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Submitted: 10/10/07 • Approved: 10/15/07 • Last Updated: 2/17/13 • R32808-G0-S3
David Thompson was born December 14, 1818 in Edinburgh, Scotland (one report is that he was acutely born on shipboard while parents were migrating to the United States). David enlisted in the United States Army in Philadelphia, PA. on April 21, 1842 for a five year hitch he was discharged from service April 21, 1847 at Vera Cruse, Mexico. His service records indicated that he served in the U S Second Dragoons, Company I, and the U S 5th Infantry, Company G, obtaining the rank of Sergeant. David fought in the following Battles:
Battle of Palo Alto May 8, 1846
Battle of Resaca de la Palme May 9
Siege of Vera Cruz , Mexico March 9-29, 1847
Next record of David is when he lived in Fairfield, Jefferson County, IA where he married Eliza E. Howard on May 27, 1852. Eliza’s sister Mehitable (Howard) Kimball died July 18, 1854 Leaving 9 children. Grandmother Maria Ann Kimball and her twin brother Uriah born March 12, 1854 were raised by David and Eliza .
David had the wander lust as illustrated by the following:
Edmund R. NORVELL, . . . In the summer of 1859, in company with David Thompson and Ellis Woods he made a journey to Colorado, locating near Central City, where he engaged in mining for about two years. He spent a part of the summer of 1860 in prospecting in Southern Colorado and New Mexico, he returned to Jefferson County in the spring of 1861.
In 1861 when the civil war began David was ready to solider once again. He used black shoe polish to darken his then gray beard & hair and volunteered. This time his choice of service was the cavalry. Jefferson’s County, IA cavalry unit was Company M of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Calvary. This unit was mustered into service November 21, 1864. He reenlisted March 4, 1864 and was discharged from service August 8, 1865 at Atlanta, Georgia with the rank of Commissary Sergeant . Company M of The 4th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry saw action in the following Battles:
14 mile Creek near Raymond Mississippi, Jackson Mississippi, Mechanicsburg Mississippi, Vicksburg Mississippi, Selma Alabama, Columbus Georgia and the occupation of Atlanta Georgia. The novel “The Story of a Calvary Regiment” by William Forse Scott is based on the war record of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Calvary. Reference David can be found on page 574. David name also appears in the booklet “Such Are the Trials” based on excerpts from the Diaries of Jacob Gants as edited by Kathleen Davis. In 1870
David and family migrated to Syracuse, NE and then to Fillmore County, NE. On Sept 2, 1873 David and Elisa’s ward Maria Ann Kimball married Almon Livings at Sutton, Clay County, NE. this union produced nine children eight of which lived to adult hood. Maria and Almon lived and died in Davenport, NE. David and Elisa’s other ward, Uriah Kimball changed his sir name to Thompson, he married Eva Richerson on Sept 25, 1879. Uriah and Eva moved to Michigan.
David died August 12, 1895 at Davenport, NE. His body is buried in the Davenport City Cemetery his grave location is Block 3-lot6-grave 3. This site is registered with “The Descendants of Mexican War Veterans” Veterans Grave Registry, PO Box 830482, Richardson, Texas 75083-0482
Contributed on 10/10/07 by rodl
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Record #: 32808