“The Identity of Mrs. Thompson”

By Barbara Dickey Johnson

The following information is about Mrs. Nancy Ann Thompson who starved to death March 8, 1867 just outside of Johnsonville, Wayne County Illinois.

Ever since, I ran across the news item about Mrs. Thompson… I’ve been curious about whom she may have been.  Especially since she had been part of the same refugee party from Walker County Georgia, as my Dickey ancestors.

The Dickeys left Georgia due to their Union sympathies… so it would be assumed that this was true for the Thompson family as well.

The Dickey and Thompson families were neighbors in Walker County Georgia. David Ballard Dickey founded the Lookout Baptist Church in Walker County and this may be an additional connection between the two families.

The Walker County refugees arrived in Wayne County Illinois on July 10 of 1864. William Thompson would have been about 46, Nancy Ann Thompson would have been 28… the children; Martha 10, Mary Ann 8, and John 6 years of age.

No records of William Thompson or his oldest daughter, Martha, have been discovered after the 1860 Walker County Georgia Census… so their destiny is unknown. It isn’t even known if William & his daughter made the trip to Illinois.

What is known is that Mrs. Thompson dies of starvation on March 8, 1867… close to the James Warner farm and that her children, Mary and John Thompson do survive. 

The 1870 Wayne County Illinois Census, shows John Thompson living with the John Wade family and Mary Thompson living with the John Keith family.

What became of Mary Thompson is unknown… However, the

Wayne County Genealogy Website reports: “A John Thompson, born abt.1856, dies at the Wayne County Poor House

Wayne County Press

March 21, 1867

“DEATH FROM STARVATION.” Mrs. Thompson, a wife and mother actually died of starvation near the residence of Mr. James Warner 2 ½ miles East of the town (Johnsonville) on Friday (8^th inst.)  Mrs. Thompson was a native of Walker County Georgia, and came to this County in company with Rev. David Dickey, Wm R. Dickey and other Southern Refugees of Arrington Prairie, in 1864.

1860 Census, Walker County Georgia:

Lafayette Post Office

William Thompson

Age 42, Born abt 1818 in Tennessee

Nancy Ann Thompson

Age 24, born abt 1836 in Georgia 

Martha C. Thompson

Age 6, Born abt 1854 in Georgia

Mary Ann Thompson

Age 4, Born abt 1856 in Georgia

John Thompson

Age 2, Born abt.1858 in Georgia

1870 Census, Wayne County Illinois:

Indian Prairie

John Wade

Age 55, Born abt 1815 in Virginia

Susan Wade

Age 46, Born abt 1824 in Virginia

Charles Wade

Age 24, Born abt 1846 in Virginia

Henry Wade

Age 22, Born abt.1848 in Virginia

John Thompson

Age 12, Born abt 1858 in Georgia

**(Note John Thompson, probably taken in by the Wade family, after being orphaned**) 

1870 Census, Wayne County Illinois:

Indian Prairie