The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-02-04
Death of Mrs. F. F. Thompson,
Leon's Oldest Resident.

Death of Mrs. F. F. Thompson,
Leon's Oldest Resident.
Mrs. Fidelia e. Thompson, the oldest
resident of the city of Leon, her. home
being the first building erected when
the village of Leon was located, died
at her home on south Main street ats1l
o'clock last Saturday morning, at the
advanced age of 80 years and 4 days,
her death following an illness OF several
age.
In the passing of Mrs. Thompson Leon
loses the first settler of the city. Fi-
della E. Fullerton was born in Chilli
eothe, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1929. She came to
Iowa when a girl of 16 years of age,
settling at Drakeville, where she was
married to DR.. Samuel c. Thompson,
Nov. 8, 1S49. They came to Decatur
county in 1850 where they located on a \
farm now known as the Gates place, two
miles north of Leon, entering the land
from the government. When the question
OF locating the county seat of Decatur
county arose DR.. Thompson entered the
land where the city of Leon now stands
and decided forty acres of it to Decaturs
county on which was located the orig
inal town of Leon on condition that the
new town be made and forever remain
the permanent county seat of Decatur
county. The first house in Leon was
built by DR.. Thompson in 1862 on the
ground where now stands the opera
house block, it being primitive cabin,
with dirt floor. Within short time
the residence where she died was
erected, and it is one of the few pieces
of property in Leon which have never
been transferred, being decided from
the government to Mrs. Thompson and
she held the title until her death.
Mrs. Thompson was staunch Pres
byterian, having grown up in the
church and coming from family Of
Presbyterians, her five brothers all
being Presbyterian ministers. The first
Presbyterian services held in Leon
were held at the Thompson home
and the minister was secured and
paid for his services by DIR. Thompson
and wife. She was charter member
of the Presbyterian church when it was
first organized in this city over forty
two years ago, and her death leaves but
one surviving member, Mrs. Mary Varga
of this city. The charter members Of
the church when organized were Fran
| els Varga, Mary Varga, W. H. Smith,
Robert Kinnear, Thomas Baldwin, Mary
Baldwin, Fidelia F. Thompson, Mar
garet Stone, W. W. Moore, Rebecca
Moore, W. p. Blair, Mary p. Blair,
martha Avery and Mary Z. Young.
Throughout her life Mrs. Thompson was
a devoted christian and although sorely
beset with trials and tribulations her
faith in her Master remained firm and
she was always ready and willing to do
his bidding. She believed resolutely III
two things, God, and herself in league
with God, whom she followed and trust
ed through sunshine and clouds, doing
her best. God glorilied her and brought
out the finest qualifications Of her mind
and soul.
1t was the Reporter editors good
fortune to spend several years as a
member of her household some twenty
years ago and the memory of her cheor-
fulness has always been an inspiration
to US when things looked all wrong.
She was remarkable woman having
memory equal to'the best and we have
listened with interest for hours to her
recitals of the hardships and trials Of b
the pioneer days in Iowa. She was a
devoted wife and mother and although
beset with adversities she kept her
family together and had the pleasure of
seeing them all we'll settled in this
world.
lIer husband died at Olympia, Wash,
in December, 1891, and two children
died in infancy. She is survived by
two daughters and one son, Mrs. Eva
Silvers, of Butler, Mo-, Miss Bell Thomp-
son, of Leon, and Frank E. Thompson,
of Des Moines, who were all present
during her last illness.
The death of such woman as Mrs.
Thompson is a loss to the world at large
for she was one among thousand. Up
to the very minute of her death her
mind remained clear and she was ready
and willing to answer her Masters call.
The funeral was held on Sunday after.
noon at 2:30 o'clock from the Presby-.
terian church, the church being filed to
overflow with sorrowing friends, the
sermon being preached by her pastor,
Rev. W. E. Kuntz, interment being in
the Leon cemetery.