Calling all Genea-Musings Fans:
It’s Saturday Night again —
time for some more Genealogy Fun!!
Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):
- Who Is Ancestor #50 in your Ahnentafel list? What were his birth date and place, his parents, death date and place, spouse’s name, marriage date and place, and how many children they had—and which of his children do you descend from?
Ancestor #50: William T. Thompson
Number 50 in my Ahnentafel is William T. Thompson.
- Born: 29 December 1820, Ohio
- Died: 12 September 1898, Wapello County, Iowa
- Buried: Ottumwa Cemetery, Ottumwa, Iowa
William T. Thompson was the son of John Thompson and Sarah Iglehart.
Marriage
William married Polly Ann Evans on 29 October 1842 in Warrick County, Indiana.
Polly Ann Evans was born 25 July 1821 in Indiana and died 14 April 1896 in Wapello County, Iowa.
Life and Migration
William’s life reflects a classic mid-19th century migration pattern:
- Born in Ohio (though later census records suggest Kentucky origins)
- Married and lived in Warrick County, Indiana in the 1840s
- Moved to Wapello County, Iowa by 1847
By 1850, he was established as a farmer in Iowa, owning real estate and raising a growing family. Over the years, he expanded his land holdings and farming operations, with census and agricultural records documenting:
- Increasing land ownership
- Livestock and crop production (including corn, wheat, and wool)
- A steadily growing household
By 1870 and 1880, William had become a relatively prosperous farmer, with significant real estate value and a well-developed farm.
Children
William T. Thompson and Polly Ann Evans had at least nine children:
- Sarah Jane Thompson
- John Evans Thompson
- William F. Thompson
- Martha E. Thompson
- Julia A. Thompson
- Amanda Ellen Thompson
- Arcena M. Thompson
- Polly Ann Thompson
- Clara Belle Thompson
My Line of Descent
I descend from their daughter:
➡️ Sarah Jane Thompson (born 7 August 1843, Indiana)
She married Noah Washington Briles on 9 August 1866 in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Final Thoughts
William T. Thompson’s life tells the story of westward movement, land ownership, and agricultural growth in the mid-1800s. From Indiana to Iowa, he built a life centered on farming and family—leaving behind a large number of descendants and a strong paper trail through land, census, and probate records.
His missing parentage is a reminder that even well-documented ancestors can still hold unanswered questions—making him a great candidate for future research!
If you play along, I’d love to hear about your Ahnentafel #50!