Hiram C. Thompson was born in Ohio and came with his parents to this township in 1854. He was married in Wyoming in 1856 to Mary Tibbitt of German and Welsh ancestry. Three children were born to them, Georgia, Eben, and Ernest. In 1866 Mary died and 5 years later Hiram married Harriet E. Osborn, widow of Ashbel Osborn.

Mr. Thompson is one of the pioneers of this township, both himself and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.

(Taken from Chapman’s Kent County History, 1881)

"We are well. Father and Mother are well for them. A few years ago I lost three children with scarlet fever all in one week. And just two years ago I lost my wife, and that turned me outdoors so I had to leave my home. I went to Ohio. Was gone eight months and worked by days work. Came back and lived alone almost three years, then got married. I have had four wives, my first on died and left me with three children. I lived alone with these four years, then got married. In eight months she left me. I have never seen her since. Got married again and she lived with me nineteen years, then she died of consumption. After that I lived alone for three years.

Now I am married again, for the last time, I hope. We have a boy 4 years old. Now there have been two girls and five boys. Every dog has their day, and I have had mine in sorrow. I am a hard worker and pretty well broke down, but I’ve got a good home and all clear of debt or mortgage. I’ve had lots of trouble here and worked hard to drive it away.

Here I have no timber. For 12 years I have had to scrape around and get my firewood the best I can and give half, and I’m sick of that, so if I can do better, I will do it. But I hate to leave my old Father and Mother. And another thing I have almost died here of trouble, thinking of my misfortunes, till I’m pretty well used up. I’ll be 58 years old July 12^th. If I could see you, I could tell you all, but I hope we will all meet on the other shore.

P.S. Georgia, my oldest girl, lives in Cleveland, Ohio. She has got a boy baby, one year old. She was married 12 years before that was born. Write soon.

(Taken from a letter date March 27, 1892 on file at the Byron Center Historical Society)

Hiram was 70 when he died. His first wife, Mary (Tibbett) was 24. His second wife, widow Harriet (Osborn) was 43. They are buried in Boynton Cemetery along with two of his children, Homer, age 6 years and Abby, age 1 year.

Transcriber: Evelyn Sawyer
Created: 30 October 2002
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/townships/byron/pioneers/thompson.html