Ira Thompson, proprietor Thompson House, is a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he was raised and educated. He enlisted in August 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Twelfth New York Infantry, and served to the end of the war. Returned to his native town, where he remained till 1875, then came to Hardin County, Iowa; ran a hotel there; in 1879, removed to Battle Creek, Iowa; there ran a hotel also; in August, 1881, he came to Decatur, and has since had charge of this house.