Thompson, Arkansas

Thompson, Arkansas is located in the Northwest corner of Arkansas.

Thompson was a small community that consisted of a store, a post office, a railroad stop, a tie yard, and a full community center.  It was located near a ford on the White River in Northwest Arkansas.  The White River was probably a creek at this location.  Supposedly the town got it's name from Lewis W. Thompson who built the store in 1884.  The town no longer existed after the second world war.

Today the location is referred to as Thompson Switch.

The Thompson Store (the second version)

Photo comes from Madison County Musings, Winter 1998

Sources:

• History of the Thompson Townsite, Madison County Musings, Winter 1998
• Boston Mountains Still Echo Sounds of Vanished Hamlets, Northwest Arkansas Times, 26 Oct. 1975.

Nevada, Missouri

Nevada is the county seat of Vernon County, on the main line of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway and on the Lexington Southern and the Nevada & Minden divisions of the Missouri Pacific Railway, 107 miles south of Kansas City and 280 miles west of St. Louis.  It lies in the heart of an exceedingly rich agricultural, stock and fruit region, and overlies extensive beds of bituminous coal. 

                                    

In this 1860 map, Nevada is called Nevada City. 

Vernon County is on the Kansas/Missouri boundary.

Go to http://www.nevamo.com/NevadaThen.htm for more information on the history of Nevada.

Source:

• The Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, Vol. IV, 1901



A home for the children and parents...

Nevada, Missouri, Thursday, February 18, 1897.

            The bodies of the Petersons, husband and wife still lie in Wainscott & Gammon’s morgue, being held till something can be heard from relative in McDonald County.  The husband died just one week ago today and the wife the next day, leaving three children the oldest but five years old.

                       

            Ladies of the Childrens Home Society, are looking into the matter of placing the little Peterson children, whose parents died the other day, into permanent homes.  There are three of these children, the oldest being five years and the youngest six weeks old.  They are said to sprightly children.  They have temporary homes with kind-hearted residents in the east part of the city.

Nevada, Missouri, Saturday, February 20, 1897

            The bodies of J. R. Peterson and wife, which have been kept in Wainscott & Gammon’s morgue for more than a week were consigned to their last home in Deepwood, this afternoon, the relatives not desiring to have them taken elsewhere.  A letter was received by Joseph Wiswold who has the children, from Mrs. Peterson’s mother, who lives in Thompson, Ark., stating that they were not able to send for the bodies.  They want the children and will send some one after them.  The little ones are 5 and 3 years and six weeks old respectively.

See post on Deepwood Cemetery.


Source:

• Nevada Daily Mail, Nevada, Missouri

Orphans

Nevada, Missouri, Saturday, February 13, 1897.

Mrs. John R. Peterson died last night on East Sycamore Street.  Her husband died Thursday morning.  Three small children—the oldest 5 years of age and the youngest six weeks, are left utterly destitute.  The family came here from Arkansas and have relatives in McDonald County this state.  The bodies will be buried in the Potter’s field by Wainscott & Gammon next week.

Mary Thompson's family was living in or near Thompson, Madison County, Arkansas.  John's family was living in Pineville, McDonald County, Missouri.

Source:

• Nevada Daily Mail (Nevada, Missouri)

Fatherless, motherless, and homeless

Nevada, Missouri, Friday, February 12, 1897.

THE MOTHER WILL DIE.

And Three Babies Will Be on the Charities of the World.

            The body of John R. Peterson, the man who died yesterday on East Sycamore Street under distressingly sad circumstances, is held in Wainscott & Gammon’s morgue as it is thought his wife can not live through the night.

            Mention was made in yesterday’s issue of the Mail of the melancholy condition of this afflicted family.  When the mother dies three little ones—the oldest five years of age and the youngest six weeks, will be left fatherless, motherless and homeless.

            The family came here not long since from Arkansas and for six weeks past have been cared for by the Provident Association, being sick and utterly destitute.

The family came to Nevada, Missouri from Thompson, Madison County, Arkansas.  See post on Thompson, Arkansas.


Source:

• Nevada Daily Mail (Nevada, Missouri)

The Provident Association

I found a paragrah in the History of Jackson County, Missouri regarding the "idea" of a provident association.  "The idea ....arose for relief of the worthy poor."

I am curious how they were able to determine whom the "worthy poor" were.  Every genearation has its freeloaders--who want something for nothing.  It makes us skeptical when people ask for money.  I guess nothing has really changed.

"A Babe Six Weeks Old"

The following account is probably the first mention of Roy F. Peterson in any form of public record. Royal Frederick Peterson was born on January 1, 1897 in Nevada, Missouri to John Robert Peterson and Mary Thompson.

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Nevada, Missouri, Thursday, February 11, 1897.

SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS

The Father Dead, The Mother Dving [sic]; Children Destitute.

John R. Peterson died this afternoon of pneumonia at his home on East Sycamore Street

.

Mrs. Peterson is also very low of the same disease and it is doubtful if she can recover; The family came here from Arkansas and for six weeks have been clothed and fed by the Provident Association (see post on the Provident Association).  There are three little children—a babe six weeks old, one three years of age, and one five years of age.

With the father dead, the mother dying and the children in so distressingly destitute a condition this is a case certainly for the exercise of Christian charity.

------------------------

The three children mentioned in this report are:

6 week old: Royal F. Peterson
3 year old: Robert Peterson (uncle Bob)
5 year old: George Peterson


Source:

• Nevada Daily Mail, Nevada, Missouri