The William Henry Thompson Family

By Sadie Thompson Jones

William Henry Thompson was born on Christmas Eve, 1884, in Nacogdoches County, to Adline and Pat Thompson, who was part Cherokee Indian. Adline was the mother of 15 children before John and William Henry were added. She cooked and kept house for the Jeff Hyter family.

Living in a two-room house in the Hyter back yard, doing chores and working in the fields, William Henry reached 21, and, working "on halves," made a bale of cotton. He sold this for $10 and got married. Six years later, he moved to Jacksonville.

In 1905, he made a deal with Mr. "Bill" Trantham, and bringing with him his wife, three children and a horse, moved to a farm north of Jacksonville. He left with these words from Mr. Hyter: "Will, if you get hungry, wire me; if you get in trouble, write me."

His church affiliation was CME Methodist, where he sang in the choir and his wife played accordian. Both were active in the church organization. Mrs. Thompson had finished the eighth grade and was an accomplished seamstress.

They had open arms for all children, good, bad, whatever race, creed or color, and were parents of ten who found fun in growing up together. Their pastime was spent playing, riding horses, even cows and hogs, sometimes. Sunday school was attended and singing in the choir, helping neighbors and "old" people a rewarding routine for the Thompson clan.

All of the children finished high school, married, and two now are deceased. Mary Alice, at the time of her death, was a social worker in Berkeley, Calif. Arthur B. (Bill), father of four, operated the First National Bank elevator for a number of years. His two daughters became nurses and a son works for the post office.

Roy, father of four girls—all nurses—and two sons (one deceased), lives in Galveston; Linda L., a minister, is an LVN at Herrick Memorial Hospital, Berkeley, Calif.; Roberta, an interior decorator in Oakland, Calif., has a daughter who graduated from college as a librarian, spent four years in Japan, and is employed at a California Navy base; Gladys (Pat), of Los Angeles, is doing special duty nursing; Robert (Jack), an Army veteran, is a Mason, and lives in California. All are active in church work.

Residing in the Jacksonville area, actively engaged in the work of their churches, and promoting civic enterprises, such as the Fred Douglass swimming pool project, are Fay, whose son is deceased; Willie Velma, who attended Texas College in Tyler; and Sadie, who finished a nursing course of Los Angeles Chapter, Los Angeles. She has done special duty nursing in Jacksonville, is a notary public in Cherokee County, and is president of Mt. Haven Community Home Demonstration Club.

The William Henry Thompson family, contributors for 65 years to community efforts of Jacksonville, continue to help make this a better place at Centennial celebration time.

Will and Elsie Thompson, who moved to Jacksonville from Nacogdoches County, in 1905. This picture made in 1919.