[p. 847] market gardener in Shenango Township, was born at New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1860, and is a son of James and Sarah (Bailes) Thompson.
James Thompson was born in Inniskillen, in the North of Ireland, and from boyhood had a strong desire to come to America, but never found his opportunity until he reached manhood. For a time he lived in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and then moved to New Castle, where he worked as a master teaser in the glass house, where he was engaged when the Civil War broke out. He then enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company K, One Hundredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and eight months. While his good fortune was in never being wounded, his health was impaired to such an extent that upon his return to the glass-house work he found he was no longer able to labor as formerly. For a number of years he was employed by the city of New Castle as street inspector and spent one year in connection with public work in Sharon. In 1886 he moved with his family to Shenango Township, where he followed farming. He married a daughter of Samuel Bailes, of Beaver County, and five of their children reached maturity, namely: John, deceased; James C., of Shenango Township; Alfred; Margaret, wife of Ellis E. Reno, of Slippery Rock Township, and Roxie, deceased. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Alfred H. Thompson attended the public schools of New Castle, after which, until 1888, he spent the larger part of his time in work in a paper mill. Then he came to Shenango Township and followed farming until 1902. He makes a specialty of growing celery, but raises all the leading vegetables, a large number being ready for the market in advance of the season. He has met with much success in his venture and has satisfactorily proved what can be produced on a small acreage when careful attention and intelligent methods are made use of.
Mr. Thompson married Mary Gibson, who is a daughter of James Gibson, of Slippery Rock Township, and they have four children, all at home: James, Roxie, Lillie and Virgie. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is affiliated with the Democratic party.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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