ALEXANDER THOMPSON, farmer and stockraiser of Williamson Township, Stone County, Missouri, and one of the representative men of the section in which he lives, is a native of Tennessee, born in Maury County March 25, 1833.
His parents, Thomas and Lucinda (Dobyns) Thompson, were natives of Indiana and Kentucky, respectively, and their nuptials were celebrated in the latter State. From there they moved to Indiana, and thence to Tennessee, the father dying in Williamson County of the latter State when about forty-five years of age. He was a farmer, but was of a roving disposition, and never accumulated much property. He enlisted in the War of 1812, but did not enter the service. He was one of three or four children born to Elder Thomas Thompson, who was for many years a Primitive Baptist preacher, and also a farmer on a small scale. He died in the Hoosier State. The mother of our subject died in Williamson County, Tennessee, in 1852. Twelve children were born to her marriage, six sons and six daughters, as follows: Hugh D., a soldier in the Mexican War, died in 1846; Elizabeth died in Dunklin County, Missouri, and was the wife of Daniel Gardner; Joseph, a farmer, and a soldier in the Mexican War, died in St. Francois County, Missouri; Nancy, who also died in St. Francois County, Missouri, was the wife of Samuel Gardner; Richard, of Christian County, was also a soldier in the Mexican War with Col., afterward Gen. Cheatham, of Tennessee; Jane, wife of Robinson Sparkman, died in St. Francois County, Missouri; subject; William, of Billings, Missouri; Amanda, who died quite young; Lucinda, the wife of William Hargrove, died in Christian County, and two others died in infancy.
Our subject was only about eight or nine years of age when his father died, and he remained with his mother until grown, assisting on the farm, and attending school only about four or five months, and that when nearly grown. He was married in Maury County, Tennessee, in 1855, to Miss Sarah Rainey, a native of Maury County and the daughter of Chesley Rainey, who came to Greene County in 1856, and died there ten years later. He was a farmer. Mrs. Thompson died in 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born four children: Mary Ann, wife of John Wallace, of Greene County; Margaret, wife of Frank Gamble, of Stone County; George died when twenty-two years of age, leaving a wife and child, both now deceased; Artemisia, wife of Thomas Lane. In 1873 Mr. Lane married Rosetta Griffin, a native of La Porte County, Indiana, and the daughter of Frank Griffin, who came from La Porte County, Indiana, to Missouri and engaged in milling, first in Osage and then in Christian County. There he and wife received their final summons. The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were named as follows: Volutia B., wife of Andrew Morris, of Stone County; Charley Baker, Birdie May, Walter P. S. and Claiborne.
In 1855 Mr. Thompson came by wagon to Stoddard County, Missouri, and after making one crop moved to Greene County, locating in the woods just above where the Wilson Creek battle was fought, and remained there until 1880, making a good farm. He then came to the neighborhood where he resides, and for eight years has lived on his present property, fourteen miles below Galena, where he has seventy acres, with about forty acres cleared. Farming has been his principal occupation through life. He served in the Home Guards during 1861, and on March 4, 1862, he joined Company D, Fourteenth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, serving in same until the winter of 1863-64, when he was discharged on account of disability. He operated principally in Arkansas and Missouri, and was in a number of battles and numerous skirmishes. He was in the Marmaduke fight at Springfield, January 8, 1862, and there he received a severe wound in the left hip by grapeshot. He has never fully recovered from the effects of this, and receives a pension. After being discharged in Jefferson City he came home and was made lieutenant of the Home Guards, holding that position until the close of the war. While in the army he held the position of commissary sergeant. Previous to the war Mr. Thompson was a Democrat, but since then he has been strictly independent, voting for principle, not for party. He and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Christian Church, and his first wife was also a member of that church. He is one of the honest, industrious and hospitable men of the county.