James Thompson: The father of Balm

Introduction

I think we all have a list of projects that we want to pursue. Examining James Thompson’s life and legacy has been one of the projects I have wanted to undertake for a long time. When I started working on the Altoona Cemeteries series for the Altoona Adventures YouTube page, I knew that some of that work would grow my ever-expanding list of future projects. What I did not realize was that one of those videos, the Pine Grove Church Cemetery video, would involve me removing one of the projects from my list. I discovered that the story of Pine Grove Church and Cemetery could not be told without including the Thompson family. I also felt that presenting it solely as a video project would not do the narrative justice.

It is rare to find someone who can tie together a formative period of settlement while also being part of the second period of settlement and serving as a direct link to modern-day Altoona. Furthermore, as I discovered in my research, James Thompson is directly connected to many other early families in the area. While the purpose of this narrative is to complement the Pine Grove Church and Cemetery video, I also hope it introduces Thompson descendants to their ancestors, as well as shedding light on the early settlement of the area and demonstrating how many of the prominent families from the area were connected at the time of their settlement or prior to arriving in Alabama.

James Thompson’s Paternal Grandfather

Unfortunately, the available information on James Thompson’s paternal grandfather is both limited and unreliable. Several online sources point to different men and locations. The top results among Ancestry.com family trees identify a James Thompson who was born in 1743 in Delaware, married Martha Chambers in 1766 in Pennsylvania, and died in July 1794 in Orange, North Carolina.^[1] This conclusion is supported by a will for James Thompson, which lists a Joshua Thompson (the father of James Thompson) who, at the time, was under the age of twenty-one.^[2] Outside of this will, there is no other readily identifiable evidence connecting this James Thompson to the Joshua Thompson who was the father of James Thompson of Blount County.

FamilySearch (with some additional support from WikiTree) shows the paternal grandfather of James Thompson of Blount County as Samuel Thompson, who was born between 1730 and 1735 in Botetourt, Virginia; who possibly married Mary Payne; and who died in Orange, North Carolina, sometime after July 1800.^[3] Like that of James Thompson (1743–1794), Samuel Thompson’s connection to James Thompson of Blount County is established through a will that lists a son named Joshua Thompson.^[4]

Throughout the research into the paternal grandfather of James Thompson of Blount County, I was unable to identify any other potential candidates, and I believe that his grandfather was likely one of these two men. However, little research has been conducted to establish one man over the other or to examine the possibility of additional candidates.

Joshua Thompson (Father of James Thompson)

Joshua Thompson was born in 1773 in either Orange County, North Carolina, or Botetourt, Virginia.^[5] Thompson married Mary Morton (1782-c. 1854) around 1799.^[6] Morton was the daughter of Marshell Morton (c. 1755–1830), who was the patriarch of the Morton family in the Blount, Etowah, and Marshall County areas. Some family trees identify Thompson as having married Mary Polly Jackson.^[7] However, this is because there were two Joshua Thompsons in Orange, North Carolina. The Joshua Thompson who married Mary Polly Jackson died on July 28, 1837, at the age of sixty-three and was buried at the Old Eno Quaker Burying Ground in Hillsborough, North Carolina.^[8] After their marriage, Joshua and Mary had a total of 9 children:

1. James Terrell Thompson – (Refer to next section)
2. Winnie Thompson Smith (1802-1887) – She married Samuel D. Smith (1803-1871).^[9] Smith hailed from South Carolina and married Winnie Thompson around 1820. The family migrated to Alabama between 1831 and 1835 and may have made the journey with the Gregory family, making the Smiths among the first of Joshua Thompson’s descendants to settle in Alabama. The couple joined Mount Moriah Church, where Smith was later ordained as a minister. Both Winnie and Samuel D. Smith are buried in the Old Mount Moriah Church Cemetery.
3. John Thompson (1804-c. 1880) – John Thompson married Elizabeth Robinson in South Carolina.^[10] There is no evidence that John Thompson’s family migrated to Alabama. John Thompson died in Texas.
4. Jane Thompson (9.18.1807-2.2.1864) – Jane Thompson married Jonathan Gregory (1804–1837) in Pickens, South Carolina, on January 4, 1824.^[11] By 1830, the family was residing in Blount County, Alabama, where they were enumerated in the federal census.^[12] Some sources state that the couple married in Alabama and that their eldest son, Joshua Thompson Gregory (1825–1905), was born there. However, this claim cannot be verified. Based on the available evidence, Jane Thompson was the first of Joshua Thompson’s descendants to settle in Alabama, having arrived with her husband’s family, the Gregorys.^[13] Jonathan Gregory died on April 27, 1837, and Jane later remarried John Pridmore (1796–1867) and relocated to Marshall County, Alabama, where she died on February 2, 1864.^[14]
5. Elijah Thompson (c. 1811-<1880) – Elijah married Charlotte Phillips in Union, Georgia, in December 1839.^[15] The couple lived in DeKalb County, Alabama, in 1850 but had moved to Walker County, Alabama, by 1860. By 1870, they had relocated to Polk County, Arkansas, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
6. Charlotte Thompson (1813-c. 1875)^[16] – Very little information exists regarding Charlotte. She may have died in South Carolina, as her name does not appear in Joshua Thompson’s estate papers apart from his will.
7. Mary Thompson (1815-c. 1875) – Like Charlotte, few records exist to document the life of Mary. Some online family trees indicate that she married Elias Henkle.^[17] However, no additional information on Elias Henkle could be found. Another family tree lists her death as occurring in 1875 in Etowah County, Alabama.^[18] However, no supporting records are attached to verify this claim.
8. Louisa Thompson (1821-1850 to 1855) – Louisa married Hiram Nations (1815-1861) around 1848.^[19] The couple lived in DeKalb County, Alabama, in 1850. Hiram Nations remarried Martha Jane “Patsy” Noble in 1856, indicating that Louisa had died sometime between 1850 and 1856.
9. Ethalinda Thompson (7.18.1821-4.1.1891) – Ethalinda married Jeremiah Roden (1823–1910) on August 20, 1846, in DeKalb County, Alabama.^[20] Jeremiah was the son of John B. and Nancy Braswell Roden. John B. Roden served in the War of 1812 as an engineer and was the first tax collector in Blount County.^[21] The Roden family was among the first settlers in the area. After leaving Blount County, Jeremiah and Ethalinda resettled in DeKalb County, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
10. William Thompson (1827-1860 to 1870) – William married Martha Bailey in Alabama. The couple resided in Lebanon, DeKalb County, Alabama. William was enumerated in the 1860 census, which was the last census in which he appears.

Little is known about Joshua Thompson’s life after his marriage. Records show that he owned 212 acres along the Twelve Mile River in Pickens, South Carolina.^[22] This land was bounded by properties belonging to Daniel Durham, Levi Murphree, B. Barton, and the Hunter family. Joshua Thompson died in 1829, with the first document in his estate file recorded on October 5.^[23] This thirty-seven–page document names his wife and children as heirs and provides additional details on his real estate holdings. A detailed inventory of his personal effects indicates that he was relatively prosperous for the time, with most items passing to his wife and children.

After the death of her husband, Mary Thompson married Jones Evitt (c. 1796–1897) around 1830.^[24] Jones Evitt later appears in DeKalb County, Alabama, in 1850. At that time, he was married to Lucy Crain, indicating that Mary Thompson Evitt had died sometime between 1830 and 1850. It is unknown whether she lived long enough to relocate to Alabama.^[25]

James Thompson

James Thompson, the oldest son of Joshua and Mary Morton Thompson, was born in Pickens County, South Carolina, on October 24, 1800.^[26] Detailed information about Thompson’s early life is unknown. Although he grew up on his father’s 212-acre farm, his education and other aspects of his formative years remain undocumented. His father’s property bordered that of Daniel Durham, and around 1819, Thompson married Durham’s daughter, Sarah Durham.^[27] The couple soon started a family, eventually having ten children.

In 1820, the young couple appears in the 1820 census in a household that included their oldest child, Jackson Thompson.^[28] A review of the original record reveals an additional “1” in the far-right column of the page; however, the column heading is blank. This mark could indicate that Thompson owned a single enslaved person, though it would be the only record in which he appears as a slaveholder. Moreover, every other household listed on the same page contains between one and four marks in that column, despite the absence of a heading. The purpose of the column therefore remains unclear. No land records have been identified for Thompson during this period, a question that may be connected to this census entry. His next-door neighbor was his father-in-law, Daniel Durham, suggesting that Thompson resided on Durham’s property following his marriage to Sarah.

In January 1827, Thompson became a landowner when he acquired eighty-two acres from Jacob Gearin.^[29] Although the $150 purchase was located in Pendleton County, its proximity to the properties of his father or father-in-law remains unknown. Two years later, Thompson purchased an additional parcel from his mother and stepfather.^[30] This property was part of a tract that had originally belonged to his father. After Joshua Thompson’s death in 1829, James, as the eldest son, served as administrator of the estate. Thompson appears again in the 1830 census. Notably, none of his 1820 neighbors appear near him in 1830, suggesting that the land acquired in 1827 may have been some distance from the holdings of his father and father-in-law. In October 1832, Thompson sold the property he had obtained from Gearin to Pickens District Sheriff Haynes for $200.^[31] This marked the end of Thompson’s time in South Carolina.

After departing South Carolina, Thompson followed many of his former neighbors and family members to Alabama. He next appears in an 1838 Marshall County road order establishing a private road for James Banks in Bristow Cove.^[32] Despite this record, Thompson does not appear in the 1840 census for Marshall, Blount, St. Clair, or DeKalb Counties. He is again listed in an 1843 Marshall County road order marking out a mill road from Slab Creek to Clear Creek.^[33] This document is significant because it places Thompson in approximately the same area as the 1838 order, indicating that he continued to reside in Bristow Cove.

In January 1847, Thompson acquired an 80-acre tract and a 40-acre tract from Deli Gaither. The property was located in the Walnut Grove section of Bristow Cove.^[34] The larger tract lay between Stonicher and Bluff Road and consisted primarily of rough, mountainous terrain. The 40-acre parcel, situated southwest of the larger tract, was in the area of Little Cove and Old Nelson Gap Road and was bisected by Little Cove Creek. Although Deli Gaither’s precise relationship to other members of the Gaither family is unclear, this transaction represents the first documented connection between the two families.^[35] Given Thompson’s disappearance from South Carolina records in 1832 and his appearance in Marshall County records in 1838, it is highly probable that he resided in Bristow Cove during the intervening years. Whether he lived on Gaither property as a tenant or squatter, or on land belonging to another family, remains unknown.

Thompson’s time in Marshall County was relatively short-lived. In January 1853, he purchased several hundred acres in Blount County from Abraham and Celia Waid.^[36] The Waids were among the earliest settlers of Blount County, and, as with Thompson’s earlier Marshall County purchase from Gaither, this acquisition had lasting familial significance. Thompson’s daughter Amelia had married Abraham and Celia’s son, Greenberry, in 1845. This relationship may have influenced Thompson’s decision to relocate from Bristow Cove to Murphrees Valley. During the summer of 1853, Thompson purchased additional tracts from the Waids.^[37] In August of that year, he sold his Marshall County property to Silas Crump.^[38] In a recurring pattern of interconnected families, Thompson and Crump were also linked by marriage, as Thompson’s son Lemuel married Crump’s daughter Margaret in 1846.

Throughout the following decade, Thompson continued expanding his landholdings. He acquired 40 acres from John R. Ellison in 1854; 40 acres from Andrew and Mary Hale in 1855; 40 acres from William Byrd in 1858; 80 acres from the Commissioners Court of Blount County in 1860; and 80 acres from Edmond Youngblood later that same year.^[39] Not all of these parcels were contiguous. A 40-acre portion of the 1853 Waid purchase lay southwest of his principal holdings; the Ellison tract was located at Ellison Crossroads; and the Byrd parcel was situated along present-day Highway 278 near the Blount–Etowah County line.

By 1860, the Thompson family was firmly established in the north-central portion of Murphrees Valley. The census indicates that Thompson was moderately prosperous, with real and personal property valued at $3,000, though he was less affluent than some nearby neighbors, including the Harrises, Reeds, and Bynums.^[40] While Thompson was not among the first generation of settlers in that section of the valley—that distinction belongs to the Waids, Bynums, and Rodens—a new wave of migration began shortly after his arrival. This influx gradually altered the local balance of influence. When Daniel Murphree settled a few miles south of Thompson’s property around the time of statehood, the area surrounding his cabin developed into a post office, church, and small community. This settlement became known as Murphrees, or Murphrees Valley. By the time Thompson and others entered the region, the original Murphrees settlement was already in decline and was eventually supplanted by the development of a new rural center known as Balm.

On June 29, 1869, the Balm Post Office was established, with James Thompson appointed as postmaster. Unlike today, most post offices at that time were part of a general store or located in the postmaster’s home. There is no evidence that Thompson was engaged in any occupation other than farming; therefore, it is likely that the Balm Post Office operated from his residence, further indicating that he occupied a central role in the emerging community. Thompson continued to serve as postmaster until August 28, 1876, when his son, Jackson T. Thompson, succeeded him. The 1870 census reveals that Thompson continued to increase the value of his real and personal estate.^[41]

In February 1880, Sarah Thompson died of paralysis.^[42] She was laid to rest at Pine Grove, becoming the first known burial in the cemetery.^[43] Her grave was marked by a box-style tomb. Following his wife’s death, Thompson moved into the home of his son, Lemuel Thompson. ^[44] He lived to the age of eighty-nine, dying on October 19, 1887.^[45] The Blount County News-Dispatch described him as a “good, honest, honorable, citizen, respected by all who knew him. Peace to his memory!” He was interred in Pine Grove Cemetery next to his wife, Sarah. ^[46] Like her grave, his was also marked by a box-style tomb.

Thompson died intestate, and his estate was administered by his grandsons, James Calloway Waid and George Gaither.^[47] An examination of the estate records reveals that $3 was paid to Dr. Donehoo for medical services rendered prior to his death. An additional $11.85 was paid to W. T. Hood for Thompson’s burial outfit, and $1.00 was paid to Abraham Harris for his coffin.

Three Generations of Descendants from James Thompson^[48]

• 1. Jackson Terrell Thompson (8.23.1818-12.9.1883) – Jackson Thompson was the oldest child born to James and Sarah Thompson. His birthdate suggests that his parents likely married in 1817 or 1818. Jackson’s formative years were spent on his father’s farm in Pickens County, South Carolina. He relocated to Alabama with his parents in the mid-1830s, first settling in Bristow Cove, Marshall County. It was there that Thompson, then in his thirties, was enumerated in his parents’ household, with his occupation listed as farmer.^[49] On December 22, 1853, Thompson married Martha Dickson (September 27, 1830–September 26, 1887).^[50] Born in Morgan County, Alabama, she was the daughter of Joel and Rachel Dickson, the Thompsons’ neighbors in Marshall County. Following their marriage, the couple relocated to Murphrees Valley in Blount County, a move also made by Jackson’s parents and siblings. The couple eventually had six children: four daughters and two sons.^[51] On April 19, 1867, Thompson became a Master Mason and was affiliated with Walnut Grove Lodge No. 264.^[52] After the Civil War, the area surrounding the Thompson homestead developed into the rural community known as Balm. Around 1865, Pine Grove Methodist Church was established, and a church building was erected on property owned by Jackson Thompson.^[53] In 1878, he formally deeded the property to the church.^[54] That same year, Jackson and Martha donated an adjacent parcel of land to the trustees of Pine Grove School.^[55] Thompson also served as postmaster of Balm, succeeding his father, from August 28, 1876, until February 26, 1882.^[56] The 1870 and 1880 census records list his occupation as farmer, and his name does not appear in local business records, suggesting that his influence in Balm’s development did not extend into industrial or commercial enterprises. Thompson remained on his farm until his death on December 9, 1883.^[57] He was interred in Pine Grove Cemetery. Martha survived him by several years, dying on September 26, 1887, in Oneonta.
  2. Matilda Thompson (1821-10.27.1850) – Matilda married Richard Gaither in Alabama between 1840 and 1850 before relocating to Iuka, Mississippi.^[58] The couple had two sons, Henry and George. Matilda died in Iuka, Mississippi, on October 27, 1870. Richard subsequently returned to Alabama, where he married Amanda Battled McClendon in St. Clair County in 1877. He later died on March 22, 1893.
     1. George Gaither (3.6.1854-1910) – George returned to Walnut Grove, Alabama, and married his first cousin, Sarah E. Thompson, the daughter of his uncle, Lemuel Thompson. Gaither later became superintendent of the Etowah County Board of Education, a coal mine owner prior to the formation of Altoona, as well as a businessman and politician.
  3. Lemuel Thompson (12.9.1822-9.30.1856) – Lemuel married Margarett Crump on January 15, 1846, in Marshall County.^[59] Their marriage resulted in six children: Sarah, Alvin, Malin Purlina, Silas, James P., and Winnie Catherine. Lemuel died on September 30, 1856, and was buried in Byrd Cemetery. His wife survived him by more than fifty years, dying in 1911. Although Lemuel did not live to see the founding of Altoona, several of his direct descendants played a prominent role in the events leading to its formation and in the subsequent history of the town.
     1. Sarah E. Gaither (1847-1923) – She married her first cousin, George Gaither, who later became superintendent of the Etowah County Board of Education, a coal mine owner prior to the formation of Altoona, as well as a businessman and politician.
     2. Alvin D. Thompson (4.22.1848-10.28.1909) – He married Lucy Pulliam in 1869. The couple had three children: John Pink, Joseph, and Charles Luther. Alvin later served as vice president of the First State Bank when it was founded in 1909. He also served as Altoona’s postmaster from 1908 to 1909. Alvin died on October 28, 1909, and was buried in the Altoona–Walnut Grove Cemetery.^[60] His wife later relocated to Alameda, California, where she died in 1914.
        1. Charles Luther Thompson (10.22.1878-1.29.1944) – Charles married Fannie B. Ingram in 1907. The couple had two children: Elsie and Harold D. Thompson. Charles Luther served as the first mayor of Altoona and succeeded his father as the town’s postmaster from 1909 to 1910. By 1914, he had relocated to Alameda, California, where he died in 1930.
     3. Winnie Catherine Payne (4.2.1854-10.2.1936) – She married Zackariah Payne on December 24, 1876. Zackariah was the son of George Washington and Temperance Gregory Payne.^[61] George Washington Payne was the patriarch of the Payne family in the Altoona area. Zackariah and Winnie had six children: Lennie, Marion, Charles, High, Alton, and Marvin Payne. Zackariah later became a coal mine operator prior to the formation of Altoona. After the town was founded, he subdivided his property into one of Altoona’s earliest residential developments, known as the Payne Addition.
  4. Amelia “Millie” Thompson (6.18.1824-10.5.1906) – She married Greenberry Waid on February 6, 1845, in Blount County, Alabama.^[62] his union resulted in the birth of six children, including James Calloway Waid. Greenberry died in 1859, resulting in Millie and her children returning to the James Thompson household. Millie later remarried N. D. Webster on November 22, 1872, in St. Clair County. The couple remained married until his death in 1888.^[63] he married for a third time, to Henry Allen Whitley, on December 27, 1891. Their marriage endured until her death on October 5, 1906.^[64] Millie was laid to rest in Lebanon United Methodist Church Cemetery.
     1. James Calloway Waid (5.18.1845-6.22.1920) – Born in Blount County to Greenberry Waid and Amelia Thompson, he assumed significant family responsibilities following his father’s death in 1859. In 1871, Waid married Ellender Glover, a union that produced seven children. Ellender died in 1892, and Waid remarried the following year to Bethena Daily. This second marriage produced an additional five children. While residing in Balm, Alabama, he served as postmaster of the Balm Post Office from 1899 until its closure in 1904, a position that placed him at the center of community communication and local administration. In the early 1900s, Waid moved to Altoona, where he entered the general mercantile business with Benjamin Rosenbloum and his son, J. C. Waid, Jr. When this partnership dissolved in June 1908, he established his own mercantile enterprise with his sons, J. C., Jr., and Luther Waid. The business operated until 1913. Waid later relocated to Marshall County, where he spent his final years on a farm outside Boaz. He died in June 1920 and was buried in Altoona–Walnut Grove Cemetery.
        1. James Carter Waid, Jr. (12.11.1873-3.25.1928) – James Carter was the second of seven children born to James and Ellender Waid.^[65] On August 10, 1891, he married Georgia A. Harris, the daughter of William Abram Harris.^[66] Following the founding of Altoona, Waid moved his family there and entered the mercantile business with his father and Benjamin Rosenbloum. He also worked as a carpenter during the town’s period of rapid growth. After the mercantile business dissolved in 1908, Waid, along with his father and brother, Luther Waid, established a new mercantile enterprise of their own. Prior to Altoona’s incorporation, he served as justice of the peace. His involvement in local affairs continued when he was elected alderman of Altoona in 1908, receiving one of the highest vote totals among those elected. During his service as councilman, he was appointed the town’s inaugural street overseer, placing him in direct responsibility for Altoona’s streets and public infrastructure during a critical phase of development. In 1913, the Waids sold their business, and James Carter relocated to Bessemer, where he was employed by the Republic Steel Corporation as a carpenter. He died on March 25, 1928, of pneumonia and uremic poisoning, and was interred in Birmingham’s Elmwood Cemetery.
        2. Luther Pinkney Waid (3.5.1884-1.9.1958) – Luther Waid was the sixth child born to James Calloway and Ellender Waid.^[67] Reared in Balm, he soon found himself in Altoona after the town’s founding. He worked in the mines, served as a substitute mail carrier, and assisted his brother Victor in carpentry. In 1908, he entered the mercantile business with his father and brother. On February 18, 1909, he married Roxie Bynum in the home of her father, J. Eli Bynum.^[68] The couple soon expanded their family, having six children between 1910 and 1925. After the dissolution of the family business, Luther followed his father and relocated his family to a farm near Boaz, where he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer. He suffered a stroke in June 1946 and again on January 9, 1958, shortly before his death.
  5. John Lemuel Thompson (2.27.1827-9.3.1890) – John Thompson married Sarah Mitchell in the mid-1840s. Their union produced eight children. While John’s primary vocation was farming, he also served as a Methodist pastor. It is likely that he was the preacher at Pine Grove Church. John died in 1890 and was buried in Byrd Cemetery.
     1. William “Bill” Marion Thompson (4.12.1851-7.6.1922) – Bill Thompson was the second of eight children (and the oldest son) born to John and Sarah Thompson. Reared around Balm and Walnut Grove, he married Henretta Wheeler on November 6, 1873, in Marshall County.^[69] The couple soon expanded their family to a total of seven children. After marriage, the young family moved to Snead.^[70] Henretta died on May 15, 1908, and was buried in Union Grove Cemetery #2 at Snead.^[71] Following his wife’s death, Bill relocated to Altoona, where he appears on the 1910 census.^[72] The census lists him as a fifty-nine-year-old farmer who rented his home and had three daughters residing with him. By 1919, Thompson had moved to Lot 1, Block 4 of Rickles 2nd Addition, which today corresponds to 2654 West Highland Street. The following year, he was enumerated on the 1920 census, where his occupation is listed as a salesman in a grocery store.^[73] Examination of business records from the time suggests that he likely worked at the store of his son, J. F. Thompson. Bill Thompson died on July 9, 1922, and was buried next to his wife in Union Grove Cemetery #2.^[74]
        1. Joseph Freeman Thompson (12.22.1874-6.16.1974) – The oldest son of W. M. and Henretta Thompson, Freeman Thompson spent his formative years on the family farm near Snead. Educated in the county schools, he also attended Walnut Grove College for three years. In 1903, he came to Altoona, where he worked in the mercantile and grocery business with his uncle, Wilson Cobb Thompson. The following year, he bought out his uncle’s interest and continued to operate the business until 1945. On January 20, 1904, he married Nora Lynn Gamble in Marshall County. The couple had four children—three sons and one daughter—including Bernard M. Thompson (1910–2000), who served as Altoona town clerk from 1937 to 1947. Freeman Thompson was a charter member of Altoona First Baptist Church and served as a trustee for Altoona High School from 1919 to 1949, five of those years as chairman of the board. He also served as councilman for the Town of Altoona in 1909, from 1912 to 1913, and in 1933, and as president of the Altoona Housing Authority. Thompson was among those who organized the First State Bank in 1909 and served as a director for over forty years. In 1970, he was recognized as Altoona’s oldest living citizen. He died on June 16, 1974, and was interred in Altoona–Walnut Grove Cemetery.^[75]
     2. Louis “Pink”ney Thompson (12.28.1852-3.6.1930) – The third child and second oldest son born to W. M. and Sarah Thompson, he spent his formative years on the family farm. On December 2, 1872, he married Emilie Lucille Wheeler, the older sister of W. M. Thompson’s wife, Henretta Wheeler. ^[76] The couple had a total of seven children (five boys and two girls). In 1905, Pink and his family moved to Altoona, where they lived in a house at the top of the hill near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and College Street (2860 College Street). Pink Thompson later owned a hotel and livery in downtown Altoona and served one term as a town council member beginning in 1914. He continued to live in Altoona until his death in 1930, after which he was interred at Altoona–Walnut Grove Cemetery.^[77]
        1. John Thompson (12.13.1888-6.10.1970) – John was the fifth of seven children (and the oldest son) born to Pink and Emilie Thompson.^[78] When John was seventeen, the family relocated to Altoona. In 1910, he was enumerated in his father’s household, with his occupation listed as a teamster in a livery stable, which suggests that he worked at his father’s livery.^[79] On April 7, 1917, John married Myrtle Rankin.^[80] Their marriage record reveals that, at the time, John was employed as a banker at the First State Bank, a position he would hold for six years. The following year, the couple welcomed a daughter, Emma, followed by a son, John, in 1935. On August 29, 1923, John was appointed acting postmaster for Altoona.^[81] Their marriage record reveals that, at the time, John was employed as a banker at the First State Bank, a position he would hold for six years. The following year, the couple welcomed a daughter, Emma, followed by a son, John, in 1935.^[82] Myrtle survived him by seven years, passing away on June 20, 1977.
     3. Wilson Cobb Thompson (9.24.1855-1.10.1952) – Cobb Thompson was the fourth of eight children born to Lemuel and Sarah Thompson. On January 18, 1877, Cobb married Annie J. Smith in Marshall County.^[83] Following their marriage, the couple continued to reside in Marshall County. In 1882, they welcomed a son, Montgomery Thompson. Annie died on December 2, 1897, and was buried in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery in Boaz. The following year, on March 3, 1898, Cobb remarried Margaret Elizabeth Whitley.^[84] Following their marriage, the couple continued to reside in Marshall County. In 1882, they welcomed a son, Montgomery Thompson. Annie died on December 2, 1897, and was buried in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery in Boaz. The following year, on March 3, 1898, Cobb remarried Margaret Elizabeth Whitley.^[85] In 1903, his nephew, J. Freeman Thompson, joined him in the business, and the following year Cobb sold the store to Freeman. In addition to his business interests, he was a charter member of the First Baptist Church and one of five inaugural councilmen when Altoona was incorporated in 1908. In In 1910, Cobb and his family moved to Alachua County, Florida, where he continued to own and operate a general store. Cobb died near Gainesville, Florida, on January 10, 1952.
     4. John Henry “Brock” Thompson (4.10.1864-7.27.1934) – John Henry “Brock” Thompson, the seventh of eight children (and youngest son) of Lemuel and Sarah Thompson, was born in Blount County on April 10, 1864. On November 29, 1883, Brock married Martha Sirilla “Mattie” Cleveland.^[86] Mattie was the daughter of Henry Columbus and Betty Scott Cleveland. Like the Thompsons, the Scotts, and the Clevelands, she was a resident of Balm. Mattie’s brother, Wilford J. Cleveland, later became a business owner and police chief in Altoona.^[87] Brock and Mattie soon began their own family, eventually welcoming ten children. In 1888, Brock owned a general store in Balm.^[88] Due to the limited surviving records, it is unknown when he established the business, and it does not appear in documentation after 1888. By the 1900 census, Brock and his family had relocated to Brooksville.^[89] Between 1908 and 1910, the family moved to Altoona, where Brock was enumerated on the 1910 census as a salesman in a grocery store.^[90] Sometime after 1910, Mattie inherited her parents’ forty-acre farm approximately one mile outside of town. The family relocated once again and remained on the farm until Brock’s death on July 27, 1934. He was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery.^[91] Mattie survived him by more than a decade, dying on April 23, 1949.
        1. Lewis Melves Thompson (12.2.1885-12.21.1964) – L. M. Thompson was the oldest child born to Brock and Mattie Thompson. Although he was raised and resided in Brooksville, he began reporting on Altoona for the Southern Democrat as early as 1907.^[92] On April 4, 1909, Thompson married Matilda A. Murphree.^[93] Their marriage produced four children. The following year, the Thompson family was enumerated on the census in Altoona, where Lewis was listed as the owner of a grocery store.^[94] Advertisements reveal that the store operated as a joint partnership between Thompson and his father-in-law, James C. Murphree.^[95] In 1910, Thompson was elected town councilman. On July 30, 1911, Mayor R.W. Saye resigned, elevating Thompson, who was serving as mayor pro tempore, to the office of mayor.^[96] During Thompson’s administration, the school term was expanded to nine months, and plans for a municipal waterworks system and street lighting were initiated. After his term concluded, the Thompson and Murphree store closed, and he returned to Brooksville. On October 29, 1919, Matilda died suddenly while in a cotton field.^[97] She was buried at Mount Olive Cemetery. Following her death, Lewis relocated his family to his parents’ farm outside Altoona.^[98] On September 20, 1920, he remarried to Louisiana “Lou” Morton.^[99] The couple had two additional children, daughters Edna and Bettye. In 1921, Thompson was elected vice president of the Altoona Farmers’ Union.^[100] He later worked for the McIlquham Hardware Company, managed B. H. Ellison Hardware, and eventually secured a position as secretary of the Altoona Farmers’ Cooperative.^[101] During the 1920s, Thompson left his parents’ farm and purchased a home on Highland Street in Altoona.^[102] Sometime after 1950, Lewis and Lou relocated to Rockmart, Georgia, where they remained until his death on December 21, 1964.^[103] He was buried at Mount Olive cemetery.^[104] Lou survived him and died on April 21, 1972. She was buried beside her husband.
  6. James Thompson (1829-Unknown) – James appears in the 1850 household of James and Sarah Thompson. He is again enumerated with his parents in both the 1860 and 1870 censuses. The 1870 census lists James as unable to write.^[105] He may have died or relocated between 1870 and 1890. Some online family trees identify him as James Peyton Thompson, who was reportedly born in Tennessee and died in Izard, Arkansas. However, further research demonstrates that this individual was not the same James from Blount County.^[106] Other family trees identify James Bascomb Thompson (1833–1912) as the son of James and Sarah Thompson. Nevertheless, available evidence indicates that James Bascomb Thompson did not arrive in Blount County until sometime between 1870 and 1880, having migrated from Georgia.^[107]
  7. Sarah Ann Thompson (1829/1832-<1870) – An eighteen-year-old Sarah Ann appeared in the 1850 census in the household of James Thompson.^[108] She remained unmarried at the time of the 1860 census and continued to reside in her parents’ home. In that enumeration, her age is recorded as thirty-one. She married James E. Thompson (relation unknown) on March 21, 1868, in Blount County.^[109] The couple appeared in the 1870 Census living near her parents.^[110] Sarah Ann does not appear in any subsequent census records and may have died or relocated from the area.
  8. Winnie Thompson (4.11.1832-1.13.1925) – She first appears in the 1850 census in the household of her father. On January 19, 1870, she married Richard P. Smith. The following year, the couple welcomed their only child, Lora. Richard died sometime between 1871 and 1876. After his death, Winnie remarried Andrew “Drury” Bynum on November 16, 1876. Drury owned property in the area that later became part of the Altoona mines, approximately one mile west of Altoona. This location came to be known as Drury Bynum Gap. On March 5, 1891, Bynum died. His estate was subsequently contested by Winnie, who believed she was entitled to a greater share. Although she had been a long-time member of Pine Grove Church, upon her death in 1925 she was buried instead at Lebanon Methodist Cemetery beside her sister Amelia.^[111]
  9. Elijah Thompson (1839– Unknown) – Elijah appears by name in the 1850 census (as “Elizah”) in the household of his father. He is listed as thirteen years of age, indicating a birth year of approximately 1837. A decade later, he appears in the 1860 census, where he is recorded as twenty-two years old and still residing in his father’s household. On February 6, 1862, Elijah enlisted in Confederate service at Murphree’s Crossroads.^[112] At the time of his enlistment, he was twenty-two years old. He was subsequently mustered into Captain Tidmore’s Company C of the 28th Alabama Infantry. In October 1862, the regimental return listed Thompson as “absent without leave.” However, he had rejoined the company by November 29, 1862, and was later referenced in connection with a court-martial dated January 24, 1863. He was captured at Winchester, Tennessee, on July 2, 1863, and subsequently transferred through several prisons, including facilities in Nashville, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Camp Chase, Ohio; and Camp Douglas, Illinois. He died of smallpox at Camp Douglas on December 8, 1864, and was buried near the camp.
  10. Jane Jincy Thompson (2.22.1839-~1918)^[113] – She married Thomas Wylie White in 1868.^[114] The couple relocated to Texas sometime between 1870 and 1900.

1. “Tammy Padgett Family Tree,” by ancestry user Tammy Padgett. Profile for James Thompson (1743-1794), https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/90360787/person/81016025894/facts ↑
2. Orange County North Carolina, Will Book C, Page 21. ↑
3. Samuel Thompson (1735-1800), FamilySearch Person: G6H1-VNK, https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/about/G6H1-VNK. WikiTree for Samuel Thompson (1820-1804), Thompson 20472, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Thompson-20472 . ↑
4. “North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8G-MHVC : 1 January 2021), Samuel, 1812; citing Orange County, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 2,069,328. ↑
5. Joshua Thompson (1773-1837) geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Joshua-Thompson/6000000090962105159. ↑
6. Bryson, Robert R., The Morton Families of Early Alabama starting with Marshell (Marshall) Morton, Sr., P.2. ↑
7. “Dewberry Family Tree,” by ancestry user CorinneBuzard. Profile for Joshua Thompson 1774-1837). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/80260782/person/182418360544/facts. ↑
8. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43025588/joshua-thompson: accessed December 11, 2025), memorial page for Joshua Thompson (1774–28 Jul 1837), Find a Grave Memorial ID 43025588. ↑
9. “Chita Conn family Tree,” by ancestry user Chita Conn. Samuel David Smith, Ancestry.com, Profile for Samuel David Smith (1803-1871). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/55853166/person/42073713191/facts. ↑
10. “Lane&Shilling family tree.” by ancestry user MeredithLaneBrown. John G THOMPSON, Ancestry.com, Profile for JOHN G THOMPSON (1805-aft. 1880). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/55853166/person/42073713191/facts. ↑
11. “Tyree/Rainey family tree.” by ancestry user weeks54. Jonathan M Gregory, Ancestry.com, Profile for Jonathan M Gregory (1804-1837). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/178371787/person/112332527513/facts. ↑
12. 1830 United States Federal Census, Blount County Alabama, subdivision not stated, Page 16. ↑
13. Winnie and Samuel Smith may have made the trip to Blount County at the same time. ↑
14. ”Karen’s family tree.” by ancestry user KarenPowell69. Jane Pridmore Thompson, Ancestry.com, Profile for Jane Pridmore Thopson (1807-1864). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/14248157/person/81819405/facts. ↑
15. “Lane&Shilling family tree.” by ancestry user MeredithLaneBrown. Elijah Thompson, Ancestry.com, Profile for Elijah Thompson (1813-1880). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/4864320/person/182102023772/facts. ↑
16. “Steele family tree.” by ancestry user gksteele1. Charlotte Thompson, Ancestry.com, Profile for Charlotte Thompson (1813-1875). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/6171704/person/342352977623/facts. ↑
17. “Davis Tree family tree.” By ancestry user Eric Davis. Mary Henderson Thompson, Profile for Mary Henderson Thompson (1815-Unknown). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/151446503/person/412215876927/facts. ↑
18. “Jackson-Walker-Spyers-Thompson-Perry Family Tree.” by ancestry user patperry1966. Mary Thompson, Profile for Mary Thompson (1815-1875). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/179331721/person/232338492079/facts. ↑
19. “Dauber-Betti family tree.” by ancestry user Linda Betti. Hiram Nation, Ancestry.com, Profile for Hiram Nation (1815-1861). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/10421551/person/172591256938/facts. ↑
20. “Scott Family Tree.” By ancestry user Jean Lowe Scott. Ethalinda Thompson, Ancestry.com, Profile for Ethalinda Thompson (1821-1891). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/113758046/person/402661337360/facts. ↑
21. Hill, Robert R. Sr., Genealogical Information on the Roden family as provided by Mrs. Jeanette B. Christopher. https://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Members_Only/Families/Roden/Documents/RODEN.pdf. ↑
22. Young, Pauline, “Pickens County, South Carolina Wills and Misc. Records, Volume 2,” Page 295-296. ↑
23. Pickens County, South Carolina estate file for Joshua Thompson, Box 1, No. 1, 1829. ↑
24. “Della Viola Whittington Family Tree,” by ancestry user Della Viola Whittington-Conner. Profile for Jones Evitt (1796-1897). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/177493965/person/352314313964/facts. ↑
25. Some online family trees place her death as 1854 in DeKalb County, Alabama. However, there is no sources attached to the trees to prove the claim. ↑
26. “Davis Tree family tree.” By ancestry user Eric Davis. James Terrell Thompson, Profile for James Terrell Thompson (1800-1884). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/151446503/person/412092704612/facts. ↑
27. Prior to 1900, a marriage license in South Carolina was not required or recorded. Thompson’s marriage date comes from the following document: “Waid, J.P., “Some Historical Notes About the Waid Family Centering Around James C. Waid 1847-1920. ↑
28. Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Pendleton, South Carolina; Page: 201; NARA Roll: M33_120; Image: 266. ↑
29. Jacob Gearin to James Thompson, Pickens County South Carolina Deed Book A, Page 355. ↑
30. James and Mary Evitt to James Thompson, Pickens County South Carolina Deed Book A, Page 357. ↑
31. James Thompson to Sheriff Hayes, Pickens County South Carolina Deed Book B, Page 355. ↑
32. Note dated December 15, 1838, O.D. Street Collection, Alabama Department of Archives and History. ↑
33. Note dated June 30, 1843, O.D. Street Collection, Alabama Department of Archives and History. ↑
34. 1847.12.25 – James Thompson from Deli Gather, Marshall County Deed Book C, Page 396. ↑
35. Thompson’s daughter Matilda would later marry Richard Gaither. ↑
36. 1853.1.12 – James Thompson from Abraham and Celia Wade, Blount County Deed Book H, Page 221. ↑
37. 1853.7.9 – James Thompson from Greenberry and Arminda Waid, Blount County Deed Book H, Page 220. ↑
38. 1853.8.27 – James Thompson to Silas Crump, Etowah County Deed Book G-G-G-G-, Page 8. ↑
39. 1854.12.5 – John R. Ellison from James Thompson, Blount County Deed Book H, Page 451, 1855.9.18 – James Thompson from Andrew J. and Mary Hale his wife, Blount County Deed Book H, Page 517, 1858.3.5 – James G. Thompson from William Byrd, Blount County Deed Book I, Page 578, 1860.2.4 – James Thompson from Blount County Commissioners Court, Blount County Deed Book K, Page 312, 1860.4.25 – James Thompson from Edmond Youngblood, Blount County Deed Book K, Page 38. ↑
40. The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Eastern Subdivision, Blount, Alabama; Roll: M653_2; Page: 1065. ↑
41. Year: 1870; Census Place: East Half, Blount, Alabama; Roll: M593_3; Page: 323A, ↑
42. Alabama State Department of Archives & History; Montgomery, Alabama; U.S. Census Mortality Schedules, Alabama, 1850-1880; Archive Roll Number: 5; Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Township 10 and 11, Blount, Alabama; Page: 1. ↑
43. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46994220/sarah-thompson: accessed February 15, 2026), memorial page for Sarah Croxton Thompson (19 Feb 1799–13 Dec 1886), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46994220. ↑
44. Year: 1880; Census Place: Beat 8, Blount, Alabama; Roll: 2; Page: 382b; Enumeration District: 003. ↑
45. 1887.11.24, “Death,” Blount County News-Dispatch, P3. ↑
46. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46994222/james_terrell-thompson: accessed February 15, 2026), memorial page for James Terrell Thompson (24 Oct 1800–3 Sep 1890), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46994222. ↑
47. Blount County Probate Minute Book I, Page 161. ↑
48. This List comes from a record “Waid, J.P., “Some Historical Notes About the Waid Family Centering Around James C. Waid 1847-1920. The original document which was from a Marvin Laney was said to have been complied by George Gaither, who was the grandson of James Thompson. As this is the earliest verifiable family tree attributed to the James Thompson family, it is the one that I have used. ↑
49. 1850 Federal Census, Marshall County, Alabama, District 22, Household Number 239. ↑
50. Blount County Marriage Book D, Page 479. ↑
51. “Wolff, Burdick, Rich, Nolen family tree.” By Ancestry user Bquimod. Jackson Terrell Thompson, profile for Jackson Terrell Thompson (1818-1883). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/41369948/person/19663870261/facts. ↑
52. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46994210/jackson_t-thompson: accessed February 2, 2026), memorial page for Jackson T. Thompson (23 Aug 1819–9 Dec 1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46994210. ↑
53. “Pine Grove United Methodist Church History,” Skillman, Rev. Danny J., 3.6.2006. ↑
54. 1878.5.29 – Church Trustees (Asa Bynum, Wiley Bynum, John Young, Henry Freeman, and J.T. Thompson) from J.T. and M.E. Thompson. Blount County Deed Book X, Page 373. ↑
55. 1878.4.28 – Trustees (of school) Township 11 from J.T. and Martha Thompson. Blount County Deed Book V, Page 37. ↑
56. National Archives. Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-September 30, 1971. Record Group 28, M841, Roll 1. ↑
57. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46994210/jackson_t-thompson: accessed February 2, 2026), memorial page for Jackson T. Thompson (23 Aug 1819–9 Dec 1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46994210. ↑
58. Cole, Ryan M. “G.F. Gaither in Alabama,” unpublished. ↑
59. Marshall County Marriage Record 1836-1846, Page 272. ↑
60. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85056784/alvin_d-thompson: accessed January 6, 2026), memorial page for Alvin D. Thompson (22 Apr 1848–28 Oct 1909), Find a Grave Memorial ID 85056784. ↑
61. Any relation between the Temperance Gregory family and the Jane Thompson Gregory (Sister of James Thompson) are unknown. ↑
62. “Waid, J.P., “Some Historical Notes About the Waid Family Centering Around James C. Waid 1847-1920. As this is the earliest verifiable family tree attributed to the James Thompson family, it is the one that I have used. ↑
63. “Hastings Family Tree.” By ancestry user Kathy Kopycinski. Profile for North Daniel Webster (1825-1888). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/671/person/352622479137/facts. ↑
64. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51097360/nettie_omelia-whitley: accessed January 2, 2026), memorial page for Nettie Omelia “Millie” Thompson Whitley (18 Jun 1824–5 Oct 1906), Find a Grave Memorial ID 51097360. ↑
65. James Carter was the 7^th of 12 children born to James Calloway Waid. ↑
66. The Harris family were neighbors to the Waid’s and Thompson’s. While Georgia’s father, William Abraham did not play a role in the creation of Altoona, some of his children married into families that were influential on the early development of the town. ↑
67. Luther was the 11^th of 12 children born to James Calloway Waid. ↑
68. The Bynum’s were neighbors to the Waid’s and Thompson’s and were a family whose roots in Blount County stretch back to the founding of the county itself. ↑
69. Marshall County Marriage Record, 1869-1876, Page 210. ↑
70. Year: 1880; Census Place: Beat 8, Blount, Alabama; Roll: 2; Page: 377c; Enumeration District: 003. ↑
71. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103827430/henrietta_e-thompson: accessed January 25, 2026), memorial page for Mrs Henrietta E Thompson (11 Aug 1857–15 May 1908), Find a Grave Memorial ID 103827430. ↑
72. Year: 1910; Census Place: Altoona, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: T624_13; Page: 2b; Enumeration District: 0079; FHL microfilm: 1374026. ↑
73. Year: 1920; Census Place: Altoona, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: T625_15; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 118. ↑
74. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103827373/william_m-thompson: accessed January 25, 2026), memorial page for William M Thompson (12 Apr 1851–6 Jul 1922), Find a Grave Memorial ID 103827373, citing Union Grove Cemetery #2, Snead, Blount County, Alabama. ↑
75. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116495448/j_freeman-thompson: accessed January 25, 2026), memorial page for J. Freeman Thompson (22 Dec 1874–16 Jun 1974), Find a Grave Memorial ID 116495448. ↑
76. Marshall County Marriage Record, 1869-1876, Page 170. ↑
77. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85056790/louis_pinkney-thompson: accessed January 26, 2026), memorial page for Louis Pinkney “Pink” Thompson (28 Dec 1852–6 Mar 1930), Find a Grave Memorial ID 85056790. ↑
78. Most of the information on John Thompson came from an email between the author and Libby Murphree Hendricks on February 25, 1913, email unpublished and in the possession of the author. ↑
79. Year: 1910; Census Place: Altoona, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: T624_13; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0079; FHL microfilm: 1374026. ↑
80. Etowah County Marriage Book V, Page 236. ↑
81. https://about.usps.com/who/profile/history/postmaster-finder/postmasters-by-city.htm. ↑
82. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116495519/john-thompson: accessed January 29, 2026), memorial page for John Thompson (13 Dec 1888–10 Jun 1970), Find a Grave Memorial ID 116495519. ↑
83. Marshall County Marriage Record Book 6, Page 8. ↑
84. Blount County Marriage Record Book E, Page 527. ↑
85. Dun and Bradstreet Reference Book January 1902 Vol. 135, part 1. ↑
86. Blount County Marriage Record C, Page 88. ↑
87. Cole, Ryan M. 2013. Tales from Altoona’s Cemeteries: Volume I: 1863-1943. Altoona, AL: Murphrees’ Hill Publishing, P. 17. ↑
88. Smith, Ross A., and R.L. Polk & Co. 1888. “The Alabama State Gazetteer and Business Directory …” ↑
89. Year: 1900; Census Place: Brooksville, Blount, Alabama; Roll: T623_3; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 5. ↑
90. Year: 1910; Census Place: Altoona, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: T624_13; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 79; Image: 1236. ↑
91. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46994241/j_h-thompson: accessed January 31, 2026), memorial page for J. H. Thompson (10 Apr 1864–27 Jul 1934), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46994241. ↑
92. 1907.4.11, “Altoona,” Southern Democrat, P1. ↑
93. 1909.4.8, “Thompson-Murphree,” Southern Democrat, P1. ↑
94. Year: 1910; Census Place: Altoona, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: T624_13; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0079; FHL microfilm: 1374026. ↑
95. 1010.4.28, “Watch this space” advertisement, Southern Democrat, P1. ↑
96. Minutes of Altoona Council Meeting, July 30 ,1911, Altoona Council Minute Book 1910-1924, P.29. ↑
97. 1919.11.13, ‘Mrs. Lewis M. Thompson Dead,” Southern Democrat, P1. ↑
98. Year: 1920; Census Place: Thompsons, Blount, Alabama; Roll: T625_3; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 19 ↑
99. Blount County Marriage Book 1906-1923, P.434. ↑
100. 1921.9.1, “Lewis M. Thompson becomes vice-pres farmers union,” Southern Democrat, P4. ↑
101. 1925.12.24, “Personal Items,” Southern Democrat, P1. 1929.9.12, “B.H. Ellison Hardware Advertisement,” Southern Democrat P10. 1943.2.4, “Altoona Farmers Coop Advertisement,” Southern Democrat, P5. ↑
102. Year: 1930; Census Place: Altoona, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: 16; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0054; Image: 1104.0; FHL microfilm: 2339751 ↑
103. Georgia Health Department, Office of Vital Records; Georgia, USA; Indexes of Vital Records for Georgia: Deaths, 1919-1998; Certificate Number: 036699. ↑
104. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167746742/lewis_m-thompson: accessed January 31, 2026), memorial page for Lewis M. Thompson (2 Dec 1885–21 Dec 1964), Find a Grave Memorial ID 167746742. ↑
105. Year: 1870; Census Place: East Half, Blount, Alabama; Roll: M593_3; Page: 323A. ↑
106. “Roberts family tree.” By ancestry user Tiffany Roberts. James Peyton Thompson, Profile for James Peyton Thompson (1827-1865). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15113705/person/1977399881/facts. ↑
107. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57513794/james_bascom-thompson: accessed December 22, 2025), memorial page for James Bascom Thompson (13 Feb 1833–21 Jan 1912), Find a Grave Memorial ID 57513794. ↑
108. The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: District 22, Marshall, Alabama; Roll: 10; Page: 196a. ↑
109. “Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ9-YZ3Z : Tue Mar 05 04:32:06 UTC 2024), Entry for James E. Thompson and Sarah A. Thompson, 21 Mar 1868. ↑
110. Year: 1870; Census Place: East Half, Blount, Alabama; Roll: M593_3; Page: 322B. ↑
111. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51118523/winnie-bynum: accessed January 12, 2026), memorial page for Winnie Thompson Bynum (14 Apr 1832–13 Jan 1925), Find a Grave Memorial ID 51118523. ↑
112. Sterling, Robin. Blount County, Alabama Confederate Soldiers, Volume 3: Miscellaneous. United Kingdom: Lulu.com, 2013; Page 272. ↑
113. “Cline family tree.” By ancestry user pamelagcline. Jane Jincy Thompson, Profile for Jane Jincy Thompson (1839-1918). https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15113705/person/1977399881/facts. ↑
114. “Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957”, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ8S-XJ3 : 13 February 2020), Jincy Thompson in entry for Thomas W. White, 1868. ↑