San Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN W. THOMPSON
JOHN W. THOMPSON, a farmer of
Castoria Township, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, May 16, 1837. During the early part of his life he
followed the sea, but, in 1856, decided to come to California. He came by way of the Isthmus; in crossing the
Isthmus by rail the train met with a terrible accident. Thirteen cars were
thrown into a heap, and 150 persons were killed and many more wounded. Mr.
Thompson was one of the fortunate few who escaped without injury; he assisted
in bearing the dead and wounded from the wreck and in clearing the track. On
the 23d of May, 1856, he reached San Francisco, where he witnessed the hanging of two men, Casey and
Kohler. He stopped in San
Francisco but a short time,
and then went to Sacramento, where he was engaged in salmon fishing on the Sacramento river for twelve years. He then went to Montana, and was absent two years, but returned to fishing
again, which occupation he followed for one year more, but his health failing
him he had to give it up.
He went into the grocery business and
followed it two years. At the end of that time, in 1886, he bought a ranch of
320 acres, situated between French Camp and Lathrop. During the time that he
has been engaged in ranching he has accumulated considerable property, being
one of our energetic and industrious farmers, and is now in possession of 722
acres of fine land, with all the latest improvements.
He was married to Miss Addie L. Clapp on
the 2d of January, 1881.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 332-335. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Genealogy Databases
Golden Nugget Library