Joseph McNeil Thompson FTM Report

JVT interviews :  Joseph, came to Kansas and died at a son's in Texas.                                                                                       Interview with Robert Finney Thompson and Maria Hissong  "  Joseph Thompson (father of Joseph McNeil)  moved from  Lexington KY to Adams Co Ohio. He was a strong abolitionist and his house and that of his son Joseph, her husband, was in active use and occupancy as stations on the 'Underground Railroad' during the pre war period.

Jacob and Matilda Hissong lived at 47/47      (parents)                                                                                                                            Henry and Mary E. Hissong lived at 52/52     (brother of Maria & his wife Mary E (Wilson)

(JVT interviewed Robert Finney Thompson and Maria Elizabeth Hissong 11/9/1922 in Belton, MO) Robert's mother, Mariah Elizabeth Hissong. A find patriarchal motherly woman in a black bonnet rather fleshy, but quick and active for one in her 83rd year. One to whom your heart warms instantly by reason of her cheerful smile, strong features and her innate spirit of helpfulness.

Obituary:  Mrs. Maria Thompson passed away June 14, 1934, at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Robert Thompson, with whom she has made her home for many years. Mrs. Thompson has been in poor health for the past few years and continued to her bed most of the time.  The funeral service was at the E. K. George and Sons Funeral Home Saturday morning under the direction of Rev. Tom Parrish, with burial in the Belton Cemetery.  Maria Elizabeth Thompson was born in Harrisonburg, Va., September 15, 1840, and died June 14, 1934 at the age of 93 years, 9 months and 14 days. She was the daughter of Jacob Hissong. She moved to Belton from Virginia nineteen years ago. Mrs. Thompson was a covenanter until she was eighty years old and then became a member of the Christian Church in Belton under the Rev. Roman Smith .She is survived by one sister, Caroline Halloday, eighty years old, of Sedalia, and one son, Cal Thompson of Kansas City. Also seventeen grandchildren and thirty-two great-grandchildren. Extracted by Ann Roark July 2001 Cass Co Democrat July 5, 1934 Page 8

Notes for CALVIN TODD THOMPSON:  Calvin and Minnie had their picture taken in Dublin, TX, probably soon after they were married, Feb. 1895, in Johnson Cty, KS. They had Harry in TX, rest of children born in MO. The worked in the beet fields near Holly, CO, for a time.                                                        Burial: 1937, Belton Cemetery, Headstone picture 1861-1937   Minie   Burial: 1948, Belton Cemetery, Headstone picture 1874-1948                                    Marriage Notes for CALVIN THOMPSON and MINNIE HENDRIX:                                                                                                                           Marriage Records Johnson County, KS 1857-1905 Vol F Page 220   20 Feb 1895 Calvin S Thompson, age 32, of Jo Co, KS. married Minnie L Hendrix, age 20, of Jo Co, KS     Marriage Certificate signed by Andrew V Stout, Minister of the Gospel (MG)    Lenexa, Johnson Co, KS

ii. DAVID STEEL THOMPSON, b. September 17, 1864, Coulterville, Randolph Co, IL; m. LILLIE MAE MCKEE, February 22, 1888; b. February 23, 1867, Olathe, Johnson Co, KS; d. February 13, 1955, Muskogee, Muskogee, OK..                                                                                                                   Notes for DAVID: Olathe Mirror, Olathe, Kansas Thursday, June 9, 1904   Marshal Thompson arrested two strangers whose actions were to say the least suspicious, Tuesday morning. One of the fellows was found lying back of Bellar's restaurant apparently hiding but he claimed that he had been on a drunk in Kansas City and was thrown off a train at this place and only seeking a place to sleep. There are those who suspect the fellow and his companion who was arrested near the Purity Confectionary, contemplating going into Ekengren's Jewelry store. They claimed to the officers that they lived in Kansas City and were trying to get to Ft. Scott.   Notes for LILLIE MAE MCKEE:     - Lillie was born Feb. 23, 1867 in Illinois (per funeral record) Olathe, KS per mother's obit.                                                  1910 Census Olathe Township, Johnson County, KS  -  206   -  Alexander, James A 74 OH GE IR Carpenter;  Sarah A 68 IL TN IL;  Thompson, Lillie 44 wd OH OH IL Nurse priv fam;  John 18 KS OH OH RR fireman; Olive 18 KS OH OH Kdg teacher;  Lawrence 14 KS OH OH;  Gilbert 10 KS OH OH; Elmer 9 KS OH OH  Burial: Fairview Cemetery      Marriage: February 22, 1888

iii. ROBERT FINNEY THOMPSON, b. February 28, 1866, Coulterville, Randolph Co, IL; d. March 11, 1933, Belton, Cass Co, MO. 67 yrs.; m. JOSEPHINE ETIENNE, January 10, 1894, St Louis, MO Grand Ave. UP Church, Paster J W Ashwood; b. August 01, 1870, Coulterville, Randolph Co, IL; d. April 14, 1956, Belton, Cass Co, MO - home of daughter Tillie Quick.                                                                                                                                           

(JVT interviewed Robert Finney Thompson and Maria E Hissong) residence of Robet Finney Thompson back of the RR Station Belton, Missouri Nov 9, 1922 5PM    Arriving here, I met Robert's wife and daughter who were coming from the house adjoining and they took me inside and called Robert's mother.                          Robert Finney Thompson   born Feby 28, 1866 at Coultersville, IL and married Jany 10, 1894 at ST Louis, MO to Josephine Etienne, daughter of Basptiste Etienne and his wife Josephine Gobel who was born in Coultersville IL Aug 1, 1870. Their children: they have 8, the first two born in St. Louis, Mo and the other six in and near Coulterville, Ills. 1. John Edmond Thompson, born Mch 14, 1895;  2. Annie Alice Thompson, born Feby 26, 1897;   3. Robert Dobbs Thompson, born Feby 28, 1899;  4. Maria Josephine Thompson,born July 19, 1901;  5. Jacob Lester Thompson, born Jany 11, 1904  6. Caroline Mabel Thompson, born Dec 10, 1905     7. Tillie May Thompson, born Oct 26, 1908;  8. Mary Edmee Thompson, born Feby 24, 1911.  The last three were present and gave their own ages. Their father gave the others from memory. Maria is the only one married.                                                                                                                                               Robert said his father (Joseph) was a rank Abolitionist. He himself is a Democrat and a carpenter. He showed me pictures of several barns he had built out in Marion Co. and Western Kansas, also a picture of his father, showing a good face covered with whiskers. Would like to have a good photograph of his mother with her bonnet on just as I saw her.

Note:  Robert was named for an evangelist, James R. Finney, who died in 1873 and is buried in Coulterville.                                                                         Obit -  Robert Finney Thompson, son of Joseph and Maria Thompson, was born in Coulterville, Ills., Feb. 28, 1866. He passed away at his home in Belton, MO, Mar. 11, 1933 at the age of 67 years and 11 days.   He was married to Josephina Etienne, of Coulterville, Ill., on Jan. 10, 1894. To this union was born eight children, all of whom are living to mourn the loss of their father, as follows: John E. Thompson, Tulsa, OK, Annie Alice (Mrs. M. S. Vest), Robert D. Thompson, of Kansas City, Maria Josephene (Mrs. Howard Perkins), Jacob L. Thompson, Caroline Mabel (Mrs. Carol Cornelius), Tillie May (Mrs. Leo Quick) and Mary Edna Thompson.The grandchildren also are numbered among the families. Mr. Thompson had two brothers, David Thompson and Calvin Thompson; the latter named survives him and lives in Kansas City, MO. The venerable mother of the deceased Mrs. Maria E. Thompson survives him at the ripe age of ninety-one years and more.The deceased had been a resident of Belton since the year 1916, and was known by a vast number of his friends and fellow citizens. Years ago he became a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and passed away in that communion.  Funeral services were held at the George Chapel Monday morning, conducted by Rev. W. E. Gwatkin, pastor of the Belton Baptist church, assisted by Rev. Prather, of Kansas City.   Out of town relatives attending the funeral were Mrs. Lily Thompson and Mr. And Mrs. Robert Walton, of Bonner Springs, Kan.; Mr. And Mrs. Calvin T. Thompson; son John Howard, and daughter Elizabeth, of Kansas City; Mr. And Mrs. Harry Thompson and family, Paola, Kans., and Mr. And Mrs. Ray Thompson of Raytown.

Note:  RFT didn't want his boys growing up and going into the coal mines in southern IL so he moved his family to Belton, Mo in 1915. Mary E was 4 that year, and they moved to house just on the edge of town which is still standing, minus its porch. The boys and their dad rode in the cattle car with the livestock, while the females rode chair car. They brought 2 dogs with them, Drover and Little Jack. In talking about the two dogs, both mom (Mary E) and Aunt Carrie always added, the tag line, 'that came with us from Illinois.' They were much loved animals.                                                                                                                            In Belton RFT ran a service station which Josie also managed along with him last illness and her mother-in-law. My mother (Mary E) remembered something written in the outhouse of the service station. It said 'A man's ambition must be mighty small to write his name on a s--t house wall.' Sometimes think that should be written on today's places still.

Burial: March 1933, Belton Cemetery, Headstone Robert & Josephine;    Obituary: March 15, 1933;  Occupation: Carpenter;  Political Party: Democrat;          Religion: Presbyterian  

Obituary Mrs. Josephine Thompson 8/1/1870 - 4/14/1956  -  Josephine Thompson, 85, died today in Belton at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Tillie Quick. She had been living there since January. Before moving to Belton, Mrs. Thompson had lived since 1949 with another daughter, Mrs. Caroline Cornelius, Newark, MO. Mrs. Thompson was a member of the Christian church at Pievna, MO. She was born in Coulterville, Ill. She leaves three other daughters, Mrs. Alice Vest and Mrs. Maria Perkins, Belton, and Mrs. Mary Hartung, 1306 East Sixty-second; three sons, R Dodds Thompson, 1328 East Forty-ninth, John E Thompson, Tulsa, Okla, and Jake L Thompson, Nevada, MO; two sisters, Mrs. Alice Beggs, St Louis, and Mrs. Matilda Shubert, Coulterville; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow at the George chapel in Belton. Burial will be in the Belton cemetery. ( written below clipping, BD 8/1/1870 DOD 4/14/1956 Belton, Cass county, MO)

JOSEPHINE ETIENNE:  Burial: April 1956, Belton Cemetery, Headstone Robert & Josephine;                                                                                     Marriage: January 10, 1894, St Louis, MO Grand Ave. UP Church, Paster J W Ashwood