[p. 847] cement contractor at New Castle with his place of business at No. 263 East Long Street, is a substantial and representative citizen of this section. He was born in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1845, and is a son of the late David Thompson.
David Thompson was born in 1818 on the old family homestead in Pulaski Township, where his father had settled as a pioneer, and he died on the same farm, in 1891, aged seventy-three years. He followed farming through all his active life. He was a worthy, exemplary, esteemed citizen. In early life he was a Whig and later a stanch Republican. His father, George Thompson, was born in Scotland and secured his land from the Government as early as 1800.
J. L. Thompson remained on the home farm assisting in its cultivation and attending the country schools until he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company G, Seventy-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, attached to the Army of the Cumberland. He was honorably discharged in September, 1865. He came then to New Castle, where he learned the cabinet-making trade, working about one year at the same before he began contracting, following the latter line for five years, after which he made a specialty of cement contracting in which he has been interested for about ten years. He is a large owner of valuable real estate in New Castle and five of his houses bring in an excellent rental.
On October 7, 1868, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Josephine Reynolds, a daughter of John F. Reynolds, and they have six children, namely: Mary Olive, who is the wife of F. A. Crowe, who is engaged in a dairy business near Cambridge Springs; Howard J. T., who is engaged in a grocery business at New Castle; Charles R., who carries on a dray business in this city; Almeda, who is the wife of A. C. Patterson, who is chief of the police force at Brownsville, Pa.; and Florence E. and Margaret E., both of whom reside at home.
Mr. Thompson is active in local politics and has served for five years as a member of the City Council. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, Post 100, at New Castle.
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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