THOMPSON, JOHN H. - The well known and efficient superintendent of the Cass County (Illinois) Poor Farm, situated at Bluff Springs, is the offspring of parents who were early residents of Cass County. Their son, John H., was born in the county April 23, 1863. His father, Robert Thompson, was a native of Virginia, while his mother, Mary Jane (Etchison) Thompson, was born in Kentucky in 1818. The grandparents, James and Lovisa Young, both Kentuckians by birth, located in Cass County in 1822, entering land in Morgan County. The year of Robert Thompson's arrival in the county was 1844. He was a young man, working at farming, and after marriage lived at Sand Prairie, in the western part of Beardstown. He died in December, 1900, and his widow lived with one of her sons until her death in April, 1912. She bore her husband the following children: Willis P., of Rock Falls, Ill.; Sarah (Mrs. George McDonald), of Virginia; John H.; George, of Cass County, Ill.; and Martha E. deceased.

John H. Thompson attended the common schools in his youth and from the age of twenty-one until his marriage, worked on the farm for his father. In September, 1886, he was wedded to Nettie Johnson, born in Morgan County, Ill., and now deceased, who left one daughter, Bertha, who died at the age of three years. The second marriage of Mr. Thompson was with Maggie Kirkendall, a native of Cass County, Ill., who bore him three children: Dollie Albertine, of Virginia, Ill.; William Bryan, at home; and John, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died in March, 1900. In August, 1900, Mr. Thompson took for his third wife Carrie Davis, a native of Cass County, Ill., whose parents, Valentine and Sarah J. (Treadway) Davis, were born in the same county. To Mr. Thompson and his present wife, two children have been born: Henry, born October 10, 1902; and Ida Mae, born March 4, 1906.

After his marriage Mr. Thompson carried on farming for two years on his forty acres of land in township 17, then sold to James Cook, and moving to Morgan County, rented a farm there for one year. Subsequently he moved to Beardstown and engaged in teaming, having contracted to haul iron for a bridge over the Illinois River at Beardstown. Two years later he moved to Virginia, from which place he conducted a 200 acre farm for two years. Then he worked at different tasks until 1897, when he cultivated a farm south of Virginia for some time.

In March, 1901, Mr. Thompson became superintendent of the Cass County Poor Farm, and has since held that position. H has charge of 190 acres, of which 100 are tillable and ninety in pasture. Since Mr. Thompson assumed the supervision, the farm has been on a self-supporting basis. The place contains a large building for the inmates, of which there is an average of twenty-five yearly; it is equipped with seven head of working horses, and has a horse barn, a cattle barn, a tool shed, an ice house, a smokehouse, a chicken house and a corn crib. It is provided with a pest house for all contagious diseases. Connected with the place are a three acre orchard, a fine garden, and land for small fruit. There is a dairy with eight cows, and sixty head of hogs are kept for furnishing meat.

Mr. Thompson is a member of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the A.F. & A.M.; the I.O.O.F. (all degrees); the K. of P., of Beardstown (all degrees); and the B.P.O.E. No. 1007.