San Benito County History

This section is excerpted from A Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California by Henry D. Barrows and Luther A. Ingersoll, and published by The Lewis Publishing Company in 1893.

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James Thompson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the year 1832, and comes of a noble line of ancestry, whose character has ever been above reproach. His father, William Thompson, was born in Scotland, in 1801, and his mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Anderson, was also a native of that country. They were married in 1824, and lived happily together for many years, until his death, which occurred in 1885, and the mother died the following year. To them were born nine children, of whom five are now living.

James Thompson was married near Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1854, to Mary Bailey. By her he had eight sons and four daughters, of whom the following-named are living, two having died in Canada and one in California: William, born in 1856, Andrew in 1858, Adam in 1860, these three being natives of Edinburgh; Matthew in 1862, Joseph in 1864 and John in 1866, born in Canada; and Jane and David in Monterey county, California, the former in 1875 and the latter in 1882. In September 1889, the mother of these children died of cancer. She was a woman of many estimable qualities; was educated and cultured, and previous to her marriage had been engaged in teaching school. She was a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, and was a true Christian, always exerting an influence for good wherever she went. Of their children we state that William, the oldest son, married Miss Mary Dillon, by whom he had a son and a daughter. His wife died in 1888, and he subsequently wedded a Miss Johnson. Mary Thompson, the second daughter, was married in 1881 to William Williamson. She became the mother of one child, a daughter, and died a year later. Matthew, another son, married Katie Logwood, daughter of Edward Logwood, in 1890.

Mr. Thompson came to California in 1874, since which time he has been a resident of this State. He and his sons have been engaged in farming and stock raising, chiefly in Monterey county. At one time he superintended the large ranch of the Hon. Jesse D. Carr, and while acting in this capacity gained much valuable information in regard to the finest breeds of cattle, horses and sheep. He now carries on farming on a large scale, having met with good success in his various operations. He has served the public as Clerk of the Board of School Trustees. By all who know him he is held in high esteem, and is regarded as a man of the strictest integrity.

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This section is excerpted from A Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California by Henry D. Barrows and Luther A. Ingersoll, and published by The Lewis Publishing Company in 1893.