a native of Hallingdal, Norway, and
there wedded Miss Mary Nelson, likewise born in that country.
In 1852
they emigrated to the United States and made their way to Allamakee
county, Iowa, Mr. Guttornson here purchasing the tract of one hundred
and ninety-two acres which is now in possession of his son George.
The
land was wild and demanded much arduous labor before it was ready for
the plow.
Mr. Guttornson erected a log house on the property and
subsequently built a frame dwelling which is still standing and in use.
Here he devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits
throughout the remainder of his life, passing away about 1895, at the
age of sixty years.
The period of his residence in this county covered
more than four decades and he was well known and highly esteemed as one
if its pioneer settlers and representative farmers.
His wife was also
fifty years of age when called to her final rest.
They had four
children, as follows:
Margaret, the wife of E. H. Sando, of Paint Creek
township;
Bertha, who gave her hand in marriage to C. O. Leikvold, of
Paint Creek township;
George, of this review;
and Nels, who is
deceased.
George
Thompson attended the district schools in the acquirement of his
early education and later pursued a course of study in the Upper Iowa
University at Fayette.
After putting aside his text-books he was
engaged in the drug business at Nashua, Iowa, for two years, on the
expiration of which period he returned to the home farm, subsequently
coming into possession of the property.
The place comprises one hundred
and ninety-two acres of rich and productive land, and many substantial
improvements enhance its value and attractiveness. Mr. Thompson was
busily engaged in general agricultural pursuits until a year ago, when
he leased his land and has since given his attention to the care of the
telephone line, of which he was one of the promoters.
He has made a
study of telephones for a number of years and possesses expert knowledge
in that direction, now conducting a shop on his farm and being employed
by the month to keep the telephone line in repair.
As
a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Thompson chose
Miss Lena Hendrickson, a daughter of Solva Hendrickson, who was one of
the early settlers of this region and passed away in the winter of 1912-
13.
Our subject and his wife have one child, Carl Odin.
In politics
Mr. Thompson is a stanch republican, exercising his right of franchise
in support of the men and measures of that party.
Both he and his wife
are devoted members of the West Paint Creek church.
Industry and
progress seem to be the salient features in his career and have been
potent elements in the acquirement of a success which, however, speaks
not only in terms of material gain but in the regard and high esteem of
his fellowmen.
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