Biographical Sketch of
Wallace Thompson
Transcribed by Robert Schieber
Source: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography of Citizens of Columbia,
Sauk and Adams Counties, Wisconsin, published 1901 by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1901, Pages 654 - 655
Wallace Thompson, a leading citizen of Adams county, Wisconsin, residing in Dell Prairie township, may well
be classed among the pioneers of the county, as he has lived there since he was sixteen years of age.
Mr. Thompson was born in Delaware county, New York, June 2, 1840, the son of Alanson and Sallie (Rachenbach)
Thompson. His mother died in Delaware county when our subject was but three years old, and the father, who
was a farmer, came to Wisconsin, locating in Adams county, April 14, 1856. He did not long survive, however,
his death occurring in May, 1860. He was buried in Dell Prairie.
Wallace Thompson was reared on a farm and received the limited advantages of the common schools, though he
was compelled to work the greater part of the time. He accompanied his father to Wisconsin when he was sixteen
years old, and during the summer months worked at home on the farm, and during the winter months worked in the
pineries. He was also engaged in rafting logs on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. He followed his calling
from 1857 until 1861. In the latter years he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. His
regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and saw all the hard service that fell to the lot of that
corps. He was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge,
Pumpkin Vine Creek, Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, and numerous lesser engagements. He was wounded at
Chickamauga September 19, 1863, and was sent to the hospital. He was again wounded at Kenesaw Mountain June
30, 1864, and was honorably discharged at Milwaukee in October, 1864, and in the following February (1865)
re-enlisted in the United States Veteran Reserve Corps. He was sent to Washington, D. C., and thence to
Indianapolis, where he was mustered out in February, 1866.
Mr. Thompson was married April 9, 1867, to Sabra P., daughter of Martin and Adaline (Salisbury) Solomon. Mrs.
Solomon was born in 1842 in New York, and came with her parents to Wisconsin when she was seven years of age,
locating in Jefferson county. The family only remained in that county about tree years, when they removed to
Adams county, and took up land in Dell Prairie township in 1852. Here the father followed farming until the
time of his death in the spring of 1857, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother died February 11, 1890,
at the age of eighty-five years. They are both buried in Adams county. To Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Thompson five
children have been born, named in the order of their birth as follows: Estella, now Mrs. T. Townsend, of Dell
Prairie, born September 4, 1869; George W., of Austin, Minnesota, born February 26, 1871; Fred D., now a farmer
of Dell Prairie, born September 5, 1875; Maud M., now Mrs. D. Capron, of Dell Prairie, born November 7, 1880;
and Mabel B, living at home, born November 12 1882. Mr. Thompson is a Democrat in political sentiment, though
he has not taken an active part in local political affairs. He is an honored member of John Gillespie Post,
No. 50, G. A. R., of Kilbourn.Transcribed by Robert Schieber
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